Students challenged to become AfCFTA champions
THE Patron of the University of Ghana Chapter of the Ghana International Trade and Financial Conference (GITFiC)-African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Club, Professor Rosina Foli, has urged tertiary students to take an active role in Africa’s economic transformation by acquiring knowledge and exploring opportunities created by the AfCFTA Agreement.
She said the agreement could not transform African economies if young people failed to understand its provisions and the opportunities it offered.
Prof. Foli made the call at the launch of the AfCFTA Tertiary Student Week Celebration in Accra yesterday.
She urged students to move beyond the classroom and position themselves to benefit from the opportunities presented by the continental trade agreement.
“Learn, connect, and lead. Africa’s transformation will not be driven from Geneva or New York. We have to drive it from Africa,” she stated.
Prof. Foli said the student week was aimed at educating tertiary students about the AfCFTA and providing a platform for them to connect, collaborate, innovate and develop ideas capable of contributing to Africa’s development.
She said the initiative formed part of efforts to build a strong community of African trade and development students from diverse academic disciplines who could collectively contribute to the implementation of the continental trade agenda.
According to her, the club would provide students with access to opportunities in AfCFTA member states, international conferences, regional seminars and structured programmes.
She further urged students to use the week-long celebration to develop business ideas, share experiences and establish connections that could support small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).
The President of the GITFiC-AfCFTA Club, Adu-Boahen Felix, said activities for the week would include a sports festival and a business pitch competition, where students would present their business ideas before a panel of judges.
He said the top three finalists would be enrolled in the GITFiC SME Programme, with their products receiving product enhancement and development support.
Mr Adu-Boahen said the pitch competition was intended to give students practical experience in defending their business ideas while developing their entrepreneurial skills.
He explained that the student week was designed to complement classroom learning with practical experiences that would prepare students for participation in the continental market.
He called on students to take advantage of the initiative to acquire knowledge about the African market and better position themselves to negotiate and operate within it.
BY PRINCE ADDO FRIMPONG
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