The National Entrepreneurship and Innovation Programme (NEIP) has launched the first batch of 10,000 beneficiaries under the Adwumawura Programme, a flagship policy of the Mahama-led government.
Speaking at the event held at the Cedi Conference Centre of the University of Ghana on October 2, the Chief Executive Officer of NEIP, Eric Adjei, stated that the programme is designed to invest in innovative business ideas that drive social impact and create sustainable jobs for Ghanaian youth.
“The main aim of the administration [Mahama’s administration] is to empower this group to hone their entrepreneurial abilities and skills in today’s competitive world. As such, the Adwumawura Programme is one of the innovative schemes put in place to achieve this aim,” he noted.
The first batch of beneficiaries has already been selected, and Adjei urged them to make good use of the opportunity.
“My advice to the first batch of trainees is to take advantage of the numerous packages and self-development initiatives that the government has made available to help them excel in their chosen fields. This will pave the way for succeeding batches in a country where the youth are not left behind,” he added.
The Minister for Youth Development and Empowerment, George Opare Addo, also emphasised that the youthful population of the country occupies a central place in the Mahama administration. He noted that more resources are being channeled into youth-focused initiatives to enable them to achieve their full potential in national development.
“The belief of this government goes beyond this policy to include the 1 Million Coders Initiative and the National Apprenticeship Programme, among others. The government has committed resources to harness the positive energies of Ghana’s youth as part of the Reset Agenda,” he explained.
The Guest of Honour for the event, Vice President Professor Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang, reiterated that the Reset Agenda and the administration’s economic recovery measures are centered on the nation’s youthful population, which she described as a vital ingredient in sustainable national development.
“As the mother figure for the youth of our dear nation, anything that propels the aspirations and dreams of the youth is deeply rooted in my heart. That is why I am very excited that, together with the Minister [George Opare Addo], we were able to champion the cause of this flagship policy of the NDC to fruition—culminating in the outdooring of the first batch of young business owners, supported by the state to expand into profitable ventures in the coming years. In organised societies, when the economically active citizens are gainfully employed to cater for themselves and their families, it leads to a peaceful and prosperous nation where development becomes the norm rather than the exception,” she said.
The Vice President further expressed her sincere gratitude to the sector minister and the relevant agencies for their dedication and efforts in helping the Mahama-led government implement such an innovative programme aimed at empowering the youth to take their rightful place in the nation-building process.
—
Story by: Sika Togoh | univers ug.edu.gh
Edited by Gabriel Tecco Mensah
