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.
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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.
Source : Isaac Kofi Dzokpo