Include entrepreneurial skills training in curricula
The Methodist University College of Ghana (MUCG) at Dansoman in Accra has held its 12th congregation in Accra, with a call on tertiary institutions to include entrepreneurial skills training in their curricula.
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The Principal of the MUCG, Reverend Professor Samuel Kwesi Agyapong, who made the call, said that was necessary to encourage students to set up their own businesses upon their graduation instead of looking up to the government for employment.
He said in view of the current high interest rates, the government should come up with policies that would help new graduates to access soft loans to start their own businesses, especially in the fields of agriculture and small-scale enterprises, while those who intended to further their education in various disciplines should be encouraged to do so.
Appeal to government
Prof. Agyapong also appealed to the government to reconsider its decision to compel private universities to pay corporate tax, explaining that private universities were not profit-making ventures and, therefore, it was a bit inconsiderate for them to pay corporate tax since they produced graduates who also contributed their quota to national development.
“The perception that private tertiary education institutions have been established to make profit is erroneous. As a matter of fact, most private tertiary institutions are bleeding financially,” he said.
He added that private universities were established to help the government to meet the increasing demand for tertiary education and had produced over 60,000 graduates, who have contributed significantly to the nation’s human resource development over the decade.
Advice to graduates
The Chief Executive Officer/CEO) of Zenith Bank and Guest of Honour at the congregation, Mr Daniel Asiedu, advised the students to be focused on what they wanted to do, to achieve success and not sway from their purpose in life.
He said they should be ready to face the challenges that would confront them as they stepped into the corporate world, so that they would not be discouraged to give up on their dreams.
“Bear in mind that life will throw challenges at you as you go into the business world but you should see it as a situation that will prepare you to face even bigger challenges as you grow,” he said.