Department of Biomedical Sciences has organised the 3rd exhibition to showcase some products produced by undergraduate students to the general public.
Some products displayed at the exhibition were, variety of herbal tea, alcoholic beverages, soap, body lotion/cream, hair creams, fruit juices, Bissap and other natural products.
Welcoming guests to the exhibition, the Head of Department, Dr. Desmond Omane-Acheampong, said coming up with discoveries alone was not enough, rather they had to be transformed into products to the benefit of society. “Scientists have failed to transform their discoveries, they rather publish, and that does not readily affect lives in the society”. “We at the Department have decided to affect the society by producing natural products and this is our way of letting them know”.
This, according to Dr. Omane Acheampong would let students establish their own indigenous businesses after school and not chase after non-existent jobs. He disclosed that all their body creams were mosquito repellent and have also been certified to be of good quality.
He said the department was opened to collaboration and partnership from industry to enable them reach out to the larger market, this he believed would not confine their expertise to the university and academic circles.
The guest speaker, Mr. John Kumah, said such entrepreneurial and hands-on training provided by the Department, sought to change the paradigm of education in the country. “People go to school with the aim of getting their dream salaries, but this does not happen. What we forget is that the ability to create jobs lie within us. Most of you are in level 200, so if you learn the skills very well, you can change the paradigm of education in no time”.
“I have been to all campuses including KNUST, but what you are producing here is the best and I commend you for that”, he said.
Mr. Kumah who is the Chief Executive Officer of the National Entrepreneurship and Innovation Plan (NEIP), said Government has set up a $10m fund to support such brilliant entrepreneurial initiatives and urged the students to believe in what they were doing.
He mentioned that, the government was promoting a policy to help young entrepreneurs below 35 years to apply to the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) for tax exemption for the first five years of setting up their businesses so as to rake in the savings into their business.
“Those who are starting should believe in what they are doing for government to help them. They can go international, that is beyond Ghana and explore the markets there. Whatever affects Nigeria for example affects Ghana, the market is available”, he urged the students.
He said: “we are also ready to partner you to set up and train you so that we can scale up your business to national level”. He concluded.
The Provost of the College of Education Studies, Prof. Eric M. Wilmot, who chaired the ceremony on behalf of the Vice-Chancellor, commended the department for guiding the students to come up with natural products for local market.
He encouraged them to work hard to become a Centre of Plant Research and also reiterated the call on the students to explore possible means of marketing their products nationwide.
Source: ucc.edu.gh
