A two-day capacity-building programme aimed at empowering rural micro-entrepreneurs in agro-business and aquaculture has opened at the University of Environment and Sustainable Development (UESD), Somanya.
The initiative, dubbed the Rural Micro-Enterprises Starter (RUMES), is part of the Nkabom Collaborative, a partnership involving the Mastercard Foundation, McGill University, six Public Universities in Ghana, AGI and UESD. The maiden training session, held at the University’s Lecture Theatre 6, brings together participants from various rural communities in the Somanya township and its environs, eager to build resilient and sustainable enterprises.
In his opening remarks, the Principal Investigator of the UESD Nkabom Initiative and Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Eric Nyarko-Sampson, commended the participants for taking a bold step toward transforming their businesses and livelihoods.
“This training is designed to give you the knowledge and confidence to grow your enterprises sustainably,” Prof. Nyarko-Sampson said. “We at UESD believe that when rural entrepreneurs thrive, communities prosper, and the nation advances.”
He emphasised that the RUMES training forms part of UESD’s broader mission to support enterprise development, innovation, and community transformation, particularly within rural settings.
Over the two days, participants will be introduced to practical tools and concepts including identifying customers and crafting value propositions, cost computation and pricing, break-even analysis, cash management, record-keeping, micro-compliance, taxation basics, product quality control, and digital marketing for smarter selling.
By the end of the training, participants are expected to improve money management, adopt digital tools for marketing, minimize waste, and set measurable goals to monitor progress.
Members of the Nkabom Collaborative present at the event included the Registrar, Mrs Mary who is also the Nkabom Administrator, Prof. Francis Shine Gbedemah, Dean of the School of Natural and Environmental Sciences (SNES); Dr. Christian Ayisi Larbi, Aquaculture Lead; and Dr. Stella Eunice Nyarko, Entrepreneurship Lead.
Participants expressed excitement about the opportunity to learn directly from experts and network with fellow entrepreneurs. Many described the programme as “timely and empowering,” especially in helping them understand the business side of their trade.