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