NEIP Urges Youth to Embrace Entrepreneurship for Economic Growth

The Deputy Chief Executive Officer of the National Entrepreneurship and Innovation Programme (NEIP), Joan Selasie Ahiawordor, has called on young people to take bold steps into entrepreneurship as a means of driving economic growth and job creation.
Speaking on behalf of the Chief Executive Officer of NEIP, Eric Adjei, at the launch of the second cohort of the NKABOM Venture Quest Entrepreneurial Bootcamp, Madam Ahiawordor encouraged young people to act on their ideas despite existing challenges.
“Do not wait for better conditions before beginning. Start with the ideas you have, learn continuously, collaborate intentionally and remain committed to creating impact,” she advised.
She described the Nkabom Collaborative initiative as a key investment in youth empowerment, innovation and national development, noting that entrepreneurship remains a major driver of global economic growth and employment creation.
According to her, many young people possess innovative ideas and business potential but are constrained by limited access to financing, weak support systems and inadequate technology.
Madam Ahiawordor highlighted agribusiness as a critical sector of the economy, providing jobs for thousands of young people and women, but noted challenges such as low productivity, post-harvest losses, limited financing and slow technological adoption.
She said government remains committed to promoting entrepreneurship and startup growth, adding that tertiary institutions are increasingly becoming hubs for innovation and enterprise development.
She outlined key NEIP interventions, including the Student Entrepreneurship and Enterprise Development (SEED) programme, which aims to equip students with entrepreneurial skills, mentorship, business advisory support, investment readiness training and access to funding opportunities.
According to her, the programme also seeks to strengthen innovation hubs within tertiary institutions to help students turn ideas into viable businesses.
Madam Ahiawordor further indicated that the initiative prioritises women-led enterprises, persons with disabilities and underserved communities, with a focus on agribusiness, technology, the green economy, creative arts and digital innovation.
She stressed that successful entrepreneurship ecosystems depend on strong collaboration between government, academia, industry players, investors and development partners.
Commending the organisers, she said the initiative provides a strong platform for networking, innovation and enterprise development among students from various tertiary institutions.

“You are not just students. You are future founders, agribusiness leaders, innovators and solution providers who can transform Ghana’s food systems and create sustainable employment opportunities,” she said.
She further urged participants to focus on solving real community challenges, noting that many successful businesses globally started from simple ideas.
“Sometimes innovation begins with identifying a simple problem and developing an efficient solution,” she added.
Madam Ahiawordor also encouraged young entrepreneurs to adopt environmentally friendly and climate-resilient business models, particularly in agribusiness.
She emphasized the importance of mentorship and networking, urging participants to take full advantage of the platform to build relationships and gain industry guidance.
She expressed confidence that with the right support, infrastructure and financing, Ghanaian youth can play a major role in national development and job creation.