ADB MD urges agric students to lead agribusiness transformation

The Managing Director of Agricultural Development Bank (ADB) PLC, Edward Ato Sarpong, has called on students pursuing agriculture to embrace entrepreneurship and innovation as key tools in transforming Ghana’s agribusiness landscape.

He made the call as part of this year’s Agricultural Students’ Career Guidance and Mentorship Dialogue (AG-STUD) Boot Camp.

The boot camp, organised by the Agrihouse Foundation and ADB as a sponsor, brings together students from various agricultural institutions nationwide to connect them with industry leaders and foster their entrepreneurial growth.

The students and the organisers paid a courtesy call on the management of ADB as part of the week-long program.

In his remarks, Ato Sarpong tasked the students to shift their mindset from traditional, subsistence farming to agripreneurship; a modern approach that integrates innovation, technology, value addition, and sustainable practices into the agricultural value chain.

“You are not just students of agriculture; you are the future leaders of Ghana’s agricultural value chain. Your role in building a resilient and modern agribusiness sector cannot be overemphasized,” he stated.

Ato Sarpong, who underscored the critical need for youth-led solutions in transforming agriculture and other businesses, also urged the participants to take advantage of platforms like AG-STUD to sharpen their skills, network with mentors, and develop business ideas that can scale and create employment for wealth creation.

The ADB MD reaffirmed the Bank’s commitment to empowering the youth through tailored financing, capacity-building, and internship opportunities, citing AG-STUD as essential in bridging the gap between academic theory and practical application.

“In addition to our Student Save Account, the Bank intends to launch innovative funding schemes that will provide easy access to capital for agric students and young entrepreneurs in the agric value chain and other key sectors of the economy,” he disclosed.

The General Manager in charge of Agribusiness, Kwame Asiedu Attrams, stated that ADB is proud to remain a sponsor of the AG-STUD Boot Camp as it amplifies the Bank’s commitment to invest in a new generation of entrepreneurs whose interest is in agribusiness to create wealth and facilitate economic growth.

In expressing appreciation, the Executive Director of Agrihouse Foundation, Alberta Akorsa, thanked ADB for its continuous support of AG-STUD initiatives, agricultural education, and entrepreneurship in Ghana.

This year’s Ag-STUD Boot Camp, which is ending on Friday, May 9, 2025, is being attended by 125 students who were competitively selected by the organizers from 23 schools, made up of universities and tertiary agricultural colleges across the country.

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