100 youth entrepreneurs undergo skills devt training
OVER 100 youth entrepreneurs from five regions in the country have successfully completed a six-month intensive skills development programme.
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Under the Orange Corner Ghana acceleration programme, it was designed to equip participants with the skills, knowledge and resources necessary to scale their businesses through capacity building and access to funding.
Through mentorship, workshops, networking opportunities and access to finance, the young entrepreneurs demonstrated remarkable growth and resilience in the face of challenges.
The beneficiaries have emerged as trailblazers and change-makers in their respective industries, poised to contribute to the economic development of their communities.
Speaking at the graduation ceremony in Accra to mark the conclusion of its cohort 7 batch, the Netherlands Ambassador to Ghana, Jeroen Verheul, congratulated the participants and expressed recognition for the remarkable achievements of the Orange Corners Ghana Acceleration Programme.
He highlighted the impressive growth observed in the number of participants, partners and programme locations across various regions of Ghana and acknowledged the inclusion of digital sessions in the programme’s outreach efforts.
He said out of the 350 who were supported from the Orange Corners Centres from across the country (Accra, Kumasi, Ho, Takoradi and Tamale), over 100 successfully completed and qualified to apply for the programme’s allocated funding opportunity.
Mr Verheul said those participants would now have the chance to apply for a low-interest growth loan of up to EUR 50,000.00 from the Orange Corners Innovation Fund, managed by Fidelity Bank.
This initiative aims to provide these exceptional individuals with the financial resources necessary to scale their businesses and continue their path to success.
Cohort 8
The ambassador said the call for the next batch, Cohort 8, marks an exciting new chapter for Orange Corners as it opens its doors to a fresh batch of talented and ambitious young entrepreneurs.
This next cohort, he said, would have the opportunity to benefit from the vast resources, mentorship and network of support that Orange Corners offers, propelling them towards success and sustainability in their entrepreneurial journeys.
“Interested applicants are invited to visit the Orange Corners website at www.orangecorners.com or visit our social media pages for more information on the application process and eligibility criteria.”
The call for applications for Cohort 8 opened on July 10, 2023, and closes on August 11 2023, he added.
Creating decent jobs
The Regional Director of MDF Africa, Richard Yeboah, expressed appreciation to the Kingdom of the Netherlands for granting the opportunity to support the entrepreneurs.
He emphasised the inception of the Orange Corners programme, which commenced in 2019 with 30 companies, and how it has since provided support to over 600 companies.
He explained that the increase in the number of applications received has led to the decision to scale up the programme after consulting with the partners.
“Currently, we are offering these programmes in Accra, Kumasi, Tamale and Ho. He also emphasised one of the distinctive aspects of the Orange Corners Programme, which involves supporting companies in their formalisation process.
The programme goes beyond merely generating employment opportunities; it focuses on creating decent jobs,” Mr Yeboah said.
He disclosed that there was a new phase of the programme that aimed to promote sustainability in businesses and the agricultural value chain, particularly in the horticulture and cocoa industries.