The University of Professional Studies, Accra (UPSA), in partnership with the Bola Ray Institute, has opened the UPSA 1000 & Ghana Entrepreneurship Conference, challenging students to transform everyday problems into opportunities for innovation, enterprise and job creation. The five-day conference commenced on Monday, 14 September 2026.
The conference forms part of the UPSA 1000 Enterprise Development Programme, an initiative designed to equip students with practical entrepreneurial knowledge and market-ready skills to build sustainable businesses.
Speaking on the broader vision of the initiative, Dr (Mrs) Juliana Akushika Andoh, a member of the conference team, underscored the programme’s commitment to providing students with practical exposure to entrepreneurship. She explained that the initiative seeks to help participants develop the mindset and capabilities required to transform promising ideas into viable enterprises.
The opening day connected students with accomplished entrepreneurs and business leaders from diverse sectors, creating opportunities for practical conversations on innovation, skills development, risk-taking and business sustainability.
The speakers included Dr Elton Afari, Chief Executive Officer of Equity Health Insurance; Mr Frank Agyei Mensah, Chief Executive Officer of LESFARMS Company Limited; Mr Bernard Agyei Aryee, Executive Director of the Startup Institute; and Mr Felix Afutu, Chief Executive Officer of McPhilix Limited. Drawing on their respective experiences, they offered participants insights into business leadership, enterprise development and the realities of building sustainable ventures.
Across the sessions, students were encouraged to observe challenges within their communities, listen carefully to customer concerns and use digital resources, including Google Trends and artificial intelligence tools, to identify emerging market opportunities. Everyday experiences, such as long queues for food on campus, were used to demonstrate how familiar problems could inspire practical and commercially viable solutions.
A major highlight was an interaction with Mr Anthony Dzamefe, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Caveman Watches and a UPSA alumnus. He shared how an accidental wristwatch sale introduced him to watch trading and later motivated him to learn watch repair and leather strap-making before establishing Caveman Watches in 2018.
Drawing lessons from his journey, Mr Dzamefe encouraged students to embrace calculated risks, cultivate their natural strengths and use their formative years to acquire valuable skills. He also emphasised the importance of resilience and deliberate personal development in building a successful enterprise.
Ms Abiba Azu, Chief Executive Officer of Abiba Locks, similarly drew on her entrepreneurial experience to encourage participants to believe in their abilities, develop practical skills and pursue their ambitions with determination. She highlighted the value of combining formal education with practical experience, continuous learning, humility and a clear sense of direction.
Beyond the experiences shared by the speakers, the opening day placed strong emphasis on learning by doing. Through practical exercises, discussions, pitching and peer feedback, participants tested their ideas and considered critical issues such as market demand, cash-flow management, scalability and long-term sustainability.
The sessions reinforced the message that entrepreneurship does not always begin with substantial capital or a groundbreaking invention. It can start with identifying a genuine problem, understanding those affected and developing an effective solution that creates value.
Through the UPSA 1000 Enterprise Development Programme and its partnership with the Bola Ray Institute, UPSA continues to prepare students to look beyond traditional employment pathways and position themselves as innovators, entrepreneurs and job creators contributing to Ghana’s economic development.
