Vice President Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang has underscored the critical role of youth innovation in shaping Ghana’s future at the launch of the SEED Programme at the University of Professional Studies, Accra.

Addressing students, policymakers, and stakeholders, she emphasised that Ghana’s future depends on how effectively it supports its young people to innovate and create opportunities.

“This event shows what Ghana can achieve by deliberately nurturing young people to seek opportunities and also create for themselves and for others,” she said.

She highlighted the overwhelming response to the Adwumawura Programme as evidence of the readiness of Ghanaian youth.

“Adwumawura attracted numerous applications when it opened, demonstrating the readiness of Ghana’s youth to innovate and take risks,” she noted.

According to her, the strong interest in the programme reflects both the scale of youth unemployment and the determination among young people to overcome it.

“This programme provides a platform to support students in transforming innovative ideas into sustainable enterprises,” she added.

She explained that the SEED Programme forms part of a broader national strategy aimed at empowering young people through entrepreneurship.

“SEED reflects Government’s commitment to empowering young people to take charge of their future,” she said.

The Vice President also acknowledged the contributions of key institutions and stakeholders behind the initiative.

“I commend the Ministry of Education, the Minister for Youth Development and Empowerment, the Chief Executive Officer of the National Entrepreneurship and Innovation Programme, their dedicated teams, and all stakeholders for their hard work and leadership,” she stated.

She further praised innovation hubs for their role in driving implementation across tertiary institutions.

“I also congratulate all the innovation hubs that will drive implementation across tertiary institutions,” she added.

She urged beneficiaries to take full advantage of the opportunity.

“Congratulations to the first cohort of participants. I encourage you to seize this opportunity to contribute meaningfully to national development,” she said.

The Vice President concluded that empowering young people remains central to Ghana’s long term economic transformation.