UEW Level 400 BBA Student Actualising Entrepreneurship Prowess

Mr. Justice Phinehas Gyesi 

A level 400 Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) student majoring in Accounting at the University of Education, Winneba (UEW), Mr. Justice Phinehas Gyesi, is making great strides at entrepreneurship.

Spurred on by an innate passion for entrepreneurship and guided by his academic area of studies, Justice Gyesi set up his business enterprise, Jephinko Ventures, and registered it at the Registrar General’s Department on Monday, 24^th February, 2020. He currently runs most of his business activities online.

As a Student into ‘agripreneurship’ and an entrepreneur who believes strongly that his colleague students and other members of the community must look good and business-like at all times, uses his business, Jephinko Ventures, to sell authentic and fashionable costumes to students, lecturers, and external customers.  

Speaking in an interview with UEW Media Relations, Mr. Gyesi disclosed that his decision to become an entrepreneur was largely motivated by the subjects and programmes he studied in school. “The skills learnt in the classroom have improved my way of doing business and handling customers. I was also born and raised in a family of Farmers hence my interest in Agriculture too. I would recommend UEW to everyone who wants to get ahead in life and to receive the best training for his life.”  

Some of the numerous awards Mr. Gyesi has been nominated for in the year 

Alluding to the challenge of combining entrepreneurship, agriculture, and writing with studies, Mr. Gyesi stressed that it had been hectic but with hard work and perseverance, he had sailed through thus far. “I have been nominated for numerous awards in 2021 including the Humanitarian Awards Global as Youth Agribusiness Initiative of the Year, and Ghana Youth Awards as Outstanding Youth of the Year in Agriculture for my involvement in agribusiness and insightful articles on the sector, as well as the Central Tertiary Awards as Influential Tertiary Student Entrepreneur of the Year. Many other nominations for awards are still pending.

“One of my problems as an entrepreneur or ‘agripreneur’ and a writer is the lack of financial support. I use my maintenance allowances to do most of the things I do. I'm , therefore, opened to investors and anyone who wishes to support my dreams in any way possible. In the next ten years, I want to see myself being one of the top Entrepreneurs creating jobs for many people in the world, supporting the less privileged ones in the country and seeing Jephinko Ventures become a multibillion-dollar company with many subsidiaries around the World,” he remarked.  

Mr. Gyesi indicated that it is his vision to see every single person enjoying the basic necessities of life. He has, therefore, established Giveth Hand International, a Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO), which seeks to give a helping hand to people in need of education, health, and food.

“Giveth Hand International, even though we are still in the process of officially getting it registered, has so far been organising Free Extra Classes for Junior High School (JHS) leavers in the Gomoa Central District. We are looking forward to expanding this to other parts of the country. We also want to provide skills and apprenticeship to many people who might not be able to go to school, as well as provide many more community services to needy communities,” he revealed.

The determined final year student of UEW, admonished his colleague students and the youth out there that, “everything is achievable in this world. With prayers, determination and dedication, they can do all things through Christ who strengthens them”.

Mr. Gyesi is a regular Daily Graphic newspaper columnist and a writer. He has contributed to discourses on most of the country’s pressing issues and published most of his works in the Daily Graphic, Ghanaweb, Modern Ghana among many others. Some of the intriguing topics he has written extensively on are “Youth in agric policy: a gateway to curbing youth unemployment in Ghana; For how long should the rural dwellers suffer the poisonous bite of coronavirus; let’s run to the Ghanaian IMFs for financial help; Change the child and change the world; Register for the new voters’ identification card”.  

The 'agripreneur' during the airing of Ghana's Youth President Reality TV Show on Joy Prime Television

He also participated in the maiden edition of Ghana’s Youth President Reality TV show. This show, where he represented his cabinet as the Food and Agriculture Minister and Youth Member of Parliament for Gomoa Central Constituency, was aired on Joy Prime.    

Mr. Justice Phinehas Gyesi was born and raised in Gomoa Afransi, the District Capital of Gomoa Central District Assembly. He started his basic education at Amazing Grace Preparatory School where he served as the Senior Boys School Prefect, the President of the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE) and Cadet Commander. He then proceeded to Swedru Senior High School where he again served as Assistant Boys School Prefect. Mr. Gyesi is now pursuing a Bachelor of Business Administration Degree (Accounting option) at the School of Business in UEW.

