UGBS NEST Champions Entrepreneurship within the Nkabom Collaborative at UG

The University of Ghana Business School Innovation and Incubation Hub (UGBS NEST) continues to play a central role in advancing the Entrepreneurship Pillar of the Nkabom Collaborative at UG, delivering a series of strategic activities to empower young innovators and strengthen agribusiness entrepreneurship across Ghana.

Over the past few months, UGBS NEST has hosted a range of capacity-building engagements to equip youth, trainers, and ecosystem stakeholders with the knowledge, tools, and networks needed to develop sustainable, high-impact agribusiness ventures.

Supporting Student Entrepreneurs Through the Market Access Bootcamp

Building on the collaborative’s commitment to strengthening Africa’s agrifood and nutrition ecosystem through inclusive learning, research, and youth-focused entrepreneurship, the UGBS NEST organized a Market Access Bootcamp from the 13^th to 15^th January 2026. Over the three days, participants engaged in hands-on learning sessions from facilitators from the University of Ghana and external industry experts.

The bootcamp was designed to strengthen their technical, practical, and entrepreneurial skills across the agrifood value chain, and help them translate market insights into day-to-day action. It equipped participants to clarify priority customers, articulate buyer-facing offers, and run rapid market tests that connect them with real buyers and financing.

Through short plenary inputs, hands-on workbook sessions, peer feedback, and facilitator coaching, participants explored practical pathways to building viable enterprises.

Building Capacity Through Strategic Planning

As part of preparations for the next phase of the project, the Entrepreneurship Pillar held a 2-day strategy session from the 29^th to the 30^th of January, 2026, to reflect on the achievements of Year 1 of the collaborative. The meeting provided an opportunity to review key activities, assess lessons learned, and identify implementation challenges.

The session also established a clear roadmap for Year 2 of the collaborative, aligning stakeholders around strategic priorities and strengthening coordination under the Entrepreneurship Pillar. New business consultants were engaged, roles and expectations clarified, and actionable timelines set to ensure effective delivery of upcoming activities.

Empowering Trainers to Mentor the Next Generation of Agripreneurs

A key milestone in strengthening the collaborative’s impact was the successful organization of a Residential Workshop: Training of Trainers (ToT) for members of the THINK Network supporting the Nkabom Community Networking & Roadshow (CNR).

Held from 15–18 February 2026 at the AH Hotel & Conference in Accra, the workshop brought together trainers from 11 (eleven) university campuses across the country. Under the theme “Unlocking Opportunities in the Food Systems for Youth-Led Agribusiness,” the program focused on equipping participants with facilitation skills, knowledge of food systems, and practical tools for mentoring young entrepreneurs.

Through highly interactive sessions, participants explored youth engagement strategies, hybrid training methodologies, and opportunities within Ghana’s agrifood value chains. The workshop prepared trainers to effectively support aspiring agripreneurs and foster inclusive innovation within their respective communities.

Launching the CNR Cohort 2 Journey

Building on these earlier engagements, UGBS NEST recently hosted the Community Networking Roadshow (CNR) – Cohort 2 Hybrid Orientation from 2–3 March 2026.

The two-day session brought together participants both in person and virtually, marking the beginning of their journey through the CNR program. Guided by the theme “Unlocking Opportunities in Food Systems for Youth-Led Agribusiness,” the orientation introduced participants to the program’s vision, structure, and innovation framework.

Participants explored key issues within Ghana’s agri-food systems, examined value chain opportunities, and learned how to identify community-based challenges that can be transformed into entrepreneurial ventures. Through collaborative activities and group discussions, they developed strong problem statements and were introduced to design thinking as the program’s core innovation methodology.

The orientation also provided practical insights into moving from problem discovery to building Minimum Viable Products (MVPs), setting the stage for participants to develop innovative, venture-ready solutions.

Driving Youth Innovation in Africa’s Food Systems

Through this comprehensive suite of strategic initiatives, UGBS NEST continues to solidify its pivotal role in advancing agribusiness entrepreneurship under the Nkabom Collaborative at UG by equipping stakeholders across the ecosystem with the knowledge, skills, and tools necessary for innovation and inclusive engagement. The hub is fostering a vibrant pipeline of empowered youth agripreneurs poised to transform Ghana’s food systems and drive sustainable economic growth.

As the program progresses, the hub remains dedicated to sustaining momentum by continuously enhancing the capacities of trainers and youth entrepreneurs, fostering stronger networks, and driving innovation within Ghana’s agrifood ecosystem.