In a groundbreaking initiative, students of the Tepa Nursing and Midwifery Training College have received comprehensive training in health innovation and entrepreneurship through a collaborative effort between the Mastercard Foundation and the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST).
The training, held on the college campus, is part of a broader mission to equip health trainees with practical skills to solve real-world challenges while creating employment opportunities in the health sector.
The one-day workshop was organized under the African Health Collaborative, a project led by the Mastercard Foundation and KNUST, with a focus on nurturing entrepreneurial mindsets among healthcare students.
The initiative is driven by the belief that young health professionals can do more than deliver care—they can design and implement innovative solutions to improve the health ecosystem.
Facilitators from KNUST delivered sessions on entrepreneurship, digital tools, health systems innovation, and business development, aimed at preparing students to become not only competent practitioners but also job creators.
The program also highlighted the pressing issue of health worker migration, commonly referred to as “brain drain,” and how entrepreneurship could serve as a viable alternative for young nurses and midwives seeking career fulfillment at home. By equipping students with the skills and knowledge to create their own businesses, the initiative aims to reduce the likelihood of these professionals seeking opportunities abroad.
As part of the program, the African Health Collaborative plans to host a pitch competition to allow students to showcase their business ideas. Winners will receive startup kits and financial support to implement their concepts. Mr. Isaac Boakye, a facilitator from KNUST, disclosed that $1 million has been set aside for this initiative, with viable health-related business ideas receiving at least $15,000 in seed funding.
Lecturers at the Tepa Nursing and Midwifery Training College welcomed the initiative with enthusiasm. Mrs. Lydia Konadu, one of the college’s tutors and local facilitators, said the training has exposed students to new perspectives on the value of their education. Many of the participating students described the program as an eye-opener, expressing gratitude for the opportunity to gain insights into how they can use their skills to create positive change in their communities.
The Health Entrepreneurship Empowerment Program is one of several initiatives under the Mastercard Foundation’s Young Africa Works strategy, which aims to provide 30 million young Africans with access to dignified and fulfilling work.
By bringing such training to institutions like Tepa Nursing and Midwifery Training College, the Foundation is helping to shape a generation of healthcare professionals who are equipped to lead in both clinical care and entrepreneurial innovation.
The training of Tepa Nursing and Midwifery Training College students in health innovation and entrepreneurship is a significant step towards empowering young healthcare professionals to create positive change in their communities.
By providing them with the skills and knowledge to design and implement innovative solutions, the initiative aims to improve the health ecosystem and create employment opportunities in the health sector.
As the students embark on this new journey, they are poised to become not only competent practitioners but also job creators, driving innovation and entrepreneurship in the healthcare industry.
