Ensign Global executives, the President of Ghana, and the Chairman of UBA Group at a high-level event in New York
Ensign Global University: Committed to Developing Entrepreneurs in Ghana and Beyond
Ensign Global University is strengthening its commitment to entrepreneurship as it concludes celebrating its 10th anniversary as a premier private institution of higher education in Ghana. Founded to bring world-class education to Africa, the university has spent its first decade focusing on public health, becoming the first and only institution on the African continent to earn the prestigious Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH) accreditation for its Master of Public Health (MPH) degree. While entrepreneurship is not traditionally emphasized in public health, Ensign Global University made a conscious decision to integrate it into its academic programs. Today, entrepreneurship stands alongside leadership and professionalism as one of the university’s core pillars.
To further this commitment, Ensign Global University is launching and expanding key entrepreneurship initiatives. Founding board member Professor Agyeman Akosa highlights this focus:
“Ensign Global University, with a truly global academic reach, provides the critical thought processes essential for creativity and innovation—both bedrocks of entrepreneurship. You are infinitely better prepared if you’ve been through the university.”
In November 2023, Ensign Global University inaugurated the Center for Leadership, Innovation, and Prosperity (CLIP) to house programs that foster entrepreneurial thinking and drive socioeconomic progress. Through CLIP, the university has partnered with the University of Utah to launch Master of Business Creation Global on the continent of Africa, an accelerator program designed to help early-stage business founders scale their ventures while earning a degree. The University of Utah’s entrepreneurship program is ranked 8th in the U.S. by U.S. News and World Report. Additionally, Ensign Global University is developing the Center for Medical Innovation, with CLIP serving as its hub, complete with a state-of-the-art prototyping lab and collaborative workspace.
Founding board member Togbe Afede XIV emphasizes the importance of these initiatives:
“As Ghana and other African nations work to accelerate economic development and improve living standards, the role of the private sector, entrepreneurs, and individual initiative cannot be overstated. I am proud of Ensign Global’s commitment to equipping its students with the leadership and entrepreneurial skills needed to drive meaningful change across the continent.”
Ensign Global University is also actively seeking partnerships to expand its impact on entrepreneurship across Africa. During the United Nations General Assembly Week in New York City, Senior Advisor Ms. Gabrielle Gay and President Stephen Alder met with Tony Elumelu CFR, Chairman of the United Bank for Africa (UBA) Group and Tony Elumelu Foundation, to explore opportunities for supporting African entrepreneurs. The Tony Elumelu Foundation is a leading force in empowering a new generation of business leaders across the continent. While in New York, Ms. Gay and President Alder also attended the 75th Anniversary Celebration of the United Bank for Africa, where they were introduced to President Akufo-Addo by Chairman Elumelu. President Akufo-Addo has emphasized the need for stronger ecosystems to support entrepreneurs—an effort that aligns closely with Ensign Global University’s mission.
According to President Alder, fostering entrepreneurial capacity has been central to Ensign Global University’s vision from the beginning:
“As Ghana and other African nations work to accelerate economic development and improve living standards, the role of the private sector, entrepreneurs, and individual initiative cannot be overstated. I am proud of Ensign Global’s commitment to equipping its students with the leadership and entrepreneurial skills needed to drive meaningful change across the continent.”
As Ensign Global University enters its second decade, its commitment to innovation, entrepreneurship, and global prosperity remains stronger than ever.