Turn Community Problems Into Business Opportunities

Ghana’s Labour Minister Emmanuel Kwadwo Agyekum challenged university graduates to think beyond certificates and look for business opportunities in the problems facing their communities.

Speaking at Valley View University’s 34th graduation ceremony in Accra, Agyekum said academic qualifications remained important but would not be enough in a changing labour market. He called on graduates to build skills in adaptability, critical thinking, creativity and innovation, alongside an entrepreneurial mindset.

The ceremony saw 1,156 students graduate after completing programmes across the university’s campuses. The group included 237 graduates from Kumasi, 219 from Techiman and about 700 from the main campus in Accra. Outstanding students received certificates, citations and plaques under the theme, “Grounded in Excellence and Integrity, Commissioned to Service.”

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Some of you will sign employment contracts, but some of you must also dream of the day when you will sign employment letters for other people.

Agyekum pointed to artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, financial technology and agentic AI as developments rapidly reshaping work. He urged graduates to keep upgrading their knowledge and skills, and said some should aim not only to secure employment but also to create it. “Some of you will sign employment contracts, but some of you must also dream of the day when you will sign employment letters for other people,” he said.

He added that success should be judged by the value people create and the positive effect they have on others, not only by salary or position. Vice-Chancellor Daniel Ganu similarly urged graduates to uphold excellence, integrity and service. “Your certificate tells people what you studied, but your integrity tells them who you have become,” he said.

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Your certificate tells people what you studied, but your integrity tells them who you have become.