UEW Alumnus Flourishing in Youth Entrepreneurial Businesses

Mr. Riffath Y. Abubakar 

A first-degree holder and alumnus of the University of Education, Winneba (UEW), Mr. Riffath Yakub Abubakar, is thriving in several renowned businesses, where he seeks to motivate the youth to be resourceful and economically useful in the country. 

Mr. Abubakar, who studied History as his major and Political Science as a minor at the Department of History Education, graduated from the UEW in 2019. He is the founder of Third Star Events and the President of the National Students’ Achievement Awards Academy, Ghana (NaSAAG). He is also a corporate and circular event manager, transformational speaker and brand management strategist. 

Third Star Events, a corporate and circular event management and planning enterprise, is basically into youth and student-oriented events geared towards educating, empowering and transforming the youth and students through seminars, conferences and workshops. 

These activities are to enlighten, groom and prepare them to develop attitude, skills and knowledge beyond academic qualification to enable them to meet contemporary industrial standards for the job market. The company also equips the youth in developing an entrepreneurship culture. 

Since the inception of Third Star Events in 2018, it has organised a series of leadership, governance and social events such as the tertiary Students’ Representative Council/National Union of Ghana Students (SRC/NUGS) Presidential Debate, NaSAAG, Young CEOs and Leaders Forum, Movie Premieres, Independence Red-Cup Pool-Party and My Crush Night.

Mr. Abubakar during one of the events organised by Third Star Events 

Speaking in an interview with UEW Media Relations outfit, the young entrepreneur gave credit to his alma mater for imparting to him the requisite skills for becoming a successful entrepreneur. “I give credit mostly to the entire University for the ingenious academic programmes and proper structures put in place to educate students.” 

“As a History major and Political Science minor student, my courses had much impact on me in the area of research, interpretation and writing skills. It also enhanced my communication ability and public engagement; because History is more of research, interpretation and writing while Political Science is more of decisions and public discourse engagements. So, as an entrepreneur in the event industry, public speaking and corporate engagement with youth empowerment advocacy, I needed these skills (research, interpretation, writing and communication) to shape my journey,” he remarked. 

Mr. Abubakar disclosed his intent to become the ambassador for youth empowerment and transformation in Ghana, Africa and in global and multinational organisations in the next five years. 

“In five years, I want to see my company as the leading organisation in corporate events and the youth empowerment hub. I have other business plans I am working on, it will be added to ‘Third Star Events’ to be an empire of businesses (Third Star Group of Businesses),” the young entrepreneur revealed. 

The President of NaSAAG admonished his colleague graduates who are still jobless to learn to develop volunteerism and teamwork services which he believes, is a hidden treasure for opportunities. He encouraged them to join and support friends who have started something good. 

“My advice to unemployed colleague graduates and seniors is that they should remember that they are primarily trained to be problem solvers; that is, you learn to understand and gain knowledge to identify problems facing humanity and to find solutions to same. It isn’t always the case that you go to school, complete and be fed with a job, no! Today, the job market is so competitive that it requires people (graduates) with skill and knowledge set. 

“To the upcoming and undergraduates, they should explore while undertaking their academic activities seriously, by attending industrial workshops, seminars and conferences. It is great means to be exposed to the industry players and creation of productive networks,” he advised.

 

Some of the many events organised by the event management and planning enterprise 

UEW Final Year Student Explores Entrepreneurship Talent

 

UEW Undergraduate, Ms. Hawa Alidu 

A final year Art Education undergraduate student of the University of Education, Winneba (UEW), Ms. Hawa Alidu is bringing to bear her entrepreneurship talent to the world.

Ms. Hawa Alidu is the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Miss Muslimah Ghana, an initiative that seeks to promote modesty in Islam. She owns a printing and embroidery company, Cuhaiz Multimedia which is located at Ablekumah Fanmilk in the Greater Accra Region of Ghana. She is also the CEO of Lead Youth Empowerment Network (LEYEN), a Non-Governmental Organisation with the mission of inspiring hope in lives through humanitarian activities and transformational impacts.       

As the UEW Students’ Representative Council/National Union of Ghana Students Women’s Commissioner and the 2019 Verna Miss Peace Ambassador, she in collaboration with the UEW Gender Mainstreaming Directorate organised a series of seminars and conferences for women in student leadership. She is the initiator of an award scheme (She Essence Awards) which seeks to acknowledge and honour hard-working and deserving women in tertiary institutions.    

