This center was launch to support both students and alumina of Agriculture, Food and Consumer Sciences in the faculty of agriculture, food and consumer sciences conference hall, silver jubilee at the Nyankpala Campus on the 13th October, 2026. This was chaired by Prof. Seini, Principal of Nyankpala Campus.

Prof. Terry Ansah, the Dean of the Faculty of Agriculture, Food And Consumer Sciences  at the University for Development Studies (UDS) has partnered with World University Service Canada (WUSC) to launch a series of practical programs aimed at fostering student entrepreneurship, graduate employability, and community skill development. The partnership, backed by funding secured by WUSC, seeks to bridge the gap between academic training and the evolving demands of the job market.

The initiative encompasses several multi-faceted interventions designed for students, alumni, and out of school youth:

1. Student Business Incubation: A new entrepreneurial program encouraging students to convert innovative ideas into commercially viable agribusiness ventures. 
2. Alumni Tracer Study: A joint project with the Faculty of Forestry to track university graduates and evaluate their employment outcomes to enhance institutional strategies. 
3. Skills Training for Out-of-School Youth: Practical agribusiness training programs targeting unemployed youth, with the first cohort having completed instruction in sheep and goat fattening, vegetable farming, and value-added processing (such as yogurt and groundnut paste production). 
4. Career Mentorship & Readiness: Career counseling, mentorship groups, and job-readiness courses where Level 300 students are paired with senior faculty mentors to navigate career opportunities in agriculture. 

Prof. Terry Ansah addressed participants during the launch that he urged students to begin their entrepreneurial journey immediately rather than waiting for graduation. Students were encouraged to form collaborative teams to tackle real-world community challenges with efficient, sustainable solutions, citing global giants like Microsoft, Google, and Facebook that were birthed on university campuses.
 
Faculty members and lecturers were also challenged to re-evaluate traditional teaching methods to ensure course content equips students with market-relevant skills. Prof. Terry Ansah  stressed that university success should ultimately be measured by the number of graduates who achieve gainful employment or create businesses, rather than solely by the volume of degrees conferred.

Prof. Seini was happy for launched of the Student Entrepreneurship Grant Support Program to help students turn innovative agribusiness concepts into commercial enterprises. Developed by the Agri Innovation and Entrepreneurship Center (AIEC) with financial and technical backing from the World University Service of Canada (WUSC), the initiative aims to tackle rising youth unemployment by equipping students to become enterprise builders rather than job seekers.

Ms. Humaiza Aseiku, the representative of  NBC Africa has pledged its support to the University for Development Studies (UDS) and its Agri Innovation and Entrepreneurship Center (AIEC) to empower student entrepreneurs and promote agribusiness innovation. Speaking at the launch of the initiative, Ms. Humaiza highlighted the importance of equipping young people with the resources, mentorship, and opportunities required to transform innovative ideas into viable enterprises.

Ms. Humaiza made mention that NBC Africa stressed that young people possess enormous potential to advance economic growth, job creation, and community development when given targeted support. Beyond financial assistance, the initiative provides students with a platform to build practical entrepreneurial skills and craft sustainable solutions to pressing community challenges.

NBC Africa reaffirmed its commitment to working closely with the AIEC team to ensure the effective implementation and long-term success of the program.

Prof. Seini Mohammed highlights the key points and the Program Objectives. According to Prof. Seini, Campus leadership should urged students not to limit their university education to acquiring certificates, but to leverage academic knowledge to solve pressing community challenges in food systems, agricultural technology, and value addition.  He made mention that the underscored that formal sector employment in Ghana accounts for only about 1 million jobs in a population exceeding 33 million, while youth unemployment stands at roughly 14%. The program would promotes a modern view of agribusiness that goes beyond manual labor to encompass drone technology, robotics, biotechnology, and commercial food processing.

The launch showcased existing student-led achievements, including commercially packaged canned tofu in sauce developed on campus. 
Dr. Balma Issaka, Head of Agri- Innovation and Entrepreneurship Center also made mention of support framework for student startups.To reduce risk and accelerate business growth, the Agri Innovation and Entrepreneurship Center is providing a multi-tiered support structure: 

1. Funding & Industry Linkages: Direct seed grant funding, incubation services, and connections to external financing schemes and industry partners (including NBC Africa, Kosmos, USAID, and KIAC). 
2. Regulatory & Branding Assistance: Guidance for student founders through product development, branding, and formal certification processes with regulatory bodies such as the Food and Drugs Authority (FDA) and the Ghana Standards Authority. 
3. National Service Business Incubation: A proposed initiative allowing graduating students with viable business prototypes to perform their mandatory National Service on campus while scaling their enterprises at the center. 
4. Permanent Campus Office & Resource Hub: With WUSC support, a dedicated physical office and consultation facility is being established on campus to provide ongoing mentorship and advisory services for both students and alumni.

The event brought together senior members in the academia  and SRC representatives which includes: Prof. Gustav Komla Mahunu - Vice Dean FOAFCS, Prof. Juliet - Vice Dean of Students Nyankpala Campus, Dr Dawuda Mujitaba Mohammed - HoD Horticulture, Prof. Vicent K. Avornyo - HoD Soil Science, Prof. Adu Gyamfi Rapheal - Horticulture Department and students from faculty of agriculture, food and consumer sciences.

Story by: Abdul-Malik, UDS Media