By Albert Futukpor, GNA
Tamale, Aug 17, GNA – Young people have been advised to acquire relevant skills, remain resilient and take advantage of available opportunities to prepare themselves for leadership and responsibility.
Ms. Adwoa Wiafe, the Chief Corporate Services and Sustainability Officer, MTN Ghana, who gave the advice, also encouraged the youth to be prepared, patient and resilient, and to work hard to develop themselves.
She gave the advice while addressing a youth empowerment summit organised in Tamale by Martha Inspires Foundation.
This year’s youth empowerment summit, the 11th in the series of the annual event, supported by the MTN Ghana as the lead sponsor, was on the theme: “Passing the Torch”.
It sought to amongst others inspire young people to develop their potential, acquire relevant skills and prepare themselves to take up responsibility in the future.
It was also to provide young people with opportunities to identify their potential and purpose, build networks, gain exposure to career and entrepreneurship opportunities and draw inspiration from experienced individuals to help them make informed decisions about their future.
It was attended by young people drawn from some second-cycle institutions in including Savelugu Senior High School (SHS), Tolon SHS, Kumbungu SHS, Kalpohin SHS, Tamale Islamic Science SHS, Dabokpa Technical Institute, Tamale Girls SHS, Tamale SHS and Ghana SHS, all from the Northern Region.
Ms. Wiafe said the youth had an important role to play in shaping the future and must therefore, be adequately equipped to carry forward the hopes and aspirations of society.
She said MTN Ghana supported the event because the company believed in inspiring the next generation and transferring knowledge and experience to young people.
She touched on the company’s operations saying MTN Ghana’s interventions were designed to help young people bridge the unemployment gap by equipping them with employable skills as well as platforms for engagement, innovation and creativity.
She touched on MTN Ghana’s Bright Scholarship Scheme, which currently has 1,220 beneficiaries receiving support in tuition, accommodation, stipends and laptops to pursue their education.
Ms. Wiafe said the Scholarship Scheme was open to young people across the country and was intended to provide educational opportunities to those who might otherwise be unable to afford such support.
She said: “Beneficiaries of the scholarship had gone on to become doctors, nurses and researchers while others had graduated with strong academic results.”
Ms. Martha Anabila, the Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Martha Inspires Foundation said over the years, the summit had enabled young people to identify their potential and purpose especially SHS students, who had gained a better understanding of career options and areas in which they could pursue their interests.
She said participants had also benefited from networks that had opened up opportunities for jobs, scholarships and other forms of support for them.
Mrs. Mariama Mahama, the Principal, Dabokpa Technical Institute, who chaired the summit, said the theme of the summit captured the essence of leadership continuity and the responsibility of every generation to inspire, equip and uplift the next generation.
She advised young people to acquire practical skills alongside formal education, saying skills development could improve their prospects for employment and entrepreneurship.
Miss Hawa Alhassan, a student of Tamale SHS, who was a participant, lauded the summit, saying it had broadened her understanding of career opportunities.
Other sponsors of the summit were Twisco, the Savannah Women Integrated Development Agency-Ghana, Norsaac, Pure Earth and Bel Beverages.
GNA
Edited by Eric K Amoh/Benjamin Mensah
Reporter’s email address: [email protected]