The Tertiary Business Sense Challenge which was concluded recently on 22nd October, 2024 has the victorious team buzzing with excitement and pride. This year’s competition brought together some of the brightest minds from the various tertiary institutions; the defending champions, the University for Education Winneba (UEW), Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) and the University of Ghana Business School (UGBS) who emerged champions of the 2024 Tertiary Business Sense Challenge.
Celebrating the Win
As the winners; Peter Emeka Ike, Edwin Entsiey, Jonathan NiI Nai Sowah and Prince Ascod Bordoh, gathered to share their thoughts, it was clear that the journey had been as rewarding as the victory itself.
“I felt it hard to believe because I mean this was what something we have been dreaming about almost for a year now. It has been the dream of the University of Ghana and the Business School for the past six years to raise a trophy.” Prince stated.
“We put in countless hours of brainstorming, research, and practice. To see our hard work pay off is incredibly fulfilling.”
The team leader, Peter Emeka, added, “The competition was fierce, and we learned so much from our fellow participants. Every team brought unique ideas to the table, which pushed us to refine our own strategies and presentations.”
Reflecting on the Journey
The path to victory was not without its challenges. The teams faced tight deadlines, complex problem-solving tasks, and the pressure of presenting in front of esteemed judges.
The coach shared with Talking Business on Radio Univers how the selection process for the contest occurs.
We send a notice to the business school, for students with a GPA of 3.5 and above and get about 50 to 100 interested people. So that’s the first step. After recruiting them, we have a series of in-house quizzes.Then at the end, so about after two months, we sum up the scores select the top five. This selection is based on their composure, how they answer questions and how they’re able to think on their feet.
There were moments when we were a bit nervous especially contesting with University of Cape Coast (UCC) during the zonals,” shared Prince , another member of the winning team. “But we still overcame our fear and made eventually it to the final stage.
Throughout the competition, participants engaged in workshops and mentorship sessions that provided valuable insights into real-world business scenarios.
“Blending the numerous quizzes ahead of the competition and pursuing my professional studies in the Institute of Chartered Accountancy (ICA) was a Herculean task.” remarked Jonathan.
Looking Ahead
As they celebrate their victory, the winners sent some encouraging words to their future successors.
My last words are to those that think they they are limited because they are too young or just a fresher. They shouldn’t really be limited to what they think they can do but they should aim higher in achieving whatever target they set to achieve.
Peter noted,
Personally, being able to get the most outstanding student at the TBSC just in level 300 was me having a higher mindset to win the trophy and not just move on to the next round.”
Prince also echoed his sentiments, saying, “What I would say is they should put in the efforts next year. They should keep holding the trophy; win again next year and the following year. I mean they should hold on to the trophy until they decide not to contest.”
In conclusion, the Tertiary Business Sense Challenge not only crowned winners but also fostered a spirit of collaboration and innovation among participants. As they move forward, the lessons learned and connections made will undoubtedly shape their future endeavors in the business world.
Story by: Fauzia Salim|univers.ug.edu.gh
