TAGDev 2.0 partners with UCC to empower nutrition students

By Louis Mensah. Member of UCC-Ghana TAGdev 2.0 Communication Team

As part of efforts to enhance youth skills development and promote job creation, the Transforming African Agricultural Universities to Meaningfully Contribute to Africa’s Development (TAGDev 2.0) programme, in collaboration with the Department of Nutrition and Dietetics at the University of Cape Coast (UCC), has supported Level 200 students to showcase a variety of self-produced food and household items.

The exhibition featured an impressive range of processed products including pastries, yoghurt, beverages, and detergents developed by students as part of their practical coursework.

The activity formed part of the department’s food product development course, which seeks to equip students with hands-on skills, enhance their creativity, and prepare them for entrepreneurial ventures.

A student marketing her product to a patron at the exhibition

The partnership with TAGDev 2.0 aligns with the programme’s broader goal of transforming higher education institutions into hubs of practical learning, innovation, and enterprise development. It also reflects TAGDev 2.0’s strong emphasis on linking academic learning with real-world opportunities for youth empowerment, especially in agri-food systems and related industries.

Speaking at the event, the Executive Secretary of Regional Universities Forum for Capacity Building in Agriculture (RUFORUM), Prof. Patrick Okori, reaffirmed TAGDev 2.0’s commitment to youth empowerment and job creation. “Our goal is to support young people in acquiring the relevant skills that will enable them to create sustainable livelihoods, particularly in the agriculture and food sectors,” he stated.

The Executive Secretary of RUFORUM interacting with some of the student exhibitors

The event attracted a wide range of patrons, including students, faculty, and members of the University community, who praised the students for their ingenuity and the quality of their products. Many expressed admirations for the professional presentation and entrepreneurial potential of the items displayed, noting the need for such initiatives in addressing graduate unemployment.

Manager Skilling, Engagement for Community Development of RUFORUM, Prof. Anthony Egeru, and the Programme Manager of TAGDev 2.0 Programme at UCC, Prof. Festus Annor-Frempong interacting with some student exhibitors. With them is the Head, Department of Nutrition and Dietetics, UCC, Prof. (Mrs.) Christiana Naa Atsreh Nsiah-Asamoah

 “This exhibition is a clear demonstration of what happens when theory meets practice. It’s empowering to see students apply their knowledge and create products that have real market value,” a faculty member commented.

TAGDev 2.0’s collaboration with UCC is part of a broader strategy to promote university-led innovations that respond to local and national development needs. Through this programme, the youth would be equipped to acquire employable and entrepreneurial skills, to help shape a new generation of job creators who are equipped to transform Africa’s economies from within.

The success of this exhibition reinforces the value of practical learning in tertiary education and highlights the role of strategic partnerships in building a resilient and skilled youth workforce for the future.