Participants, facilitators, award winners, and officials of the E4Impact Foundation in a group photograph after the final pitch and graduation ceremony of the International Certificate in Impact Entrepreneurship Programme at UBIDS.
The University of Business and Integrated Development Studies (UBIDS) has held the final pitch and graduation ceremony for participants of the International Certificate in Impact Entrepreneurship Programme at the Bamahu Campus.
The Programme, held on Tuesday, 26th May 2026, brought together University Management, faculty, partners, judges, invited guests and student entrepreneurs to mark the successful completion of the four-month Entrepreneurship Training Programme.
In her opening statement, the Project Lead, Professor Felicia Naatu, expressed joy at the successful completion of the Programme, which was officially launched in February 2026. She noted that the initiative began as a vision in December 2024 when Professor Frederick Dayour, Director of Research, Innovation and Consultancy, together with Professor Stanley Dary, Mr. Nicholas Tanye and herself, worked on the application for the Programme.
Professor Naatu indicated that the Programme had demonstrated UBIDS’ commitment to academic excellence, innovation and community-centred development. According to her, the initiative equipped participants with practical entrepreneurial skills, global perspectives and the mindset needed to create sustainable solutions to social and economic challenges.
She expressed appreciation to the E4Impact Foundation, the United Nations Capital Development Fund, the European Union and the Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore for their support and partnership. She also commended University Management and faculty members who contributed to the successful implementation of the Programme.
Chairing the ceremony on behalf of the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Emmanuel Kanchebe Derbile, Professor Kenneth Peprah said he had followed the Programme closely since its launch and was pleased with its progress. He thanked the University Management, partners and donors for supporting the training of the student entrepreneurs.
Professor Peprah urged the graduating participants to serve as good ambassadors of UBIDS and the society, encouraging them to uphold to ethical values in their entrepreneurial pursuits.
Delivering the keynote address, the Deputy Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Enterprises Agency, Mr. Prince Iddrissu Mahmud, commended UBIDS for hosting the Programme and promoting entrepreneurship among students. He said that Programmes of that nature should be encouraged to ensure that students do not leave the University only with academic certificates, but also with practical entrepreneurial skills.
Mr. Iddrisu explained that the Ghana Enterprises Agency supports business development through both financial and non-financial services, including business training. He added that the Agency remained open to supporting entrepreneurs across the country and was working with relevant institutions to provide support in areas including Wa, Nandom and Tumu.
On behalf of the E4Impact Foundation, Mr. Samuel Owusu delivered remarks for the Country Manager, Mr. Saviour Agortimevor. He congratulated the participants and encouraged them to see the graduation not as the end of the journey, but as preparation for future enterprise development.
The final pitch session was organised in two categories: Startup and Ideation, and Scaleup. Each participant was given five minutes to present their business idea or venture before a panel of judges.
The panel of judges comprised Professor John Y. Akparep, Dean of the School of Business; Dr. Godwin Dugle, Head of the Department of Management Studies, School of Business; Mr. Mohammed A. Moomin, Regional Director of the Ghana Enterprises Agency and Mr. Sumaila Chakurah, School Officer of the School of Law.
Presentations in the Startup and Ideation category included Smart Innovations Impact,Creative Grace, RDI GH Ltd, Suma-Asum Restaurant, Green Crescent Enterprise and other emerging business ideas. The Scaleup category featured ventures including Honey Crunchy Nut and Ocean De Ryvir.
At the end of the pitch session, awards were presented to outstanding participants in both the Ideation and Scale-Up categories. In the Ideation category, Prof. Kenneth Peprah of R & D Incubation Ghana Ltd emerged as the winner, while Shaibu Poleenaa Sumaila of Smart Innovations Impact placed second. In the Scale-Up category, Mary Yelbuore of Mirands emerged as the winner, with Richard Bawontuo of Oceans De Ryvil securing the second position. The selected ventures are expected to represent UBIDS at the next stage of the competition in Accra, where they will compete with winners from other participating universities.
In her closing remarks, Professor Naatu expressed satisfaction with the presentations and commended the participants for their efforts. She encouraged them not to stop at the ideas presented, but to continue refining their businesses and incorporating the feedback received from the judges.
She thanked the Chairperson, Keynote speaker, Judges, Partners, and Staff for their contributions to the success of the Programme.
The International Certificate in Impact Entrepreneurship Programme forms part of UBIDS’ commitment to promoting innovation, enterprise development and practical learning among students. It also reflects the University’s strategic focus on producing graduates who are not only academically prepared, but also equipped to create jobs, drive innovation and contribute meaningfully to sustainable development.