LeadAfrique International, as part of its mandate in raising creative and responsive leaders in Africa, has launched season two of a business plan competition for High School students in Ghana.

Dubbed, the ‘CR8TIFF Business Plan Competition’, the entrepreneurial skills development program aims at “unearthing critical thinking and problem-solving skills in the students which they need to excel and stay relevant in the job market.

LeadAfrique International is optimistic the project will help sharpen students in identifying basic problems in society and finding lasting solutions to them.

Speaking at the launch of this year’s competition in Accra, Reverend Kennedy Okosun emphasised on how entrepreneurship has contributed to the phenomenal growth of developed countries of the world over the last century.

He said, businesses founded by entrepreneurs in various sectors of different economies have been traced as major contributors to growth of such economies.

This, he believes is a reason the subject of entrepreneurship has taken the core of many policies being developed in the world to make room for it to thrive.

According to Rev. Okosun, the belief that private enterprise will become the “engine to propel development” in the world, explains why neighbouring African countries such as Nigeria, Ethiopia, Angola, Botswana have institutionalize entrepreneurship.

He said, “The phenomenal growth of developed countries of the world over the last century is traced to the exponential growth of businesses founded by entrepreneurs in various sectors and this has made them to be known as the economic powers of the world.”

He said, Ghana’s interest in entrepreneurship education has also increased over the years with many institutions offering courses to train students in the country, adding “the desire for entrepreneurship education in Africa has become like wild fire spreading in all areas of our education system”.

Rev. Okosun, however, said Ghana needs to put in more effort in developing the skills of entrepreneurs through practical grooming.

He, therefore, commended LeadAfrique International, the organisers of the CR8TIFF competition, for the initiative which he touted as a “well-structured program to promote awareness of problem solving and critical thinking and more broadly, purpose-driven approaches to business to young people, as well as support the most innovative ideas developed by students from around the country solve social problems.”



Rev. Kennedy Okosun interacting with participants after the launch

Rev. Okosun is hopeful the Ministry of Business Development’s plan to partner the Education Ministry in developing content of the entrepreneurship model in the basic and Senior High Schools, become a reality.

About CR8TIFF Business Plan Competition

The maiden edition of the competition saw nine companies from 4 international schools pitching their business ideas to win the ultimate price. Each participant was awarded a certificate and insightful books from two knowledgeable life coaches.

The ultimate winners were awarded cash prices, gadgets from Nasco Electronics, medals and mentorship from business related parent companies.

The season II was supported by Fidelity Bank, Coca Cola, NASCO, CEIBS, National Investment Bank, IZONE, Afb, Mutual Integrity, Goldman Capital, Image Power and Vision Arts Publicity.



Co-founder of LeadAfrique, Letitia Ohene-Effah (second from left) with some team members of Tema International School