Koforidua Technical University (KTU) is partnering with Kosmos Innovation Center (KIC) to create, train and coach students on entrepreneurship in agribusiness. In line with this, KIC and KTU wish to announce the call for applications for the AgriTech Challenge classic programme from April 4 to May 5, 2023.
The AgriTech Challenge Classic is a 7-month annual training program aimed at developing the interest and building the mindset of students and young graduates to ultimately drive systemic change in Ghana’s agriculture sector. It provides the youth with the right exposure to the agriculture value chain, and networking opportunities to build and grow viable solutions to Ghana’s key agricultural challenges. The programme which commenced in 2016, is being supported by the Mastercard Foundation and has over the period provided participants with coaching, training and mentorship.
During the first phase of the AgriTech Challenge Classic programme, KIC worked with five major public universities in five regions of the country to recruit participants in their respective regions. The universities included the University of Ghana – Greater Accra, SD Dombo University of Business and Integrated Development Studies – Upper West region, University of Cape Coast – Central region, University for Development Studies – Northern region, and the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology in the Ashanti region.
This year, five (5) additional universities have been included in the programme. These new universities are Koforidua Technical University – Eastern Region, Bolgatanga Technical University – Upper East Region, Takoradi Technical University (TTU) – Western Region, and the University of Energy and Natural
Resources (UNER) – Bono Region and Ho Technical University – Volta Region. This brings to a total of ten (10), universities KIC is partnering with to support youth entrepreneurship in AgriTech and agricultural adjacent value chains, under its multi-partnership agreement with the Mastercard Foundation.
Winners from the AgriTech challenge classic competition will go on to join the AgriTech Challenge Pro, an accelerator programme aiming to support young entrepreneurs to launch and grow commercially viable, scalable solutions to key problems in the agricultural sector. The program aims to drive technology and innovation as a catalyst to enhancing productivity, improving yields, and creating more jobs within Ghana’s agricultural sector. Cumulatively, this programme is expected to train over 4,880 young people across the partner universities in the next four years.
Speaking about the impact of the programme, Benjamin Gyan-Kesse, the Executive Director for KIC said:
“At KIC, over the years we have seen business ideas develop and grow through the AgriTech Challenge Classic and progress unto other KIC mentorship programmes. KIC is committed to developing young entrepreneurs to transform the agricultural sector in Ghana with innovation and cutting-edge AgriTech. We are looking forward to students taking this opportunity that the AgriTech Challenge Programme provides.”
Dr. Samuel Kwofie, the Faculty Advisor for Koforidua Technical University has been impressed with the quality of the programme over the years in complementing and empowering students from the university’s innovation and incubation hub to develop their business ideas into viable business.
We are looking forward to new innovations and ideas in this year’s competition and call on all eligible students to apply here.
