The Ghana National Chamber of Commerce and Industry’s (GNCCI) drive to equip students with entrepreneurial skills has received a major boost, following the Bank of Ghana Governor’s commitment to support the Chamber’s Junior Chamber initiative.

GNCCI Chief Executive Officer Mark Badu Aboagye announced the development during Channel One TV’s Quarterly Economic Outlook on Monday.

He outlined ongoing efforts to prepare tertiary students to become entrepreneurs rather than job seekers.

According to Mr. Badu Aboagye, the Governor’s endorsement marks a strategic step toward strengthening collaboration between the financial sector and youth-focused entrepreneurship programmes.

The GNCCI Junior Chamber programme is designed to immerse students in practical business development, mentorship opportunities, and entrepreneurial networks while still in school aiming to help them create jobs upon graduation.

The initiative forms part of a broader Chamber strategy to tackle Ghana’s youth unemployment challenge by fostering entrepreneurship among students and linking them with business leaders and institutions that can support their growth.

“We are training students to become job creators, not job seekers,” Mr. Badu Aboagye said during the programme, adding that the Bank of Ghana’s backing would help expand the initiative’s reach and impact.

The Junior Chamber has already been introduced in several tertiary institutions, where students are being encouraged to develop business ideas and build practical enterprise management skills.

Industry leaders note that the programme seeks to bridge the gap between academic training and real-world business environments by offering students direct exposure to entrepreneurship.

The Governor’s support is expected to enhance the programme’s credibility and improve students’ access to institutional backing.

The move also signals growing recognition of entrepreneurship’s role in addressing graduate unemployment and expanding opportunities for young people in the private sector.

With stronger collaboration between the Chamber and the central bank, the GNCCI says the Junior Chamber initiative can become an effective platform for nurturing the next generation of entrepreneurs and driving long-term economic growth.

The Chamber believes that empowering students with entrepreneurial skills before graduation will not only improve employment outcomes but also help build a more dynamic private sector driven by innovation and enterprise.