Mastercard Foundation scholars at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) are being encouraged to take advantage of social media to lift their entrepreneurial activities.

CEO of clothing brand Kweku Outlook, Isaac Frimpong-Manso was worried about the abuse of social media platforms by the youth.

“All they do is to come and twerk while you can use the same platform to make money,” he admonished.

He was speaking at the 2022 Mastercard Foundation Scholars Programme (MCFSP) Summer Camp aimed at boosting career development of scholars.

The MCFSP, since its inception in 2014, has been organizing summer camp training programmes for its scholars to equip them with skills to stand out in the corporate world. 

The 2 week-long skills training programme is meant to train scholars in various entrepreneurial disciplines. 

The training programme is to expose scholars to soft skills which will stimulate their entrepreneurial potentials for societal benefit. 

Lead for the Mastercard Foundation Programme at KNUST Prof. Kofi Owusu-Daaku was optimistic of the gains from the programme.

“There are some people who are motivated by this workshop to establish their businesses.

“The whole idea is to fit in the vision of the wider Mastercard foundation, which supports the scholars,” he said.

In a mentoring session, Mr. Frimpong-Manso took the students through client relationship, financial management and customer care among others.

He advised them to put priority on producing exquisite wares in order to realise substantial revenue.

“Everybody spends on their disposable income, so your product must be something they want before they’ll buy,” he noted.

The scholars will be exposed to various soft skills training including: Make-up Artistry, Satellite Installation, Beading, Tie & Dye and Batik/Screen Printing.

Others are Catering/Culinary Art, Soap Making, Millinery/ Packaging, App Development, Introduction to Graphic Design (Photoshop), Bee Keeping/Snail/ Mushroom Farming, Wig-Making, Yogurt Production and Photography and Video Editing.