OLAG Innovation Laboratory Empowers 7 Alumni to Drive Youth Entrepreneurship and Job Creation.
Our Lady of Grace Senior High School (OLAG SHS) has taken a bold step to promote entrepreneurship and reduce youth unemployment in Ghana with the launch of the OLAG Innovation Laboratory (OIL).
As part of the maiden edition of the initiative, seven alumni of the school have been awarded business grants to help them establish and grow their enterprises.
The beneficiaries are young entrepreneurs who have acquired practical skills and developed viable business ideas but lacked the financial capital to turn those ideas into sustainable ventures.
The initiative is part of OLAG SHS’s broader vision of producing graduates who do not only seek employment but are also equipped to create jobs and solve community problems.
Skills Must Translate into Jobs
Speaking at the awards ceremony, the Headmaster of OLAG SHS, Rev. Fr. Sylvester Frimpong, explained that the OIL was created to provide practical support to students and alumni with innovative ideas but without the financial strength to start.
He noted that the rising rate of youth unemployment in Ghana requires collective action from educational institutions, government, churches, and the private sector.
“Young people must be encouraged from an early stage to see themselves not only as future employees but also as problem-solvers, entrepreneurs and job creators,” Rev. Fr. Frimpong said.
He added that the current educational curriculum emphasizes critical thinking and problem-solving, and the Innovation Laboratory is a practical extension of that philosophy — moving young people from idea generation to implementation.
Rev. Fr. Sylvester Frimpong (Headmaster, OLAG SHS)
Strict Monitoring to Ensure Accountability
Rev. Fr. Frimpong disclosed that the beneficiaries will not be left on their own after receiving the grants.
A dedicated monitoring committee has been established to ensure accountability and proper utilization of funds. Beneficiaries are required to communicate all major business activities and purchases to the committee.
The grants will also be disbursed in phases, based on progress and business needs. He cautioned that funds could be withdrawn if any beneficiary is found misusing the support.
“The monitoring system is not intended to frustrate the beneficiaries but to ensure that the investment achieves its intended purpose,” he stressed.
He also appealed to the Government of Ghana to invest more in practical skills training and establish innovation centres across the country, citing areas like POP ceiling installation where foreign artisans currently dominate the market.
Beneficiaries Express Gratitude
One of the beneficiaries, speaking on behalf of the group, expressed profound gratitude to the school for looking beyond its traditional academic role.
“Although we have completed our studies, OLAG SHS has continued to show interest in our lives and future.
This shows the school is interested not only in qualifications but in making us productive members of society,” he said.
He assured authorities that the funds would be used judiciously and appealed to the government to replicate such innovation centres in Senior High Schools nationwide to expose students to entrepreneurship early.
10-Day Intensive Training Preceded Awards
The Consultant for the OLAG Innovation Laboratory, Dr. Tweneboah Koduah of HIPAG, who is also a lecturer at Garden City University College, revealed that the beneficiaries underwent a rigorous selection and preparation process.
According to him, the seven awardees completed a 10-day intensive training programme designed to refine their ideas and equip them with the knowledge to build sustainable businesses.
“The programme was not only about giving money to young people but also about equipping them with the mindset and skills required to succeed,” Dr. Koduah explained.
Dr. Tweneboah Koduah (Consultant, OLAG Innovation Laboratory).
He called on churches, corporate organizations, traditional authorities, and educational institutions to invest in youth with innovative ideas, stressing that the fight against unemployment cannot be left to government alone.
Beyond the Classroom
The OLAG Innovation Laboratory represents a growing recognition that education must go beyond the classroom.
For many young people, access to capital, mentorship, and guidance remains the biggest barrier between an idea and a successful business.
Through OIL, OLAG SHS hopes the seven pioneers will build sustainable businesses, create jobs, and inspire current students to see graduation not as a period of waiting for employment, but as an opportunity to create it.
With sustained support from stakeholders, initiatives like this could help build a generation of innovative and entrepreneurial Ghanaians capable of driving national development.