Ms. Hawa Alidu, disclosed in an interview with the UEW Media Relations outfit that even though she is gifted with these skills, she has a passion for teaching and would want to be a professional teacher in future.   

“I have a passion for teaching thus, when I am done with my first degree, I would love to pursue my Master’s and then apply for lectureship. I love everything about teaching; it’s a passion, something I wanted to do since I was a child. So, no matter how industrious I would be in championing the course of entrepreneurship, I am still going to be a teacher and I want to be a professional one,” she affirmed.

The MTN Ghana Bright Scholar commended UEW Management for putting in place stringent measures to protect staff and students from the Covid-19 pandemic and the successful completion of academic work online using UEW’s Learning Management Systems (LMS) during the just ended semester.      

“I am so proud of my school because Management always does their best just for the comfort of students. Our school did the best, looking at how Management was able to handle these whole online academic activities. It was amazing. We were in the house and we thought we could have this online class as part of our regular sessions. Management is doing great and we are proud of them. They should keep making us proud and we want them to keep up with the good work,” she extolled.

Ms. Hawa Alidu encouraged her colleague, undergraduate students, to challenge themselves by ensuring that they develop themselves and are unique in all that they do. She advised them to make good use of any opportunity that might come their way.   

“Let’s not always be looking into one box. Try to fish out for opportunities and when the opportunity comes your way no matter what, try out something. You don’t know what will come out of that very opportunity. So, wherever you find yourself, whether it is something big or small you think you can startup with, startup anyhow. Don’t always wait for opportunity but rather look for opportunities. Stop listening to negative comments, take up the risk and you’ll surely get to wherever you want to get to,” she admonished.

UEW Graduate Operating own Business, Nikhana Media

Mr. Nicholas Cudjoe 

It is said that countries with better educated citizens are more equipped to deal with new challenges and technological advances. It is therefore, in this direction that the University of Education, Winneba (UEW) has dedicated itself to train not only professional teachers but also equip its graduates to make meaningful contributions to nation building. 

Mr. Nicholas Cudjoe is a graduate of the UEW; he pursued Graphic Design and graduated in 2018 with a Second Class Upper Division honours. He is currently the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Nikhana Media.

He registered his company in September, 2018 while on his national service and moved into full gear operations right after the service. Nikhana Media is a multimedia firm that provides quality services in website design and hosting, branding, graphic design, book publishing, video production, photography, printing, and embroidery. The business is located at Kakumdo, Cape Coast in the Central Region of Ghana.   

Speaking in an interview with the UEW Media Relations outfit, he proudly disclosed that the knowledge he acquired at UEW had truly honed his talent and skills. He commended all his Graphic Design lecturers for giving him the needed inspiration that ignited his start-up business.

“We were trained to be confident and were fully equipped for the industry and this was my greatest inspiration. Most times, our lecturers will instill in us the passion to play major roles in the industry after school and to make sure we come out of school without being a burden to society and the nation at large. Learning from this, I made it my greatest ambition to create a start-up right after School.   

“I was also inspired to setup Nikhana Media to help deliver to my target group, products with a professional touch. Another inspiration was to contribute my quota to the development of my motherland by helping employ myself and others to lessen the burden of unemployment in the country,” he recounted.

Mr. Cudjoe revealed that he was looking forward to partnering with his former Department to pave the way for many students from the Department to benefit from his company and experience, by undertaking their industrial attachment there soon. He indicated that he wants his company to have a nationwide presence offering the best in the Print, Film, and Digital media services in the next five years.  

He encouraged the UEW Management to keep up the good work and to continue to invest in the Department of Graphic Design in providing the needed facilities and equipment to help in tutoring and practical work of students.

The CEO of Nikhana Media urged his colleague graduates who are still unemployed to be focused and get something doing.

“It may seem difficult and impossible until they give themselves a chance by trying. So, they must be determined to get something started. All they need to do is to put into practice the knowledge and skills they acquired in school. Do something small today and like a seed planted in the soil, it will germinate, grow, and become a great tree tomorrow.”

Mr. Nicholas Cudjoe was born at Abrem Birase in the Komenda Edina Eguafo Abrem (KEEA) District in the Central Region of Ghana and is the eldest of three children. He schooled in Cape Coast, having received his basic and secondary school education at Tuwohofo Holly International School and University Practice Senior High School respectively.

