By Roselyn Ganyaglo
The Director of Programmes and Partnerships, British Council Ghana, Solomon Antumwini has reiterated the need to bridge the gap between industry and graduates. He said collaborating with universities outside the continent will foster the creation of new ideas that are demand and solution-driven.
At an exhibition to showcase the outcome of the Innovation for African Universities, IAU programme in Accra Mr Antumwini said the initiative will inject innovation and creativity into graduates, thus boosting the country’s economy.
He reminded the universities of the critical role they play in these international partnerships. He explained that the program offers a platform for the youth to think within the entrepreneurial space, indicating that the British Council will create entrepreneurial hubs to assist young graduates.
The IAU programme under the auspices of the British Council in Sub-Saharan Africa is aimed at closing the gap between job seekers and job creators.
The programme has facilitated 24 Africa-UK University Partnerships implementing projects to support young people seeking to develop job creation entities and sustainable enterprises. Four out of the 24 collaboration grants were awarded to Ghanaian universities, enabling them to collaborate with UK university partners and ecosystem players to develop and deliver various entrepreneurship and innovation-related projects.
The exhibition featured some of the 35 projects that evolved out of the IAU Programme piloted in 4 countries, Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria and South Africa. Regional Director, Higher Education Programmes, British Council Sub-Sahara Africa, Adetomi Soyinka indicated that it is critical to bring the private sector on board, adding that stakeholders and policymakers have key roles in maximising the success of the IAU programme.
Executive Chairman, Sakfos Holdings Ghana, Dr. Abu Sakara urged graduates to venture into the private sector as the public sector is said to be choked. He indicated that entrepreneurship is an intangible thing that must be taken advantage of. Dr. Sakara described the continent’s young population as an asset that must be taken advantage of.
Other discussants like Development Director of Change School, Neil Marshall and the Co-founder of M&ESURE Research and Evaluation, based in South Africa, Megan Franklin during an open forum of the exhibition spoke passionately about instituting innovative projects that will align industry and Universities for job creation. Representatives were drawn from Ghana, Nigeria, Kenya, and South Africa.
