Ho, July 9, GNA- Margaret Achiadi, a third-year marketing student of the Ho Technical University (HTU) has won the third edition of CIMG-GOIL Entrepreneurial Marketing and Innovation Awards, with electric lamps made from PVC pipes.
The 25-year-old’s quest to provide a cheaper alternative to the popular building accessory placed her ahead of six finalists sifted from more than 20 innovators that vied for the Award.
A five-member panel of judges made up of seasoned industrialists, criticized market segmentation and response to market dynamics, and production sustainability and content value of the finalists who pitched their business models from foods, beverages and the detergent industries.
Margaret, who received praise for her marketing ideals, said she chose the industrial plastic for its durability and recyclable properties, and sought to establish a bond with interior decorators and Do-It-Yourself (DIY) enthusiasts.
Mr. Patrick Akorli, a former Group Manager of GOIL, instituted the Awards after he won the Chartered Institute of Marketers, Ghana (CIMG) Marketing Man of the Year Award for the third consecutive time.
The Ho Technical University had become the only one of five tertiary institutions sustaining the five-year award scheme.
Mr. Famous Nazah, Volta and Oti Manager for GOIL, said the Company was gratified to provide the opportunity for students to give out their creative and entrepreneurial abilities, and commended the HTU for taking advantage of the offer.
He said the Company would continue to support the programme as a corporate social responsibility, which helped meet the Sustainable Development Goals.
Professor Ben Honyenuga, Vice Chancellor of the University, labeled the winner “very dynamic” for being a marketing student, who had excelled on a job reserved for electrical engineers, a male dominated field.
He commended Mr. Akorli for Instituting the Awards, saying it complimented the University’s efforts at creating a platform for students to test their ideas and develop leadership skills.
The VC appealed for the funding to be increased to encourage more innovations, and to enhance student interest and the products pitched and called on students to take advantage of it to build teams to produce products that would address wastage, adding, “You must be active and not passive.
“Begin to dream and do things differently and you will be a winner”, Prof. Honyenuga stated.
Dr. Ametefe Normanyo, Chairman of the Awards Committee, said this year’s edition attracted a record number of entries, and announced a training package at the University incubator for the winner and first runner-up.
He said the Awards were delivered on purpose, as previous winners were far advanced in establishing themselves in the open markets.
Etornam Mensah, a hospitality and tourism management student won second place with a cooking spice made from salt-preserved tilapia, popularly known as “koobi”.
He received an amount of GHC 6,000.00 as startup capital while the winner took GHC 7,000.00.
