GTUC, Jospong sign MOU to assist ICT students

President of GTUC, Dr. Kofi Darkwa
(left) and COO of Jospong Group

Ghana Technology University College (GTUC) and Jospong Group of Companies (JGC) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to provide ICT students of GTUC with practical training and startup capital to develop their ideas into marketable products and services.

The MOU generally seeks to formalize partnership between the two institutions in the area of ICT research, innovation and investment, but the idea is to establish incubators across the country to develop talents into startups.

The main areas of collaboration would be the set up and management of ICT Incubation Centres around the country, providing seed money to graduates from such centres to enable the self development of technological solutions, and setting up and operating ICT assembling plant geared at job creation and local development of ICT technological solutions.

Other areas of collaboration are the initiation and expansion of research in identified spheres, identifying, developing and managing projects in telemedicine and related hospital services, as well as research and development

The partnership would be delivered through Subah Infosystems Ghana Limited and Zintex Limited, both subsidiaries of Jospong Group, where ICT students of GTUC would be given hands on training and the opportunity to develop their talents and ideas.

Chief Operating Officer of the Jospong Group, Emmanuel Anane Boate told Adom News the idea is for students of GTUC to visit Subah and Zintex occasionally to have practical application of the things they are taught in the classroom, with the view to developing their own ideas into incoming-generating ventures.

President of GTUC, Dr. Kofi Darkwa also related that the partnership is designed to cure the situation where students complete school with brilliant ideas but do not have ready opportunities to develop those ideas into businesses.

He said: 'We do not want to train people who will go out there looking for non-existent jobs but rather people who will be assisted both technically and financially to develop their own ideas into marketable products and services that would become sources of employment for other.'

Dr. Darkwa recalled that some of the ICT gurus behind the big brands like Google, Facebook, Youtube, Twitter and the rest, started their multi-billion-dollar businesses while they were students, so he believes the partnership with Jospong can deliver similar results in Ghana.

It is expected that the MoU will be a precursor to an actual contract between the two institutions which will further cement the relationship.