Two weeks after public sector workers from across Africa participated in a KOICA youth leadership programme at the Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration (GIMPA), the focus has shifted to a new group of more than 100 selected African entrepreneurs who will undergo a two-week leadership and capacity-building programme beginning today.
The programme, organised as part of the Korean Leadership Programme for Africa, brings together young entrepreneurs from five African countries which includes Ghana, Cameroon, Nigeria, Côte d’Ivoire and Senegal to strengthen their leadership, innovation and entrepreneurial capabilities while creating opportunities for cross-border networking and collaboration.
Welcoming the participants, GIMPA Rector, Professor Samuel Kwaku Bonsu, challenged the young entrepreneurs to make the most of the two weeks by building meaningful relationships, exchanging ideas and developing solutions that can contribute to Africa’s economic transformation.
He emphasised that being young is not determined solely by age but by the willingness to use one’s talents and abilities to create value. He urged the entrepreneurs to identify opportunities, develop innovative ideas and use their businesses to address challenges within their communities and across the continent.
With participants from countries including Ghana, Cameroon, Nigeria, Côte d’Ivoire and Senegal, Professor Bonsu stressed the importance of building connections beyond national borders. He encouraged the entrepreneurs to look beyond their individual markets and establish relationships that could lead to future business partnerships, market opportunities and collaboration.
He further challenged them not to return home and continue with business as usual, but to apply the knowledge and experiences gained from the programme to create opportunities and contribute meaningfully to Africa’s development.
Professor King of the Graduate School of Global Cooperation at Hallym University highlighted South Korea’s development journey as an example of how education, innovation, investment and human capital can drive national transformation.
He encouraged the entrepreneurs to invest in themselves, strengthen their ideas and build networks that can support the growth of their businesses. He also urged them to appreciate the historical and cultural connections that exist across African countries and use these shared experiences to strengthen cooperation.
The Director of Operations for West Africa also challenged the participants to tell authentic African business stories and find ways to take African brands to the global market.
He urged them to think beyond their individual countries and explore how African businesses can grow into globally recognised brands through innovation, strategic partnerships and collaboration.
The two-week programme is expected to provide the selected entrepreneurs with opportunities to learn from experienced facilitators, exchange knowledge and experiences, and establish networks that can support their entrepreneurial journeys beyond the programme.
The initiative follows a similar KOICA programme held two weeks ago for public sector workers, reinforcing efforts to equip different groups of African leaders and professionals with the knowledge, skills and networks needed to contribute to the continent’s development.
For the entrepreneurs, the programme represents more than two weeks of training. It is an opportunity to build lasting connections across Africa, strengthen their businesses and return home equipped to create opportunities and contribute to a more connected and economically vibrant continent.
