In a thrilling display of innovation and expertise, the University of Cape Coast (UCC) clinched victory in a fiercely contested Business Ideas and Technology Innovation Pitching Competition last Friday. The event, which saw participation from 14 teams representing various universities across Ghana, displayed the incredible talent and creativity prevalent among the country’s tertiary students.
The winning team, comprised of Kelvin Akyea, Amesese Kweku Boateng, Kanton Jemela Ahmed, and Pearl Sitsofe Bani, stood out for their exceptional creativity and ingenuity. Their proposal, which tackled the challenge of expensive STEM kits in the market and advocated for a more practical approach to STEM education in Ghana, captured the attention of the judges and audience alike.
For their outstanding efforts, the UCC team was awarded a prize of GHC10,000, proof to their dedication and innovative thinking. Meanwhile, the second-place team, consisting of students from Bagabaga Training College and the University for Development Studies (UDS), received GHC 5000 for their commendable pitch.
At the heart of the winning proposal was a vision to empower students to harness their creativity while addressing complex societal issues through practical STEM education. Spearheaded by Pearl Sitsofe Bani, the team’s Human Resource and Financial Lead, the initiative aimed to bridge the gap between theory and practice in STEM education, ultimately revolutionizing the landscape of learning in Ghana.
Speaking about their motivation, Bani emphasized the need for a shift towards more practical STEM training, stating, “STEM training in schools is more theory-based, unlike how we expected it to be practical. We decided to provide our own STEM kits and organize annual robotic competitions to facilitate hands-on learning.”
The pitch competition, which formed an integral part of the Founders Boot Camp Stage 2, was a collaborative effort between PAMEPI Women in Tech Ghana and RWTH Aachen University in Germany. The event sought to provide a platform for tertiary students to bring out their innovative business ideas, fostering creativity and entrepreneurship while addressing pressing societal challenges.
Fuseini Yakubu, Executive Director of PAMEPI Women in Technology Ghana, highlighted the importance of equipping students with essential skills amidst Ghana’s unemployment crisis. “Unemployment is a major issue in Ghana, and the only way we can address it is by empowering youth to acquire necessary skills and providing them with resources to develop themselves,” Yakubu remarked.
Echoing this sentiment, Florian Fuchs, a startup coach from RWTH Aachen University, praised Ghana’s educational system and emphasized the need to support technical ideas among students. “Ghana has a superb education system, especially compared to other African countries. As a technical university in Germany, we are keen to support technical ideas in Ghana,” Fuchs stated.
Professor Daniel Agyapong, a Finance and Entrepreneurship expert at UCC, urged participants to persevere and further develop their ideas into tangible pursuits. His words resonated with the spirit of innovation and determination that characterized the competition, underscoring the transformative power of entrepreneurial thinking in shaping the future of Ghana’s economy.
In the wake of their victory, the UCC team’s success serves as a beacon of inspiration for aspiring entrepreneurs and innovators across the country. With their pioneering ideas and determination, they have not only secured a prestigious accolade but also paved the way for a new era of innovation in Ghana.
Source: GESHub.org
