The Chief Executive Officer of the National Entrepreneurship and Innovation Programme (NEIP), Eric Adjei, has encouraged students across the country to adopt an entrepreneurial mindset and actively position themselves for opportunities that enhance employability and economic independence.
He made the call while addressing a student summit on the theme “Enhancing Employability: Bridging Students’ Potential with Industry Opportunities.”
Mr. Adjei stressed that in today’s competitive job market, academic qualifications alone are not sufficient, noting that employability now requires a blend of digital literacy, emotional intelligence, critical thinking, and entrepreneurial skills.
He urged students to begin preparing for the world of work while still in school by aligning their skills with industry needs and focusing on practical value creation.
“Even if you intend to work for an established company rather than start your own business, you must think like an entrepreneur by taking initiative and constantly looking for ways to add value,” he said.
The NEIP CEO also commended President John Dramani Mahama for his commitment to youth empowerment and job creation, stating that government policies have created an enabling environment for young people to transition from job seekers into job creators.
He highlighted the Students Entrepreneurship and Enterprise Development (SEED) Programme, a flagship initiative being implemented by NEIP in collaboration with the National Union of Ghana Students (NUGS) and the Ministry of Education.
The programme is designed to provide students with training, mentorship, incubation support, and seed funding to help them establish businesses while still in school.
According to him, the SEED initiative aims to transform tertiary institutions into hubs of innovation and enterprise, enabling students to build sustainable ventures alongside their academic work.
Mr. Adjei also cited entrepreneur Bernice Dapaah as an example of successful youth innovation, noting how she built a globally recognised social enterprise from a simple idea that promotes environmental sustainability and job creation through bamboo bicycles.
