KNUST, AFOS partner to train women-led businesses on digital tools

The Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology and AFOS Foundation has initiated steps to sign a Memorandum of Understanding to train women-led businesses in Ghana to leverage digital and technological tools for their operations.

The meeting, held at KNUST, highlighted the importance of equipping female entrepreneurs with skills and tools to enhance their businesses in the digital age.

Professor David Asamoah, the Pro Vice-Chancellor of KNUST, mentioned the university’s efforts to support small businesses. “We have a lot of small businesses around, and we need digital tools to help them work effectively. This initiative is important because building capacity in soft skills, negotiation, and client engagement is essential for their growth,” he said.

He added that KNUST’s Center for Business Development already supports incubating student businesses and matching them with opportunities. Prof. Asamoah also stressed the need for collaboration and resource mobilization to scale up such initiatives. “We are happy to collaborate on this. Digitalization is the way forward,” he said. The KNUST E-Learning Centre, led by Professor Eric Appau Asante, will play a role in the project. Prof. Asante outlined how the Centre’s resources and systems would support the training.

“We have a robust Learning Management System that can host soft skill training and offer self-paced learning. Participants can access these resources online while continuing their coaching or consultancy work,” he explained. The E-Learning Centre’s studios and multimedia tools will also be used to create educational content for the businesses.

“Our support doesn’t end there. We have a strong help desk and trained personnel to ensure smooth implementation. Many of our graduates have already benefited from our systems and are well-positioned to work with the target businesses,” Prof. Asante added. Hanna Schlingmann, Project Manager at AFOS Foundation, expressed optimism about the partnership. She highlighted AFOS’s experience in working with business associations and supporting women-led enterprises.

“The project is conceptualized with business associations like the Institute of ICT Professionals Ghana (IIPGH), WeRise Network, and Hourly. These organizations represent small and medium-sized enterprises, especially women-led businesses,” she said. According to Schlingmann, the initiative will address the needs of these associations while building on AFOS Foundation’s previous projects.

“WeRise Network supports over 25,000 very small businesses across Ghana, while Hourly focuses on women-led businesses across Africa. These networks will ensure the project reaches its target audience,” she noted.

The MoU marks the beginning of a collaboration aimed at empowering women entrepreneurs through technology. Discussions during the meeting explored how to formalize the partnership and plan next steps with project stakeholders.

Published: 13th December,2024 Source: KNUST E-Learning Centre