Yibie Damian is a second-year Doctor of Pharmacy student at Central University in Ghana — and one of the Arise Student Ambassador program’s most purposeful early members.
He came in already leading. As Class Representative and Deputy Head of the Welfare Committee for the Ghana Pharmacy Students Association, Yibie had spent years advocating for his peers before Arise gave him a framework to build something of his own.
From Observation to Direction
His venture idea came from a gap he couldn’t ignore: students at Central University have no on-campus pharmacy. That means traveling some distance for even basic medications — a real problem during emergencies, late-night situations, or exam season. For someone training to become a pharmacist, it was impossible to look past.
What Arise has provided is what many early founders lack: a structured path from observation to action.
Through the program, he has:
- Named the problem with precision and identified who it affects most
- Clarified his value proposition and what a student-centered pharmacy actually needs to deliver
- Begun approaching his venture with intentional, step-by-step decision-making rather than good intentions alone
What was previously a concern is now becoming a plan.
Building What the Campus Needs
So he’s building: a student-centered campus pharmacy offering safe, affordable medications with the speed and accessibility a busy student community actually needs. He is exploring an online platform that would allow students to order medications and access basic health information digitally — a layer that not only meets students where they already are, but positions the solution to scale beyond a single campus over time.
He envisions expanding further into basic health checks and preventive care — not just a shop, but a trusted point of care, built for how students actually live.
Like most early-stage founders, Yibie is managing a dual challenge. He’s building while studying, growing while keeping up. He’s clear-eyed about it: “I understand it won’t be easy, but I’m willing to stay committed and find a balance so I can grow both academically and in business.”
Driving the Shift on Campus
Beyond his own venture, Yibie is focused on building entrepreneurial culture around him — through student groups, WhatsApp platforms, peer conversations, and small campus events.
He understands something worth repeating: entrepreneurship spreads through people, not platforms alone.
His approach is simple: meet students where they are, and help them take one step forward.
What Comes Next
Over the remaining weeks of the pilot, we will continue documenting real progress — what students are building, what’s working, and what it takes to move from waiting to building.
Stay tuned.
Get Involved
If you’re a student: Ready to move from idea to action? Download Arise and take your first step.
If you’re a university, hub, or student organization: Interested in bringing the Arise Student Ambassador Program to your campus? We’d love to connect.
If you’re building something: Start where you are. Take one step. Build forward.
The future won’t be waited for. It will be built.
Take the Next Step in Your Entrepreneurship Journey
Ready to structure your entrepreneurial journey? Learn more about FRP-03 — applications open through May 12.
Looking to deepen your thinking on what it takes to build? Join us May 13 for a conversation on knowledge networks and African entrepreneurship.
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