By Rachel Quartey & Rukayatu Musah
The government has launched the Students Entrepreneurship and Enterprise Development (SEED) Programme to equip tertiary students with practical business skills, mentorship and funding opportunities to transform innovative ideas into sustainable enterprises.
The initiative, launched at the University of Professional Studies, Accra (UPSA), forms part of the broader youth empowerment agenda under the National Entrepreneurship and Innovation Programme (NEIP).
Vice President Professor Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang, who officially launched the programme, said the initiative is aimed at addressing youth unemployment by creating more job creators and innovators across the country.
According to her, the programme builds on the successes of the Adwumawura initiative launched by President John Dramani Mahama in 2025 to support young entrepreneurs.
She disclosed that although the initial target was to support about two thousand businesses, government has already extended support to more than three thousand two hundred beneficiaries.
“In addition to financial support, the programme was also intended to train ten thousand businesses annually. However, this target was not only met but exceeded. More than ten thousand eight hundred young Ghanaians underwent five weeks of intensive entrepreneurship training and six months of post-training mentorship,” she stated.
Professor Opoku-Agyemang said the overwhelming response from young people demonstrated not only the demand for opportunities but also the determination of Ghanaian youth to build successful futures for themselves.
“Within twenty-four hours of opening applications, thousands of submissions were received. It revealed not only the scale of demand but also the depth of ambition among our young people. That is their readiness to act, to build and take responsibility for their own futures. It also showed us clearly that when given the opportunity, young Ghanaians do not wait, they respond,” she said.
She stressed that government’s responsibility is to ensure that the enthusiasm and creativity of young people are supported through practical interventions and sustained commitments.
“Our responsibility therefore is to ensure that this energy is not wasted, but that it is channelled through practical support, access to resources and sustained commitments, turning all of these into viable enterprises that can grow, create jobs and contribute meaningfully to the economy,” she added.
The Vice President congratulated beneficiaries of the first cohort of the entrepreneurship initiative for their hard work and commitment, expressing confidence in their ability to contribute to Ghana’s development.
“We expect brilliant things from you. We know you will deliver them. I know you will play an active part in resetting our beloved country,” she stated.
Professor Opoku-Agyemang said the SEED programme seeks to shape entrepreneurial mindsets early by targeting students in universities, technical institutions and colleges of education.
“The programme aims to provide a structured pathway for students to transform ideas into sustainable businesses. It combines training, mentorship, incubation and access to funding into a single integrated framework,” she added.
She noted that entrepreneurship should not be seen as an option only after graduation, stressing that young people can begin creating opportunities even while in school.
“Ghana needs more job creators, innovators and risk-takers. Opportunity is not only found in employment but also in the ability to create same,” she emphasized.
Professor Opoku-Agyemang further noted that the discipline of entrepreneurship goes beyond business creation and also prepares young people for leadership and problem-solving.
“Through proper training, students will learn to identify opportunities, solve problems and build something of value. The discipline of enterprise, taking initiative, managing resources and executing ideas, prepares young people not only for work but also for leadership,” she stated.
She also called for stronger collaboration among government institutions, innovation hubs, the private sector, development partners and student bodies to ensure the long-term success of the programme.
“Your collaboration is what takes initiatives like this one as far as we know they can go. We must all work together to nurture ideas, build businesses and shape a more prosperous Ghana,” she added.
The SEED Programme is expected to provide entrepreneurship training, incubation, mentorship and funding support for students across tertiary institutions nationwide as government intensifies efforts to promote innovation, enterprise and youth empowerment.
