The Managing Director of Agricultural Development Bank (ADB) PLC has urged students pursuing agriculture to embrace entrepreneurship and innovation as tools to transform Ghana’s agribusiness sector.

Edward Ato Sarpong made the call during this year’s Agricultural Students’ Career Guidance and Mentorship Dialogue (AG-STUD) Boot Camp, organised by the Agrihouse Foundation with ADB as a key sponsor.

The boot camp brings together agricultural students from across the country, providing a platform to engage with industry leaders and strengthen their entrepreneurial skills.

As part of the week-long program, students and organisers paid a courtesy call on ADB management.

Addressing the students, Ato Sarpong encouraged them to shift away from traditional, subsistence farming and adopt agripreneurship—a modern approach that blends innovation, technology, value addition, and sustainability across the agricultural value chain.

“You are not just students of agriculture; you are the future leaders of Ghana’s agricultural value chain,” he said.

“Your role in building a resilient and modern agribusiness sector cannot be overemphasised.”

He emphasised the urgent need for youth-led solutions in agriculture and challenged the participants to leverage platforms like AG-STUD to refine their skills, build networks, and develop scalable business ideas that can create jobs and wealth.

Reaffirming the Bank’s support, the ADB MD said the institution remains committed to youth empowerment through targeted financing, skills development, and internship opportunities.

He announced that, beyond its Student Save Account, ADB plans to roll out innovative funding schemes to improve access to capital for agriculture students and young entrepreneurs in the agribusiness and other key sectors.

ADB’s General Manager in charge of Agribusiness, Kwame Asiedu Attrams, noted that sponsoring the AG-STUD Boot Camp aligns with the Bank’s mission to nurture a new generation of agribusiness entrepreneurs who will drive economic growth.

Executive Director of Agrihouse Foundation, Alberta Akorsa, expressed gratitude to ADB for its continued support for AG-STUD, agricultural education, and entrepreneurship.

This year’s AG-STUD Boot Camp, which concludes on Friday, May 9, 2025, is hosting 125 competitively selected students from 23 universities and tertiary agricultural institutions nationwide.