Expert Calls for Expanded Support for Youth in Agribusiness Sector

By Maame Efua Kwaduah

The Director of the Secretariat of the Nkabom Collaborative at McGill University, Pierre Brunache Jnr, has called for stronger collaboration among government, academia and the private sector to address youth unemployment and expand opportunities within Ghana’s agribusiness sector.
Speaking at the launch of the second cohort of the NKABOM Venture Quest Entrepreneurial Bootcamp, he said the collaborative initiative seeks to create about 50,000 jobs by equipping young people with entrepreneurial and practical industry skills through experiential learning.
Mr. Brunache Jnr explained that the project brings together several universities and partner institutions to promote entrepreneurship development and prepare young people for opportunities across the agribusiness value chain.
He noted that the initiative is designed to support thousands of startups, create opportunities for persons with disabilities and strengthen industry partnerships to ensure sustainable job creation.
According to him, about 25,000 young people are expected to benefit from training and mentorship, while industry players will play a key role in absorbing and supporting trainees.
“The private sector is important because somebody needs to hire these young people. Industries must help train them, mentor them and support them to build businesses,” he said.
Mr. Brunache Jnr stressed that government also has a critical role to play by putting in place policies that promote entrepreneurship, small businesses and innovation.
He noted that limited access to financing remains a major challenge for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), particularly in the agribusiness sector.
“We need policies that allow banks to lend to SMEs and support youth-led businesses to grow,” he stated.
He further highlighted that the initiative is fostering collaboration among universities from different regions to enhance networking, innovation and knowledge-sharing among students and faculty.
For the first time, he said, students from various institutions will have opportunities to interact, visit innovation centres and gain practical exposure to agribusiness and entrepreneurship.
Mr. Brunache Jnr described agriculture as one of the most profitable sectors with significant opportunities for young people, noting its major contribution to job creation in Ghana.
He encouraged young entrepreneurs to take advantage of opportunities in agribusiness, particularly in value addition, branding and packaging, stressing that packaging alone can significantly increase product value.
He also urged young people not to overlook the importance of branding, adding that small enterprises have the potential to grow into major companies with the right support.
He revealed that the collaboration is working to expand Ghanaian food products into international markets while helping entrepreneurs meet export standards.
Mr. Brunache Jnr further called on the private sector to support local entrepreneurs and provide opportunities for home-grown products.
“It should not always be about who you know before getting opportunities. If young people have good products, businesses and hotels should give them a chance,” he appealed.
He emphasized that SMEs remain the backbone of Ghana’s economy and deserve greater policy attention and investment
“Large companies started small. We must support SMEs because they are the future of industry and job creation,” he added.