Three female Agribusiness Students and Aspiring Agripreneurs emerged as winners of cash prizes at the 6th Agricultural Students Career Guidance and Mentorship Dialogue boot-camp (AG-STUD) held in Accra from Monday 27th to Friday 31st March 2023.
Charlotte Yawa Sodzedo, 24, of Adidome Farm Institute won the maiden Agromonti Ultimate Prize Pitch, while Grace Idani of Central University and Angela Afia Pokuaa of University of Cape Coast shared the Nanam Ventures Ultimate Prize Pitch.
Nine (9) final-year agribusiness students competed for the Ultimate Prize Pitch – designed to allow the aspiring Agripreneurs demonstrate how they were going to develop, grow and sustain their business ideas within a period of two years.
After a tightly contested session, judges adjudged Charlotte Yawa Sodzedo overall winner of the Prize Pitch, declaring the ideas and initiatives she plans to put in place to grow and sustain her agribusiness as most practical and smart.
In partnership with Agrihouse Foundation, Agromonti will set-up a state-of-the-art input dealer business, estimated at GH¢35,000 for Charlotte in her community of residence. Nanam Ventures awarded Grace and Angela GH¢2000 and GH¢1000 respectively as seed capital to enable them kick-start their agribusiness projects.
Executive Director of Agrihouse Foundation, Alberta Nana Akyaa Akosa, expressed her excitement with the outcome of this year’s AG-STUD boot-camp; and she was much impressed that three females won the challenge, saying this shows that women are beginning to take charge in the agriculture sector.
She commended the three young women for winning the top prizes, and encouraged them to focus on pursuing their dreams with the support they have received.
She also extended gratitude to Agromonti and Nanam Ventures for investing in the aspirations of young Agripreneurs, noting that Agrihouse Foundation is also committed to empowering more young people to realise their agri-futures through the AG-STUD boot-camp.
She noted that the partnership with Agromonti to set-up an Input Dealer Business in any region for the Challenge’s ultimate winner is a huge milestone, and a significant boost in building strategic career-paths for young agribusiness professionals straight after school.
This milestone, she added, will also contribute strongly to government’s efforts over the coming years, making quality input and resources more accessible by ensuring there is an Input Dealer establishment in every district.
Speaking after her win, an overjoyed and emotional Charlotte Yawa Sodzedo thanked Agromonti and Agrihouse Foundation for the honour, while promising to manage and sustain the investment when it is finally set up.
Grace Idani and Angela Afia Pokuaa both thanked Nanam Ventures for providing them with seed capital to start their agribusiness projects. They also promised to work hard and pay the support forward to other beneficiaries of the boot-camp in some years to come.
Institutions that participated in this year’s AG-STUD boot-camp were: Adidome Agric College, Asuansi Farm Institute, Damango Agric College, Ejura Agricultural College, Kwadaso Agric College, Wenchi Farm Institute, Ohawu Agric College, Fair River Agric Institute, Veterinary College, and Animal Health Production and college; Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, University of Ghana, University of Cape Coast, Methodist University, University of Development Studies, All Nations University, Ghana Christian University College, University of Energy & Natural Resources and Central University.
The boot-camp also made room for daily non-campers; Agric students drawn from selected cycle institutions including: Labone Senior High School, Accra Academy Senior High School and O’ Reilly Senior High School. The rest are Ashaiman Senior High School, Ngleshi Amanfro Senior High School and Chemu Senior High School.
Throughout the 5 days, participants were engaged in practical learning in diverse fields led by mentors, trainers and coaches drawn from different industries, who groomed, mentored, and trained participants in hands-on Capacity-Building sessions – equipping them with knowledge and skills that will enable them to establish sustainable agri-businesses in their schools and within their communities.
They also participated in corporate field tours aimed at familiarising them with different kinds of agribusiness operations in the country, whereby they received in-depth knowledge on Agribusiness in a number of intensive pitching and presentation sessions, drills and other mind-engaging activities.
Past beneficiaries included Obed Asamoah, Solomon Benambemon, Mamaga Mary Hundo and Perfect M.A. Nyikplorkpo, who were at the event and shared their inspiring success stories with participants; motivating them to make the most of their 5-day boot-camp experience.
Over the past six (6) years, the annual AG-STUD boot-camp has supported about 1,250 beneficiaries to develop their ideas into businesses, supported Agribusiness companies to recruit smart and fresh graduates, and contributed to a drive and mindset development of young people while exposing them to career paths and opportunities within the Agribusiness value chain.
