MTN Ghana has graduated 88 entrepreneurs from its Mini MBA programme delivered in partnership with Nova Business School Africa, as part of efforts to strengthen business management capacity among small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).
The graduation ceremony marked the culmination of the Mini MBA component of MTN Business’ year-long SME Accelerate programme, which provides entrepreneurs with training and support to improve their business operations and pursue growth opportunities.
Angela Mensah-Poku, MTN Ghana’s Chief Enterprise Officer, said that the graduation represented the entrepreneurs’ commitment to learning and their determination to build businesses that could compete, create jobs and contribute to Ghana’s economy.
She said that supporting SMEs required more than providing products and connectivity, noting that entrepreneurs also needed the capacity to respond to changing customer expectations, competition, digital disruption and economic pressures.
“This is the thinking behind SME Accelerate,” she said, explaining that the partnership with Nova Business School Africa had enabled entrepreneurs to access structured learning, practical business knowledge and new perspectives to support their decision-making.
Ms. Mensah-Poku encouraged the graduates to apply what they had learned to their businesses, including reviewing their processes, finances, marketing and use of technology.
She also urged them to continue learning, share their knowledge with their teams, create jobs and mentor other entrepreneurs.
“Technology alone is not enough. Technology needs capable people,” she said, explaining why programmes such as SME Accelerate were important to developing entrepreneurs.
The programme was designed to address business capacity gaps identified through SME clinics, according to Mohammed Abubakari-Sidik, MTN Ghana’s Senior Manager for SME Sales, Business Partnership and Business Fibre Broadband.
He said that the clinics, which lasted two days each, helped identify SMEs that needed further support. The Mini MBA subsequently provided a more sustained learning experience, with a 13-week programme covering areas including strategic financing, sustainability, bookkeeping and digitisation.
Mr Abubakari-Sidik said that six SME clinics had been held during the year, from which the participants for the Mini MBA were selected in collaboration with Nova Business School Africa.
He said that the initiative was intended to help businesses move from survival to growth, adding that MTN planned to continue the Mini MBA annually.
Nova Business School Africa’s President and Chief Executive Officer, Professor Matthew Tsamenyi, said that the programme had brought together entrepreneurs who could contribute to the growth of Ghana’s economy.
He noted that the school was committed to supporting the graduates beyond the six-month period and would work with them through an alumni community to encourage the application of lessons and capstone projects to their businesses.
Prof. Tsamenyi said that the partnership with MTN had enabled the programme to align its learning activities with the company’s strategy, adding that the graduation marked the beginning rather than the end of the relationship.
Graduates highlight practical lessons
Emmanuel Wesom Achiom, founder of 1st Koko Spot, said that he had initially expected a largely theoretical programme but found the sessions practical because the facilitators brought first-hand business expertise.
He said that the training had influenced how he approached business decisions and strategies, particularly the need to study markets and conduct research before making decisions.
He disclosed that he had a science background before venturing into business, however, the experience had helped him understand business concepts more clearly and prepared him to implement the lessons he had gained.
Nana Abena Oforiwaa Kwao-Adotey, founder of SinceShea, a beauty and personal care brand that manufactures skin and hair care products, said the programme had helped her identify gaps in her digital marketing and financial record-keeping.
She said that she had previously believed she was using digital tools effectively but had not been seeing the results she expected in her business statistics.
She added that she had begun implementing activities from her 90-day business blueprint, including plans to develop a business catalogue, establish a WhatsApp page and optimise her website.
MTN announces regional pitch competition
At the ceremony, Louisa Anarfi, MTN Ghana’s Manager for SME Sales in the southern part of the country, announced plans for a national pitch competition aimed at supporting businesses.
She said that the competition would select one winner from each of Ghana’s 16 regions, with each regional winner receiving GH¢30,000 to invest in their business.
The regional winners would then return to Accra to pitch for a grand prize of GH¢300,000, she said.
Ms. Anarfi urged entrepreneurs to follow MTN’s social media platforms and other communication channels for details of the competition.
Source: businessghana
