For many people when leadership is mentioned even in a proverb or a riddle what comes to mind is political authority or power. This hasty conclusion has attenuated the purpose and importance of leadership in our daily lives. So many people have led in certain situations without even realizing their exercise of leadership. At LUCG due to the premium we place on leadership, whether in a lecture setting or in extra-curricular activities, special value is place on ethics, innovation, and leadership. This culture has made our students unique in the world of complexity and opportunities.
Under the cloud of our leadership culture, Mohammed Awal and Abdul Basit, level 100 Computer Science students spotted an entrepreneurial leadership opportunity in a vacant and idle land around their hostel and decided to harness its availability to make impact in the community. The two buddies from Tamale, figured out that in the whole of lakeside community 6, there are no vegetable farms or farmers’ markets where fresh vegetables can be sourced or purchased by the growing middle class residents. They decided to act instead of complain, by starting a vegetable farm. To get capital for this venture, these Computer Science Students-turned farmers, so immersed in the entrepreneurial spirit and mindset, gathered scraps from the nearby field and raised small capital to invest in vegetables production venture.
Although, this entrepreneurial buddies, hailed from the north and have exposure to the dynamics of crop farming, this was the first time they engaged in vegetable farming. They then employed learn-by-doing approach to get things done, which culminated in the commercially active vegetable farm on campus today. Currently, they produce lettuce, tomatoes, onions, and other every vegetables for the local market.
According to Mohammed Awal, who is also responsible for the establishment of Dar’wa Podcast for GMSA on campus, they are exploring expansion of the farming venture by sourcing more capital and leasing more land from the University’s Estates and facilities outfit. He hopes that this venture will not only provide them source of incomes, but generate employment opportunities for fellow students on campus.
The exemplary leadership by these students has highlighted the need for us to change the way we educate in our universities in Africa. Whiles in some western universities credits are awarded for learners’ experience, in Africa every credit awarded must emanate from classroom work. It also validates LUCG’s educational philosophy that all students must start building businesses and ventures from level 200 in group and graduate as business owners instead of owners of Long Essays. With this approach it will be normal for a student of Computer Sciences , Arabic or Engineering in a cross course selection system to Learn leadership, entrepreneurship, marketing, and even corporate finance.
Mohammed Awal and Abdul Basit are not accidental achievers, they were also part of the group of students who restored the abandoned soccer field behind the university hospital for use as an alternative to the Astro Turf. So these two great students are repeat achievers and deserve celebration.
To complement their efforts we should support their business with capital investments as well as support to set up a structured business capable of attracting more stakeholders.
Join us in celebrating these Impact makers.
