ORTARChI-KNUST holds Training of Trainers workshop

The O.R Tambo Africa Research Chairs Initiative (ORTARChI) of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) School of Business has organized a day’s Training of Trainers (ToT) workshop for some selected participants and stakeholders on Wednesday, 15^th March 2023 at the KSB Conference room.

Dr. Joseph Owusu, a lecturer at the Department of Marketing and Corporate Strategy, opened the workshop on behalf of the Chair, highlighting its purpose to allow stakeholders to share their inputs and practical experiences on the thematic areas. He expressed optimism that the workshop would yield fruitful deliberations.

In his remarks, the Chair, Professor Nathaniel Boso stated that the basis for the conversation was to discuss ways and measures to sustain small and medium-scale businesses in Africa. He added that the ideas generated during the workshop would be developed and used to train student entrepreneurs.

The trainers of the participants were drawn from different fields, including marketing, finance, corporate strategy and entrepreneurship. They engaged the participants in practical sessions where they shared their expertise and experiences in developing strategies that could be applied to promote the growth of small and medium-scale businesses in Africa.

The workshop brought together selected participants, including experts from academia, policymakers, and industry practitioners, to exchange ideas on how to develop strategies for sustainable small and medium-scale businesses in Africa. The participants explored various areas such as financing options, packaging, branding, customer relations, negotiation, sales and management.

Sharing experiences in the area of Branding and Packaging, a participant, Dr. Mrs. Yaa Asantewaa Osei, the head of Production Unit, Faculty of Pharmacy, KNUST explained that choosing the right name for the product affects the brand of a business. She said that a catchy name and colours that suitably aligns with prospective/targeted customers as well as the environment to which the business is being operated are factors that should be considered in ensuring a good brand/image of a business. 

In maintaining a good customer relationship, Ms Hannah Braimah, the CEO of AKAAL Fashion School noted that periodically updating old clients on the new services available is a way of maintaining customers in every business. She also believes that celebrating clients on National Days helps in building the business.

Also, Mrs Esther A. Acherekoh, CEO, Best Aid Chemist, believes that being consistent in what a business stands for helps in sustaining customers who in turn recommend more customers. She added that training of staff to be abreast with business ethics and portray good etiquette is key in the operations of a business. 

Other stakeholders also mentioned the use of complimentary cards, social media platforms, E-flyers, and traditional media advertisement as measures they use in making their brands/business visible to attract and maintain customers.

The workshop provided an excellent opportunity for stakeholders to further exchange ideas and practical experiences on sustaining small and medium-scale businesses in Africa. The organizers expressed hope that the outcomes of the workshop would be beneficial to future entrepreneurs and serve as a training module incorporated into the curriculum.