Sankofa Group from the University of Environment and Sustainable Development (UESD) has emerged winner of the ESICD Hub Innovation Grant Finals Pitch Competition, under the Enterprise Support and Incubation Curriculum Development (ESICD) Project and Think Network, hosted by the University of Education, Winneba (UEW).
The maiden Business Pitch Competition Awards, organised by the UEW Business Hub, celebrated outstanding entrepreneurial talent among university students.
Med Aqua Feed placed second, while Nhyira Ecobites came third.
The contest, launched in July 2024, aimed at identifying and nurturing students with business potential, providing them with training in ideation, business management, and implementation before pitching their ventures.
Building a New Generation of Entrepreneurs
Dean of the School of Business (SoB), Dr. Richard Oduro, hailed the competition as a step towards shifting mindsets from job-seeking to job creation.
“Our goal is to empower students with the tools and opportunities to turn ideas into sustainable businesses. The era of finishing school and moving from office to office with certificates should be over. We want our graduates to be job creators,” he said.
He revealed plans to introduce a non-dividend-based equity model, where the university would invest in promising student start-ups with the expectation that such businesses, once established, would in turn support and mentor future student entrepreneurs.
“Training Beyond Certificates” – Coordinator Explains Hub’s Vision
Coordinator of the UEW Innovation Hub and President of Think Network Ghana, Mawuko Dza explained that the Hub was established to help students develop job-creating skills rather than rely solely on traditional certificates.
“We introduce students to entrepreneurial skills, train them, and monitor them closely. Initially, we gave out prize money after training, but we realised some diverted the funds. Now, we provide startup kits alongside the awards to ensure they actually build their own businesses,” he said.
He emphasised that UEW, though traditionally a teacher-training institution, has expanded its scope to match global trends.
“It is not true that UEW’s focus is only on training teachers. The world is dynamic, and we must innovate. That is why we integrate entrepreneurship across disciplines,” he added.
The Coordinator noted that while the Hub has ambitious targets, scaling depends largely on grant funding since it is not fully financed by the university. Currently, the Hub is managing eight funded projects, with proposals for more underway.
Beyond the Pitch
According to organisers, the winners will receive not only cash prizes but also ongoing support from British Council and Think Network, who have pledged to help implement viable projects.
This will ensure the winning ideas move beyond theory into real-world impact, helping reduce youth unemployment and promote economic growth.
Transforming Ideas into Impact
The competition featured innovative pitches from groups such as Agrihub, CampusDashp, Nsroma Agrotech, Polygen, Skillnet, Sankofa-Mango Processing, and others, each addressing challenges in agriculture, technology, and sustainability.
In addition to cash awards, the top teams will benefit from mentorship, business incubation, and access to funding networks to scale up their operations.
A Milestone for UEW
The awards ceremony, which included a documentary on the journey of the student innovators, reaffirmed UEW’s commitment to entrepreneurship and innovation.
“This is not just about awarding winners but about investing in ideas that can redefine industries and drive national development,” Dr. Oduro emphasized.
Innovation Rooted in Sustainability
A member of the winning team, Aaron Tawiah Blagogee, explained that the group, made up of three students from UESD, is focused on tackling post-harvest losses in the mango value chain.
“We are Sankofa Industries. Our goal is to reduce mango waste and give value directly to farmers by processing ripe mangoes into puree,” he said.
Blagogee noted that the team is still in its incubation phase but has already tested a few products on the market. He described the award as a motivation to push harder and called on government to support such initiatives.
“This win inspires us to go back to the drawing board and put in more effort to scale up. With the right support, we believe our work can go a long way in contributing to national development,” he added.
Judges Impressed by Innovation
One of the judges commended the students for their creativity and progress throughout the incubation programme.
“Everyone here has shared great ideas, and I was really impressed. Beyond the competition, each participant has gained valuable experience, new networks, and 21st-century skills that are equally important as the awards,” the judge remarked.
The Business Pitch Competition has now positioned UEW as a hub for entrepreneurial development in higher education, offering students a platform to transform ideas into thriving enterprises while contributing to Ghana’s broader economic transformation.
By PROSPER AGBENYEGA