UNDP awards start-up capital to winners of YISD competition

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) with support from the National Youth Authority (NYA) has awarded start-up capital to 16 winners of the Youth Innovative for Sustainable Development (YISD) competition in Accra. The initiative is aimed at promoting entrepreneurship development among the youth.

An amount of USD 5,000 was awarded to each of the winners as a start-up capital to enable them improve on their business ideas and become successful entrepreneurs.

Disclosing the initiatives, the UNDP Resident Representative, Silke Hollander, said the ambitious and innovative idea launched this year consist of 60 Accelerator Labs, the largest learning network aimed at identifying grassroot solutions of local actors across the world and Ghana.

She said this initiative would validate the potential to accelerate development, harness the potential of real time data and energy to respond rapidly to evolving challenges that impact development.

“Building on locally-sourced solutions, the Accelerator Lab is ready to rapidly test and iterate new ideas, transform collective approaches by introducing new services, backed by evidence and practices,” Silke Hollander stated.

She reassured the commitment of UNDP in supporting young citizens to experiment, test and scale-up innovative solutions towards achieving the SDGs, adding that, such initiative would continue in that effort through the Accelerator Lab initiative, the YouthConnekt platform and other oriented platforms.

The Deputy Chief Executive of NYA, Nelson Owusu Ansah, also advised the youth to venture into entrepreneurship through the appropriate means by engaging in such platforms. He said they should not remain unconcerned, stating that, the opportunity would serve as a game changer for the ones with good business ideas.

“Every business needs innovative skills and ideas that will help you create your own jobs. You are the epitome of entrepreneurship,” he said.

About 365 young citizens with business development ideas entered into the competition across the country and I6 were selected as the youth with brilliant entrepreneurship ideas.

The Winners of the YISD are;

1. Iddrisu Alhassan Kobga
2. Prince Oppong
3. Felix Appiah
4. Paulina Mwindor
5. Adjoa Boatemaa Bonsu
6. Enoch Keitu
7. Mashud Mohammed
8. Dr. Elvis Forson
9. Michael Adusei-Nsowah
10. Mensah Adjei
11. Samuel Prince Jnr. Bako
12. Mabel Suglo
13. Lauretta Kuadey
14. Daniel Amedza Phillips
15. Jonathan Kojo
16. Abudu Bayorwor

Source: Eric Nii Sackey || [email protected]