Currently, he holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Graphic Design from UEW. He is an author of two books titled, “The Wholesomeness of God (God is not limited) and Forgiveness Heals”. He is also a songwriter, singer, entrepreneur, preacher, inspirational speaker, and graphic designer.

Mr. Cudjoe resides at Cape Coast with his beloved wife, Mrs. Hannah Cudjoe.

UEW Alumnus Excelling at Entrepreneurship

Mr. Ernest Osei Bonsu

An alumnus of the University of Education, Winneba (UEW), Mr. Ernest Osei Bonsu is making great exploits at entrepreneurship shortly after attaining his first degree.

Mr. Osei Bonsu studied Home Economics Education with specialisation in Professional Techniques in Clothing Construction. He graduated from the UEW this year (2020) with Second Class Upper Division honours and now holds a Bachelor of Science Degree.

He is currently doing his national service at Techiman Senior High School teaching Foods and Nutrition, and Management in Living. Since assuming duty, he has undertaken several essential practical works in his subject area with his students. 

As a passionate chef and a fashion designer, on the other hand, Mr. Osei Bonsu registered his own company, Ernestob Enterprise, while he was in his first year at the UEW in 2016. Ernestob Enterprise consists of six categories; Food Court, Bakery, Fashion, Millinery, Floral and Bridal Decoration, and manufacturing of Cleansing Agent.

Ernestob Enterprise also organises skills training in fashionable millinery, food court, and pastries.  The company currently has about 15 workers. 

Mr. Osei Bonsu recently launched a business magazine to announce his quality services to the nation. Speaking in an interview with UEW Media Relations outfit on the inspiration behind the release of his magazine, he revealed, “normally every company has its own standards, but as for Ernestob, my standards and the innovation I want to bring on board is the reason I decided to come out with the magazine”.  

“Actually, I have six different categories when it comes to Ernestob Enterprise. We deal in food court, bakery, fashion, millinery making, floral and bridal décor in addition to the manufacturing of cleaning agent. So, I just decided to document all these creative ideas so that in case anyone wants to assist Ernestob to grow into a giant, he or she would appreciate the essence of the business when he or she picks the magazine; the magazine will speak about the brand,” he asserted.

Mr. Osei Bonsu revealed his willingness to broaden his intellectual scope and appealed for support in this direction.  

“I registered the company in 2016 and now, this is how far we’ve come. I really need financial support from corporate institutions set up to help startup businesses to expand. Also, I implore well-meaning Ghanaian and philanthropists to support my education to the highest level to broaden my horizon and give me the greater impetus to create more avenues to employ my fellow youth,” he beseeched. 

He encouraged the youth particularly the males not to shy away from pursuing Home Economics at all levels of education because the subject could enable one to create his or her own job and also employ others to help solve the problem of rising unemployment that is threatening the future of the youth in Ghana.   

Mr. Osei Bonsu lauded the ruling government for the one district one factory initiative. He said “I support the one district one factory policy by the government because it is a great and a creative idea. The initiative will help the youngsters to make good use of the nation’s natural resources and other raw materials. I, for instance, produce a lot of different kinds of bread using our local ingredients”.

He entreated all Ghanaians to support this innovative idea since it would create job opportunities for the younger generation who are mostly unemployed.

Mr. Osei Bonsu’s drive and initiative is in line with the Vice-Chancellor of his alma mater, Rev. Fr. Prof. Anthony Afful-Broni’s call on graduands at his graduation ceremony to dare to create jobs by themselves and they’d be amazed at what they can achieve.

From very humble beginnings, Mr. Bonsu has started something that will eventually crystalise into something big in this country.  

Angel Group of Companies Supports UEW to Fight Against COVID-19

A renowned Ghanaian enterprise, Angel Group of Companies, producers of Adonko Bitters has supported the University of Education, Winneba (UEW) with personal protective products to fight against the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.  

The items include 50 cartons of Adonko hand sanitiser, five cartons of Adonko next level energy drink, ten Veronica buckets, ten hand washing bowls, ten dustbins, ten packs of paper towels and one box of liquid soap.

The donation was done yesterday, Wednesday, 15^th July, 2020 at the forecourt of the administration block of the UEW at North Campus, Winneba.

