KGL Foundation and Done By Us have officially kicked off the 2024 Africa Street MBA (AfSMBA) project, an ambitious initiative aimed at empowering Ghanaian youth through entrepreneurship training and education.
With its comprehensive, community-focused approach, the 2024 Africa Street MBA has high goals – to open doors of economic opportunity for underserved Ghanaian youth and empower the next generation to shape their destinies.
Speaking on behalf of KGL Foundation CEO, Elliot Dadey, Samuel Nii Annorbah-Sarpei emphasized the critical importance of investing in the next generation. “Investing in the empowerment and education of our youth is not just a moral imperative, it is a strategic imperative for sustainable development and social progress,” Mr. Annorbah-Sarpei stated.
He highlighted the transformative power of education, saying, “We believe in the transformative power of education to unlock doors of opportunity and empower people to shape their destinies.”
However, Mr. Annorbah-Sarpei acknowledged the significant obstacles facing Ghana’s youth, from barriers to quality education to lack of economic empowerment opportunities. “Amidst these challenges, there lies hope – a beacon of light that shines bright in the hearts and minds of every young person who dares to dream, aspire and strive for a better tomorrow,” he declared.
The Africa Street MBA aims to be that beacon of hope by providing entrepreneurial training, mentorship, vocational skills and community outreach initiatives tailored specifically for underserved communities across Ghana.
“Through our various programs, we strive to foster a culture of lifelong learning, innovation and entrepreneurship,” Mr. Annorbah-Sarpei explained. “Whether it’s through scholarships, vocational training, mentorship programs or community outreach initiatives, we’re dedicated to empowering young people to shape their future.”
Founder of Done By Us and Executive Director of Africa Street MBA, King Wellington, outlined the unique challenges his team faces in reaching the most remote areas.
“Key challenges include language barriers, as some communities don’t even speak the major local languages,” Mr. Wellington said. “Access can also be difficult, like traveling by pontoon to island villages when it’s the only way to reach them.”
Despite the obstacles, Mr. Wellington celebrated early successes, sharing, “The winner of last year’s accelerator programme, Mr. Nicholas Donkor, had the chief of his village donate land for an ICT center construction after his participation in AfSMBA. These are the impact stories we’re striving for.”
This year, the programme will expand to include more local language offerings and resources tailored for disabled entrepreneurs, like a startup guidebook in written and sign language formats.
“When it comes to youth development and empowerment, it takes a collaborative effort between government, private organizations and citizens,” Mr. Wellington stated.
He commended government youth development initiatives but stressed, “As private individuals, we must help. The job is immense, as research shows lack of funds and business knowledge are key startup failure factors.”
By bridging these gaps with training, mentorship and startup grants, AfSMBA hopes to cultivate both “necessity entrepreneurs” driven by circumstance and “opportunity entrepreneurs” capitalizing on innovative ideas.
“We try to help them start right by increasing knowledge, and through KGL’s grants, supporting them through that critical startup phase,” Mr. Wellington said. “It’s an ongoing community, with our consultants available to guide them whenever issues arise.”
