The WACTPreneur Program, an entrepreneurial development initiative, has successfully graduated 600 beneficiaries following an intensive training and capacity-building cycle designed to empower small business owners and aspiring entrepreneurs. The graduation ceremony took place this week, celebrating the achievements of participants who completed the programme.
Launched to nurture entrepreneurship and boost economic inclusion, the WACTPreneur Programme provides beneficiaries with practical business skills, mentorship, and access to resources that strengthen their ability to start, manage, and scale enterprises. The initiative reflects growing efforts by public-private partnerships to address unemployment, support Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), and spur local economic growth.
Speaking at the graduation event, programme organisers highlighted the importance of equipping entrepreneurs with the tools needed to navigate business challenges and seize market opportunities. They emphasised that the skills acquired are meant to help participants operate more competitively and sustainably.
“Entrepreneurship is not just about starting a business — it’s about building solutions that create jobs, strengthen communities, and contribute to national development,” a WACTPreneur representative said.
Graduates expressed enthusiasm about applying their new knowledge to real-world ventures. Many highlighted the programme’s impact in transforming their outlook on business planning, financial management, digital marketing, and customer engagement — areas that MSMEs often struggle to master due to limited access to structured training.
One beneficiary remarked, “This programme gave me clarity on how to build a business that can survive market challenges and serve real customer needs.”
The WACTPreneur curriculum covered key topics vital to early-stage and growth-oriented businesses, including strategic planning, recordkeeping, funding options, digital business tools, and pitch development. Participants also benefited from mentoring sessions with experienced business leaders and access to networking opportunities that can open doors to partnerships and investment.
Organisers said plans are already underway to support the next cohort of entrepreneurs, with expanded training content and additional support structures to deepen impact. They encouraged the recent graduates to stay engaged with the WACTPreneur community for continued learning and collaboration.
The graduation of 600 beneficiaries is part of a broader trend across Africa toward empowering MSMEs — a sector widely recognised as a backbone of job creation, innovation, and economic resilience. As governments and private sector actors invest more in capacity-building platforms like WACTPreneur, many small business owners are better positioned to scale operations, compete in formal markets, and drive inclusive growth.
