A 38 year old graduate of the University for Development Studies has emerged winner of the Season 1 of the McDan Entrepreneurship Challenge.
Alhassan Koligu of Alkoh Shea beat off stiff competition from nine other finalists to clinch to coveted prize of a $100,000 at a well attended Grand Finale.
A young graduate who could not gain employment in the public sector after frantically searching for one, Alhassan eventually gave in to his mother’s call to join her in her sheabutter making business, which he had overlooked over the years.
Frustrated after a fruitless job hunt, he finally decided to heed his mother’s call, by joining her in the sheabutter business in Gambaga, in the North East Region.
He thus joined his mother and the other women who help in the process, in the production and sale of sheabutter.
It was while he was engaged in this business that he applied to join the McDan Entrepreneurship Challenge, over a period of time, receiving guidance, mentorship and direction from seasoned coaches.
His story was so practical that the judges including Founder and Chairman of the McDan Foundation, Dr. Daniel McKorley, the Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Investment Promotion Centre (GIPC) Mr. Yoofi Grant, Mr. Simon Turner, Madam Leonora Appiah, Mr. Percy Amoo-Yankey and Ms. Dzifa Dosoo could not help but declare him the winner of the Season 1 of the McDan Entrepreneurship Challenge.
BestNewsGH.com reports Alhassan as saying ‘’I’m confused. I now believe when Chairman, Dr. McKorley told me he will transform my life is very true. I thank Allah for bringing me this far. I wish my mother was here. I dedicate this award to all the women who help to produce the sheabutter, and to my little girl who is watching us live on television.’’
Dr. McKorley in his welcome address reiterated his commitment to empowering the Ghanaian youth in order to position them to take charge of their own businesses and to create employment for as many young people as possible.
He opined that he was looking at supporting the next generation of young people who will own million dollar businesses and who will even do better than he is doing.
An initiative of Business Mogul Dr. Daniel McKorley, the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the McDan Group of Companies, the McDan Entrepreneurship Challenge gives impetus to young people who have original ideas and are willing to develop these ideas to translate into viable businesses.
Apart from the $100,000 ultimate prize, all the other finalists also took home, a cheque for GHC 25,000 each.
The Ministry of Business Development also announced a GHC 300, 000 package for the nine other finalists who did not win the ultimate prize.
Source: BestNewsGH.com
