SoB-UEW Launches Dean's Awards and Encourages Students to Start Businesses
The School of Business (SoB) at the University of Education, Winneba (UEW) has launched the Dean's Awards to recognise outstanding undergraduate students while challenging the next generation of graduates to embrace entrepreneurship as the surest pathway to economic independence and national development.
The awards, inaugurated during the School's 2026 Undergraduate Seminar at the Jophus Anamuah-Mensah Conference Centre on Wednesday, 1st July, 2026, honour the best-performing male and female Level 200, 300 and 400 students. The event also featured an innovative Business Pitch Competition under the theme, "Empowering Youth Through Entrepreneurship: A Path to Economic Independence."
Delivering the keynote address, Dr. Daniel McKorley, a renowned Ghanaian entrepreneur and Founder, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the McDan Group of Companies, urged students to stop relying solely on academic qualifications and instead cultivate the attitude, resilience and problem-solving mindset needed to create sustainable businesses.
"The world does not owe you a living; your degree proves discipline and critical thinking but your success will depend on your attitude, resilience and ability to solve problems. Do not become job seekers; become employers," he told the packed auditorium.
Drawing from his own journey from humble beginnings to building one of Ghana's leading business conglomerates, Dr. McKorley encouraged students to transform challenges into business opportunities. He stressed that entrepreneurs create wealth by solving society's problems. He pledged his continued mentorship to students with viable business ideas and invited them to engage him beyond the seminar.
Representing the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Esther Yeboah Danso-Wiredu, the Pro-Vice-Chancellor, described entrepreneurship as indispensable in an era where government alone cannot absorb the growing number of university graduates into public sector employment.
She encouraged students to start developing businesses while still in school. She emphasised that entrepreneurial skills would help graduates achieve financial independence and support their families rather than relying solely on traditional employment.
Prof. Richard Oduro, the Dean of SoB, said the introduction of the Dean's Awards marks a significant milestone in the School's commitment to nurturing graduates who combine academic excellence with innovation, creativity and entrepreneurial competence. He explained that the School seeks to produce graduates capable of identifying societal problems and developing sustainable solutions that create value and employment rather than merely searching for jobs after graduation.
Prof. Oduro expressed appreciation to the McDan Group of Companies, the UEW Credit Union and the Institute of Chartered Accountants, Ghana (ICAG), for sponsoring the awards initiative and supporting the School's vision of developing entrepreneurial leaders.
The seminar also showcased the ingenuity of UEW students through a highly competitive Business Pitch where participants presented innovative ventures spanning agribusiness, sustainable packaging, engineering, fashion, aquaculture and manufacturing.
The pitches included pineapple cultivation for export, eco-friendly biodegradable packaging produced from agricultural waste, welding and fabrication services to empower women, commercial fish farming, fashion production and mechanised yam cultivation. The entrepreneurs outlined the social impact, growth potential and investment needs of their businesses before a panel of judges.
Mr. Eric Dzasa, Chairman of the ceremony and Head of Trade at Access Bank Ghana PLC, commended the School for creating a platform that bridges academia and industry. He reaffirmed Access Bank's commitment to empowering young entrepreneurs through financial and non-financial support, mentorship and innovation.
Mr. Matthew Asibi Akugri, the President of the UEW Association of Business Students (UEWABS), encouraged students to maximise the networking and learning opportunities offered by the seminar. He described entrepreneurship as the key to unlocking opportunities in an increasingly competitive global economy.
The seminar reinforced UEW's growing commitment to producing graduates equipped not only with academic knowledge but also with the entrepreneurial mindset, practical skills and innovation needed to create jobs, drive economic growth and contribute meaningfully to national development.
