Learn-Do-Grow Initiative Officially Launched

Step up Business school, a competency-based training institution has launched an initiative here in Accra to nurture young entrepreneurs to thrive in business.

The initiative dubbed, “Learn-Do-Grow” aims at eradicating unemployment and overreliance on the government for employment opportunities amongst the youth.

The project has three phases or stages that are geared towards equipping the youth with relevant entrepreneurial skills that will imbibe in them the knowledge needed to thrive in business. The stages; Learn, Do and Grow come together in shaping the skill set of the participants who will in turn give back to society.

Addressing the stakeholders at the launch, Charles King Nanor, the president of Step up Business School said “Learn-Do-Grow will train about 340 young entrepreneurs every year who will go through a 21-day virtual training after which they will be attached to firms to understudy seasoned entrepreneurs.” He added that there will be a business idea challenge during the program where the top 5 business ideas will receive seed capital to start their businesses.

Seth Yeboah Ocran, CEO of YOKS Investments who was the chairman of the occasion urged the youth to take advantage of the opportunity to broaden their knowledge base and become their own bosses. He added that the unemployment and underemployment statistics according to the World Bank is a worrying situation that demands a radical approach to curb the menace in Ghana. He further stated that he was glad about the fact that an initiative of that sort like many others is coming up and this is indicative of the fact that individuals and corporate bodies are showing love to humanity especially the youth. In encouraging participants, he noted, “all great businesses and enterprises started from somewhere and this is an opportunity for the youth to kick-start a befitting entrepreneurial career.”

George Babafemi, Managing Director of eTranzact Ghana Limited, in delivering the keynote address took time to elaborate on some thoughtful issues. He opined that “it is easy to start an enterprise but it is foolishness to start without knowing what it will cost you”. In his opinion, “without self-discovery and knowing who you are, you will not be able to take full advantage of the program”. He added that one key element of a metric program is becoming a “unique you” and riding on the wings of people who have gone ahead of you. He took the opportunity to charge participants of the program to solve problems for humanity and in doing so, money will come as a by-product. In effect, participants should not be money conscious but solution-oriented.

Recounting his undergraduate thesis, on “the study of the causes of poor performance and failure of SMEs in Ghana,” Pastor William Burckson, the head Pastor of Kingdom Expression Ministry elaborated on two things that stood out in his findings: Inadequate capacity and inadequate finance. He indicated that an entrepreneur must operate from wealth which is different from riches. He explained that the young entrepreneur should operate from the wealth of ideas, the wealth of time, and the wealth of counsel”

Dignitaries present at the launch together pledged their unflinching support for the initiative.

It is FREE to join the program. Interested applicants (up to 30years of age) of the Learn-Do-Grow initiative, are required to visit the official website at www.learn-do-grow.org to register.