A revolutionary proposal to reform higher education in Ghana was put forward by the CEO of VODEC Africa, Daniel Asomani, at the National Emerging Leaders Economic Forum (NELEF) 2025.

Mr Asomani called for a paradigm shift in the country’s universities, suggesting that students be given the option to pursue entrepreneurial development instead of the traditional thesis, a move that he believes would unleash a wave of innovation and create a new generation of job creators.

The Problem: An Outdated Academic System

The current academic system in Ghana, Mr Asomani argued, is failing to equip graduates with the practical skills and real-world experience they need to succeed in the 21st-century economy, saying that the emphasis on theoretical knowledge and the traditional thesis often leaves students ill-prepared for the challenges of the job market.

He noted that this has resulted in a skills mismatch, with many graduates finding that their qualifications do not meet the needs of employers.

The Solution: A Hands-On Approach to Learning

Mr Asomani proposes to replace the traditional thesis with a more practical, hands-on approach to learning. Under this new system, students would have the option to develop their own products and businesses, from ideation to launch.

This would not only give them valuable real-world experience but also foster a culture of innovation and entrepreneurship in the nation’s universities.

As a proof of concept, Mr Asomani pointed to the success of the “Meltslush” student project at the University of Professional Studies, Accra (UPSA), where students developed a new chocolate product and successfully brought it to market. The presence of some respected academics at the forum suggests that this proposal has the potential to gain traction within the academic community.

“I propose that students should have the option of choosing entrepreneurial development over traditional thesis writing—developing products from ideation to launch, creating end-to-end solutions for real-world challenges,” Mr Asomani stated.

The Call to Action: A New Vision for Higher Education

Mr Asomani’s proposal is a call for a new vision for higher education in Ghana, one that is more relevant, more practical, and more in tune with the needs of the modern economy.

He challenged the country’s universities to embrace this new vision and to create an environment that fosters innovation, creativity, and entrepreneurship. He also called on the government to support this reform by providing the necessary resources and creating a policy framework that encourages university-industry collaboration.