The Marketing Manager, Adonko Bitters Limited, Mr. Vincent Opare, who presented the items to the UEW Management on behalf of the Chief Executive Officer of Angel Group, Dr. Kwaku Oteng, stated that the donation formed part of the company’s Corporate Social Responsibilities to the nation.  

“It is our concern once we live in a society to make sure that if there is any suffering, we go closer to the community to help. This is one of the examples that we have been showing to society,” he said.

The Pro-Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Andy Ofori-Birikorang, thanked the donor on behalf of the University Management. He stressed that the items would be used for the intended purpose.  

“I am even glad by the fact that one of our own through a network that he has established with Angel Group of Companies and through the Director for the Institute for Distance and e-Learning (IDeL), Prof. Francis Owusu Mensah have together made this possible.

“UEW is grateful to you for several reasons; over the last four months, we have within our meager resources and support from Government been able to manage the pandemic and its effect on our institution. So, coming in at this time is very refreshing; we are grateful to you,” the Pro-Vice-Chancellor emphasised.   

In brief remarks, the Registrar, Surv. Paul Osei-Barima Esq. appealed to the donor to consider instituting a scholarship scheme for the brilliant but needy students in the University.

“We are very much grateful for your assistance to the University. This relationship is going to be a lasting one. As a University, we train the manpower of the nation and if a pandemic hits us badly, it means that it is affecting everybody. So, I am very much delighted that Adonko has identified that wherever there are students, we have high hope and risk,” he indicated.   

UEW to hold Virtual Congregation in August

The Pro-Vice-Chancellor of the University of Education, Winneba (UEW), Prof. Andy Ofori-Birikorang has given a hint on Management’s decision to hold a virtual congregation for final year students, who have met the requirement for graduation, in August, 2020.

He disclosed that Management was earnestly putting the necessary arrangements in place to graduate the final year students who utilised the Learning Management System (LMS) to complete their semester and to do their project work.

The Pro-Vice-Chancellor affirmed this on Monday, 13^th July, 2020 at the Council Chamber, North Campus, Winneba when the UEW-LMS Monitoring and Evaluation Committee (ULMEC) had an encounter with the press to brief them on the hassle-free end of semester examination on the LMS.    

“We are pleased with our performance. We are also pleased with the principles that we began with and these principles have successfully helped us to bring the semester to a logical conclusion. We have not even ended, all our final year students have utilised the system to submit their end of semester papers and their project works and we are on course to graduating them in August.”

“By the end of August, hopefully, every final year student who has met the requirements for graduation will be graduated; and the graduation is also going to be virtual. We are planning it,” he stated.”  

Prof. Ofori-Birikorang pointed out that 65,000 regular students had registered on the Moodle by the end of the semester. According to him, however, out of the 65,000 students, 57,000 representing 88% of participants wrote the exams and also took part in all quizzes. 

“Even though we had that 12% deficit, those students have not been left out. Last week, we rolled out supplementary exams for them, we are yet to take the statistics but many of them have been able to write the supplementary quizzes. From this week through to next week, we are running supplementary examinations for all those who couldn’t write the exams to have the opportunity to. We are giving these two chances, the exams and the supplementary. Those, who for any justifiable reasons are unable to write exams for the supplementary, they will be given the opportunity when we reopen,” he said.  

The Pro-Vice-Chancellor declared that UEW was one of the first universities to have gone through the system successfully in a hustle-free manner for which every student would attest to that fact.

“Last week Friday we had a webinar in which our student leaders participated; and now, when we started, people were saying that the LMS is a hoax, now they are praising it. The final year students even didn’t want to come back to campus because the LMS was working efficiently.

“So, because of the successes, because of the new normal, University Management has decided that going forward, the learning management system is going to be part of our teaching and learning activities. And so beginning with the sandwich, all sandwich teaching and learning activities will also be online because we are still in the pandemic mood. We are hoping that when we start the 2020/2021 academic year, 30% of all teaching and learning activities in the regular form will be online and 70% will be face-to-face provided the pandemic is over,” he stated.

Prof. Ofori-Birikorang again indicated that the University would be using the LMS to conduct entrance exams for about 14,000 mature applicants. “UEW took the challenge, we showed that we have the resilience and the courage; we worked within our meager resources, we upscaled our servers and system even though we need more but within the limited resources, we have been able to bring the semester to a logical conclusion.”

He expressed Management’s appreciation to students and lecturers for the massive support provided to bring the semester to a logical conclusion.