UPSA, BR Institute join forces to convert student ideas into market-ready ventures

The BR Institute has signed a strategic Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the University of Professional Studies, Accra (UPSA) to expand entrepreneurship training, innovation and industry collaboration for students.

The partnership, formalised on Monday, July 6, 2026, is aimed at strengthening entrepreneurship education and creating practical opportunities for students to transform business ideas into viable enterprises.

Founded by media entrepreneur Nathan Kwabena Anokye Adisi, popularly known as Bola Ray, BR Institute is recognised for its entrepreneurship training programmes, including the Entrepreneurship with Bola Ray initiative, a 20-week course designed to equip aspiring entrepreneurs with business development skills, mentorship and market exposure.

The collaboration with UPSA seeks to bridge the gap between academic learning and practical enterprise development by providing students with access to mentorship, innovation support, industry networks and potential funding opportunities.

As part of the agreement, BR Institute will collaborate with UPSA on the UPSA-1000 Initiative, a flagship programme under the Ghana Entrepreneurship Conference. The initiative will bring together students, investors, industry leaders and entrepreneurs to showcase innovative ideas and scalable business solutions developed within the university community.

The partnership will also expose students to practical business experiences, enabling them to refine ideas, validate business models and prepare for commercialisation through guidance from experienced entrepreneurs and industry experts.

The UPSA delegation at the signing ceremony was led by Vice-Chancellor Professor John Kwaku Mensah Mawutor, accompanied by Professor Samuel Antwi and Dr Akushika Andoh. BR Institute was represented by its founder, Bola Ray, and Alex Brown.

Professor Mawutor described entrepreneurship as a key pillar of national development, stressing the need to equip students with the skills and mindset required to create businesses rather than depend solely on traditional employment.

The BR Institute said the partnership represents another milestone in its efforts to build an entrepreneurial ecosystem that empowers young Ghanaians to identify opportunities, solve real-world challenges and create sustainable businesses that contribute to economic growth.