Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program (MFSP) at Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) has launched its annual week-long Summer Skills Training Programme (Summer Camp) to prepare scholars for the job market. The 2021 Summer Camp is themed: ‘Reinforcing Scholars Entrepreneurial Capacities’.
The Camp, launched on Monday, September 20, 2021, is expected to climax with games at the Paa Joe Stadium on Saturday, September 25, 2021.
This year’s Camp will expose scholars to diverse soft skills training programs including, Macrame, Make-up Artistry, Satellite Installation, Beading, Tie and Dye/Batik and Screen Printing, Catering/Culinary Art, Soap Making, Millinery and Packaging, App Development, Introduction to Graphic Design (Photoshop), Bee Keeping/Snail and Mushroom Farming, Wig-Making, Yogurt Production and Photography and Video Editing.
The objective of this years’ Summer Camp, according to the Program Manager of Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program at KNUST, Ms. Afia Ampomah Awuah is to equip scholars with useful hands-on soft skills that will enable them stand out in the cooperate world. Also, to provide scholars with the opportunity to unearth and stimulate their entrepreneurial potentials to benefit their communities.
Ms. Ampomah Awuah also indicated that the training programme would help imbibe in the scholars entrepreneurial and leadership skills that will help them to become transformative leaders on the African continent.
“We do not only want scholars to graduate with degrees, but we also want them to have practical hands-on experiences and skills so that they can teach others to help them start their own small businesses,” she said.
The Guest Speaker at the launch, Mr. Christian Boakye Yiadom, CEO of CEQA Foods and Beverages Ghana, popularly known as Pizzaman and Chickenman shared his experiences and achievements as a young entrepreneur with the scholars.
According to him, an individual can become an entrepreneur when he/she starts with the little resources available. Mr. Yiadom, therefore, urged the scholars to start their own enterprises if they can and learn to combine entrepreneurship with their academics.
“If you do not start, you can never start. The time is now.” “Until you start, you might never know your flaws. I know it may affect your academics, once you start, you will get so busy meaning you have started another life with a purpose aside from academics.” “It’s either you’re with books or you’re trying something new to make money out of it”, he added.
Mr. Yiadom, encouraged the scholars to desist from tolerating negative associations, especially friends who do not push them to become a better version of themselves.
The Lead and PI for Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program at KNUST, Professor Kofi Owusu-Daaku, in his speech emphasised on the need for scholars to be careful about how they portray themselves to others. He noted that MCFSP should be seen as a brand that means something significant regarding academic training, ethical leadership, and community development.