This blog is managed by the content creator and not GhanaWeb, its affiliates, or employees. Advertising on this blog requires a minimum of GH₵50 a week. Contact the blog owner with any queries.
The Provost of the College of Humanities and Legal Studies at the University of Cape Coast (UCC), Prof. Daniel Agyapong, has stated that the Universities, Entrepreneurship, and Development (UEED) Conference aims to equip students with practical knowledge in entrepreneurship and the skills to generate innovative ideas, whether they start their own businesses or work for established companies.
Aims of the Conference
In an interaction with journalists at the inaugural day of the two-day conference held at the UCC Sam Jonah Conference room on September 15, 2025, the Professor of Finance and Entrepreneurship noted that the event seeks to enhance student employability, guided by the overarching vision of translating theoretical knowledge into pragmatic action.
He added that even if students do not become entrepreneurs and instead join established companies, “they should be able to bring a significant amount of innovation to enhance the viability of those companies.”
Highlights of UEED and the Journey So Far
Prof. Agyapong revealed that the conference began 13 years ago in partnership with the Hochschule Bonn-Rhein-Sieg University of Applied Sciences. It was later joined by the University of Nairobi, Kenya, and subsequently by the International Financial Management University, Tanzania, the University of Koblenz, Germany, and other partners.
This year’s conference is themed, ‘Innovative and Inclusive Entrepreneurship and Enterprise Development for a Sustainable Green and Blue Economy in Africa.’ It seeks to address issues in the secular economic space, with an emphasis on the blue and green economies.
On the green economy, Prof. Agyapong highlighted its relevance, given the environmental degradation caused by illegal mining activities in Ghana. He stated it is imperative for the country to find solutions to ameliorate this menace.
Furthermore, he shared that the blue economy deals with how the country can manage its marine resources in the era of climate change. Sustainable aquaculture in fishing, as well as inclusivity, will form major highlights of the conference.
Conference Exhibition
As part of the conference, students and local community members displayed their products and services, creating a remarkable spectacle. This year’s event also collaborated with faith-based businesses for the exhibition, providing a platform to showcase business ideas from both the university and the wider Cape Coast community.
Views From Partners
The conference’s keynote speaker, Mr. Oheneba, Deputy Branch Manager for Western and Central Regions at Hollard Insurance Ghana, urged participants to consider how to harness innovation and inclusiveness to tackle the myriad problems confronting Africa through entrepreneurship.
As Africa navigates climate change and widening economic disparities, he underscored the urgency for participants to employ innovative methods to combat these challenges.
According to him, “the green economy is not just an environmental necessity but an economic opportunity.” He stressed that the green economy focuses on managing environmental risk and ecological scarcity while promoting sustainable development. To be sustainable, entrepreneurs can focus on job creation, which stimulates innovation and enhances resilience in confronting climate change.
Dovetailing into the blue economy, Mr. Oheneba noted it revolves around the sustainable use of the oceans and other freshwater bodies. He lamentated the precarious state of many freshwater bodies due to illegal mining, calling on all participants to find ingenious ways to sustain these resources for healthy living.
Madam Lucy, an exhibitor representing the Dignity Sewing Centre attached to the Anglican Diocese of Cape Coast, thanked the organizers for the opportunity to exhibit their products. She noted that their centre focuses on providing free skills training to people in need. “We are also seeking sponsorship to help train more people with employable skills to foster economic growth,” she stated.
Way Forward
As the dust settles on Tuesday, September 16, 2025 Universities, Entrepreneurship, and Development in Africa Conference, attention shifts to African entrepreneurs, whose innovative strategies for building climate-resilient businesses that leverage the potential of the Blue and Green economies will be scrutinized.
