MTN Ghana has urged young people to invest in skills development, resilience and self-improvement as they prepare to assume greater leadership and responsibility in society.
Chief Corporate Services and Sustainability Officer of MTN Ghana, Ms. Adwoa Wiafe, said the youth must take advantage of available opportunities, remain patient and develop themselves consistently to be ready for the demands of the future.
She made the call in Tamale when she addressed the 11th annual Youth Empowerment Summit organised by the Martha Inspires Foundation.
Held on the theme “Passing the Torch,” the summit, supported by MTN Ghana as lead sponsor, sought to equip young people with the knowledge, skills and exposure needed to identify their potential, understand their purpose and prepare for future leadership.
Ms. Wiafe said young people had a critical role to play in shaping the future and must therefore be adequately prepared to carry forward the hopes and aspirations of society.
She explained that MTN Ghana supported the initiative because the company believed in inspiring the next generation and creating opportunities for knowledge and experience to be transferred to young people.
She said the company’s youth-focused interventions were designed to help address unemployment by equipping young people with employable skills while creating platforms for innovation, creativity and engagement.
Ms. Wiafe also highlighted the MTN Ghana Bright Scholarship Scheme, which currently supports 1,220 beneficiaries with tuition, accommodation, stipends and laptops to pursue their education.
According to her, the scholarship programme is open to young people across the country, particularly those who may otherwise struggle to access the necessary educational support.
She noted that beneficiaries of the scheme had gone on to become doctors, nurses and researchers, while others had achieved strong academic results.
The summit brought together students from several second-cycle institutions in the Northern Region, including Savelugu Senior High School, Tolon SHS, Kumbungu SHS, Kalpohin SHS, Tamale Islamic Science SHS, Dabokpa Technical Institute, Tamale Girls SHS, Tamale SHS and Ghana SHS.
Founder and Chief Executive Officer of the Martha Inspires Foundation, Ms. Martha Anabila, said the annual summit had over the years helped young people, particularly SHS students, better understand their potential, purpose and career options.
She said participants had also developed networks through the programme that had connected them to employment opportunities, scholarships and other forms of support.
Chairperson of the summit and Principal of Dabokpa Technical Institute, Mrs. Mariama Mahama, said the theme reflected the importance of leadership continuity and the responsibility of each generation to prepare and empower those coming after it.
She encouraged young people to combine formal education with practical skills, noting that skills development could improve their prospects for employment and entrepreneurship.
A participant, Miss Hawa Alhassan of Tamale SHS, said the summit had broadened her understanding of career opportunities and helped her gain greater insight into possible career paths.
Other sponsors of the summit included Twisco, Savannah Women Integrated Development Agency-Ghana, Norsaac, Pure Earth and Bel Beverages.
