By: Nana Appiah Acquaye
The General
Manager for Sustainability and Shared Value at MTN Ghana, Georgina A. Fiagbenu,
has urged Ghanaian youth to equip themselves with the skills, discipline, and
innovative mindset needed to drive the country's future development.
According to
her, Ghana's future prosperity will largely depend on how well prepared its
young people are to seize emerging opportunities and respond to the demands of
an increasingly competitive global economy.
She observed
that with Africa's youthful population continuing to grow, the continent
possesses enormous human capital capable of transforming economies and
accelerating sustainable development if young people are equipped with the
right competencies and leadership qualities.
Speaking at the
2026 National Youth Mentorship Summit held at the University of Ghana, Mrs
Fiagbenu challenged students to move beyond academic achievement and
deliberately cultivate practical skills, integrity, creativity and a strong
work ethic to remain relevant in an increasingly competitive global economy.
She said the
rapidly evolving world of work demands young professionals who are adaptable,
innovative and capable of identifying solutions to complex challenges rather
than waiting for opportunities to come to them.
According to
her, although unemployment remains a major concern, many organisations continue
to struggle to recruit competent, disciplined and solution-oriented young
people because a significant number of applicants are not adequately prepared
for the workplace.
"We don't
have enough prepared youth. There are many opportunities available. People are
looking for good people and great people to work with, but they are sometimes
disappointed because applicants are simply not prepared," she said.
Mrs Fiagbenu
explained that while governments and businesses continue to create employment
opportunities, young people must equally take responsibility for developing the
knowledge, practical skills and professional attitudes required to succeed.
She stressed
that academic qualifications alone are no longer sufficient in today's labour
market, noting that employers increasingly value critical thinking, innovation,
teamwork, communication skills and the ability to consistently deliver results.
Drawing from
her own professional journey, she said several career opportunities came her
way not because she submitted numerous job applications, but because she had
built a reputation for competence, reliability and excellence.
She said, many
career opportunities emerge through professional networks, referrals and
demonstrated performance, making continuous preparation one of the most
important investments young people can make in themselves.
"You never
know where your next opportunity will come from or who will recommend you.
Preparation and excellence make all the difference," she advised.
Mrs Fiagbenu
further challenged students to change their mindset from merely searching for
jobs to identifying problems within their communities and developing innovative
solutions capable of creating sustainable businesses and employment
opportunities.
She said
innovation begins with recognising societal challenges and having the courage
to develop practical solutions that improve lives, adding that entrepreneurship
should be driven by purpose and impact rather than the pursuit of financial
gain alone.
She encouraged
young people to become creators of opportunities by using their knowledge,
creativity and talents to solve real-life problems confronting their
communities.
The MTN
Sustainability Manager also underscored the importance of character
development, describing discipline, integrity and responsible behaviour as
qualities that distinguish successful professionals and leaders.
She expressed
concern over persistent acts of indiscipline, particularly poor sanitation
habits, saying such behaviours undermine national development and reflect
negatively on Ghana's image.
According to
her, while universities equip students with academic knowledge and technical
competencies, values such as honesty, discipline and responsibility are
cultivated long before tertiary education and remain critical to long-term
success.
Mrs Fiagbenu
also urged students to make productive use of technology and digital platforms
by acquiring new knowledge, learning practical skills and building their
personal capacities instead of spending excessive time on entertainment.
Mrs Fiagbenu
encouraged Ghanaian youth to become lifelong learners, embrace innovation and
remain committed to personal development, insisting that the country's future
would ultimately be shaped by a generation that is disciplined, innovative and
adequately prepared to lead.
The Executive
Director of LEC Group and organiser of the summit, Albert Kusi, said the
Success Africa initiative has impacted more than 400,000 young people across
nearly 100 educational institutions since its inception almost two decades ago.
He explained
that the mentorship initiative was established to bridge the gap between
academic education and industry expectations by equipping students with
practical employability skills, entrepreneurship, leadership development and
innovation.
Mr Kusi said
the programme also promotes volunteerism, mindset transformation and personal
growth while connecting students with accomplished professionals who share
practical experiences and mentor the next generation of leaders.
He disclosed
that the 2026 National Youth Mentorship Summit marked the grand finale of a
13-campus nationwide mentorship tour, which began in February and concluded at
the University of Ghana after engaging thousands of tertiary students across
the country.
Mr Kusi
announced that the initiative would later this year embark on another
nationwide outreach programme targeting newly admitted university students to
deepen mentorship, leadership development and entrepreneurship among Ghana's
youth.
The 2026
National Youth Mentorship Summit, organised by LEC Group in partnership with
the Success Africa Foundation, was held under the theme "Youth Innovation
& Wealth Creation: Shaping Ghana's Future."
The summit
brought together students, entrepreneurs, innovators, business executives and
professionals to discuss leadership, innovation, entrepreneurship, financial
literacy and employability as key drivers of Ghana's socio-economic
transformation.
The event was
supported by MTN Ghana, InvestCorp, UBA, Prudential Bank, ACCA, Malta Guinness
and Skytech Ghana, reflecting the private sector's growing investment in
developing the next generation of Ghanaian innovators, entrepreneurs and
business leaders.
