The University of Environment and Sustainable Development (UESD) has officially inaugurated its chapter of the AfCFTA Campus Connect Club at a vibrant ceremony held in the Auditorium, Multi-Purpose Building. The initiative is part of a wider continental strategy aimed at involving students in the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), the world’s largest free trade zone by number of participating countries.
The event brought together students, faculty, business leaders, and development stakeholders, underscoring the growing interest in AfCFTA’s potential to reshape Africa’s economic landscape.
Launched in 2018, AfCFTA aims to create a single continental market for goods and services, enhance the movement of people, and increase intra-African trade. Through the Campus Connect initiative, AfCFTA seeks to empower students and young entrepreneurs to harness the benefits of this continental framework.
The UESD Club Coordinator, Dr. Kwaku Adu, opened the ceremony with a spirited speech, emphasising the long-term vision of the club. “The club will give students at UESD a first-hand opportunity to explore African trade mechanisms and how they can position themselves for future opportunities — even beyond their university years,” he said, urging more students to join the initiative.
Keynote speaker Mr. Kobina Adomadzi Longdon, CEO of TECHFARM Hub and a partner in the initiative, lauded the leadership of UESD Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Eric Nyarko-Sampson, and shared insights on AfCFTA’s two-pronged strategy: targeting both secondary and tertiary institutions. He encouraged students to tap into entrepreneurial opportunities early. “This club is here to help you scale,” he told them, linking the initiative to UESD’s core values of Honesty, Opportunity, Perseverance, and Enterprising (HOPE).
Mr. Longdon also announced upcoming training programmes in partnership with UESD’s Innovation Hub and national organisations such as the Ghana Enterprise Agency, National Youth Authority, and the United Nations Youth Association Ghana.
The club’s Patron, Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Eric Nyarko-Sampson in his remarks, urged students to move beyond academics and embrace innovation and entrepreneurship. “AI is not the future, it is now,” he stated, encouraging students to build real-world skills and invest in their personal development.
He also shared UESD’s plans to embed entrepreneurship in its curriculum under the ‘NKabom’ project, 10-year initiative focused on agro-waste processing and aquaculture technology, supported by the Mastercard Foundation. The project aims for 70% female inclusion and accommodates persons with disabilities and internally displaced persons.
The Vice-Chancellor officially declared the AfCFTA Campus Connect Club at UESD inaugurated, urging students to seize the opportunity to be at the forefront of Africa’s transformation.
Newly inducted Club President, Julius Yaw Terkpernor, a final-year Energy and Resource student, expressed his gratitude for the trust placed in him. He pledged to work with fellow executives and student leaders to build a vibrant platform for collaboration and innovation.
The inauguration marks a significant step in UESD’s broader mission to equip its students to lead Africa’s future in sustainable development, innovation, and economic integration. Other members of the club are: Vice President: Abigail Oye Awuku – Chemistry and Biological Sciences (Level 300), Secretary: Diana Seyram Setordzi – Sustainable Development (Level 300) and Financial Secretary: Ernest Apo Ansah – Sustainable Development (Level 300)
Organizers:
Osakonor Regina – Energy and Resource (Level 300)
Twumasi Listowel – Energy and Resource (Level 300)
Faustina Padi – Environmental Economics and Policy (Level 300)
Isaac Kofi Teye – Sustainable Development (Level 300)
Research and Innovation Directors:
Innocentia Denyo – Environment and Public Health (Level 300)
Mohammed Lawal – Geography and Earth Sciences (Level 300)
Awaitey Priscilla – Sustainable Development (Level 200)
Kingsbel Bless Osantey – Sustainable Development (Level 300)
Public Relations Officer: Andrew Amoah Arko – Sustainable Development (Level 300)