UEW Innovation Hub

UEW Innovation Hub Empowers Youth with Start-Up Kits for Fruit Juice Processing
The UEW Innovation Hub has distributed startup kits to beneficiaries of the AA2E Fruit Juice Processing Program, underscoring its commitment to youth entrepreneurship and skills development. Sponsored by the Mastercard Foundation in collaboration with the Ghana Enterprises Agency, the program provided essential equipment to help participants establish fruit-juice processing businesses. The kits, which included juicers, weighing scales, aprons, gloves, and bottles, were presented to those who successfully completed an intensive training program organized by the UEW Innovation Hub. The training equipped participants with practical processing skills and foundational business management knowledge.
Speaking on behalf of the Pro Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Sakina Acquah urged beneficiaries to draw inspiration from successful entrepreneurs who began with limited resources and have since expanded their ventures. She commended the UEW Innovation Hub and its partners for this impactful initiative.
The Municipal Chief Executive, Hon. Rev. Atta Mensah, urged beneficiaries to scale their businesses to meaningfully contribute to local economic development in the Effutu Municipality. He emphasized the need for monitoring and evaluation to ensure long-term impact and encouraged beneficiaries to share their knowledge with other unemployed youth.
This initiative underscores the UEW Innovation Hub’s strategic focus on practical, impact-driven interventions that equip young people with the skills, tools, and confidence to build sustainable enterprises. Through programs such as AA2E, the Hub continues to foster innovation, promote self-employment, and support community development in Winneba and beyond.

UEW Innovation Hub Concludes Nkabom Collaborative Program - Day 2

The UEW Innovation Hub successfully concluded the two-day Nkabom Collaborative program on Thursday, 19th March, 2026, with its second session dedicated to Ideation, Design Thinking, and the Pathway to a minimum viable product (MVP).
Building on the foundation established on Day 1, participants advanced their skills by learning how to identify genuine problems and generate meaningful business ideas. The session emphasised practical ideation rules, the importance of solving the right problems, and the application of human-centred design thinking. Facilitators guided participants through the five-phase design thinking process while highlighting common pitfalls to avoid when moving from concept to ex*****on. A major highlight was the hands-on “From Farm to Fork” exercise, during which participants mapped inefficiencies in the agri-food systems, formulated “How Might We” questions, brainstormed innovative solutions, and outlined pathways to develop Minimum Viable Products that deliver core value and enable real-world testing.
We sincerely thank all participants and facilitators for their dedication, creativity, and active engagement.

UEW Innovation Hub Hosts Nkabom Collaborative Program – Day 1

The UEW Innovation Hub successfully hosted the Nkabom Collaborative program on Wednesday, March 18, 2026, focusing on understanding agrifood systems and identifying real problems. Participants gained a comprehensive understanding of agrifood systems and their key components, including input and support services, primary production, processing and value addition, distribution, trade and marketing, consumption, and waste management. They learned to identify viable business opportunities across the entire value chain. The session included hands-on activities where participants analyzed problems like post-harvest losses and developed initial business concepts. A dedicated module on the psychology of entrepreneurship also equipped participants with tools for resilience, mental strength, and managing the pressures of building a successful business.

UEW Innovation Hub Selects First Cohort of Student Ambassadors
The UEW Innovation Hub has selected its first cohort of Student Ambassadors to advance its mission across all UEW campuses. The competitive recruitment process attracted a high number of applications, reflecting strong student interest in innovation, entrepreneurship, and active campus engagement.
Following a structured and merit-based selection process, the newly appointed ambassadors will promote the Hub’s programs and opportunities, raise awareness of innovation initiatives, and encourage broader student participation across the university community.
The selection of this inaugural cohort marks an important milestone in strengthening a campus-wide innovation ecosystem and reinforces the Hub’s commitment to student-led advocacy and engagement.

Impact story from UEW Innovation Hub

James Kpormegbe, a Level 100 student pursuing Marketing and Entrepreneurship at the University of Education, Winneba (UEW), represents a new generation of student innovators transforming ideas into impactful enterprises.
Driven by a passion for agribusiness and innovation, James submitted an entry to the UEW Innovation Hub Business Pitch Competition, where his team was shortlisted. This opportunity led to their participation in an intensive one-week incubation training program at the UEW Innovation Hub. During the training, participants were equipped with practical skills on opportunity identification, business development, value creation, and sustainable entrepreneurship. The experience provided access to valuable resources, mentorship, and thought-provoking insights that challenged James to apply innovative thinking within his field of interest.
Inspired by the training, James further established Ekuafo Link, an agribusiness venture focused on the small-scale cultivation of pineapple and cassava. Through lessons gained at the Innovation Hub, the team learned the importance of value addition and market linkage. As a result, Ekuafo Link expanded beyond raw production to process pineapples into fruit juice and cassava into gari, supplying Procus Ghana Limited (Kivo).
This strategic shift yielded remarkable outcomes. Ekuafo Link emerged as National Students’ Startup of the Year and National Agribusiness of the Year 2025, affirming the power of innovation, youth entrepreneurship, and practical education.
Beyond awards, Ekuafo Link has created meaningful community impact. The initiative has generated employment opportunities for young people interested in pineapple farming while providing a reliable market for elderly women in the community who supply gari. The venture has also enabled student team members to support themselves by paying school fees and acquiring essential educational materials.
Looking ahead, Ekuafo Link aims to expand its farms across several hectares and establish itself as one of Africa’s leading student-led fruit juice brands. The journey continues with a strong commitment to innovation, sustainability, and community empowerment.
Ekuafo Link extends its heartfelt gratitude to the UEW Innovation Hub for helping it discover their identity - not merely as students or farmers, but as innovators. Special appreciation goes to the Innovation Hub’s coordinator, Dr. Mawuko Dza, for his consistent mentorship, and everyone working behind the scenes to make the program a success.
These opportunities at UEW have proven to be a stepping stone toward building solutions that contribute meaningfully to Ghana and Africa’s development.

UEW Innovation Hub Honors Student Entrepreneurs at Maiden Business Pitch Competition.
The University of Education, Winneba Innovation Hub, held its inaugural Business Pitch Competition Awards to recognize outstanding student entrepreneurs with innovative and viable business ideas. The ceremony brought together students, faculty, industry partners, and other stakeholders to celebrate creativity, innovation, and entrepreneurship.
The chairperson of the occasion, Prof. Samuel Kwesi Asiedu-Addo, commended the Innovation Hub for its leadership in promoting practical, innovation-driven skills among students. The Dean of the School of Business, Dr. Richard Oduro, and the Director of the Directorate of Research, Innovation, and Development (DRID), Prof. (Mrs.) Esther Yeboah Danso-Wiredu, affirmed UEW’s commitment to fostering innovation and entrepreneurship.
The UEW Innovation Hub expresses its appreciation to the National Pensions Regulatory Authority (NPRA) for sponsoring the competition, noting that the initiative marks a significant milestone in the Hub's efforts to advance student entrepreneurship and national development.