During the weekend, on Saturday, March 19, 2022 precisely, at the OSC, the KNUST, Obuasi Campus SRC in collaboration with Dreams of Africa Youth for Change organized a Leadership and Empowerment Seminar under the theme: “Achieving ultimate potential, the role of education, mentorship and innovative interventions.”
Panellists were invited from the various university students’ associations in Ghana and also from top companies such as AGA to share their experience and also to educate, motivate, inspire and bring the good out of all students present.
The seminar started with a bit of interaction with the students on what their expectations for the program would be and what they understand the theme to be, where various thoughts were shared about the seminar. After the interaction with the students, addresses were given by special guests before the panellists sat to impart on the people present. Mr Daniel Arthur-Bentum; Youth Activist and currently works at the AGA Department of Sustainable development, Mr Frank Toko Oduro; USAG General Secretary and Ms Afram Faithful Kesse; the NUGS Secretary were the panellists for the Seminar.
Mr Daniel was the one that talked first, starting with a profile of himself, highlighting all the life encounters he has had since basic school, through S.H.S to Tertiary and his current position. Talking about his life, he stated that, he was not the outright-brilliant student type but wanted to be like Kofi Annan, who did humanitarian activities worldwide and he was advised by his dad before his final basic education exam, which was a massive turning point in his academics, though, his secondary school performance was not as that of his basic school, he entered university after staying home for a year after S.H.S, being a pupils’ teacher. In university, asid from learning HRM as his main course, he did other side jobs, that he learned himself on YouTube, which fetched him a lot of money whiles in school. After tertiary, he got to provide a service for one man, that was the start of his turn in his adventure to be like Kofi Annan.
Mr Frank followed, giving a brief profile about himself and some challenges he has faced and all that. He described himself as a worrisome guy and in S.H.S, Prempeh Colleg, realized that he can be a leader of students because of his personality, but because of his height, did not go in for the Head Boy position, but the SRC Vice President. He entered KNUST after school and wanted to be the President of his college, discussed it with his dad, who happens to be his greatest mentor. He failed bitterly in that election but was “blessed” by the Covid-19 outbreak, where he had the opportunity to be a student leader as the interim PRO of SRC and a time came when he was recommended by his mates and was open to the opportunity of becoming the USAG General Secretary, which he holds currently. He goes on to emphasize that, he has linked with so many people that he can rely on to provide him with an aspect of the life he needs but is not an expert in and because of his personality, there are things he can not do himself but rely on the many people he has contacts with, who do not fail him in his daily activities.
Ms Faithful, the only lady on the panel also gave a very touching line of a story about her life and how far she has come, despite the rocky road she encountered along the way and motivated everyone, especially the ladies to put behind every negativity and to pursue the optimum potential they possess. She happened to be the Head Girl in Basic school, but because of her love for music and dance, she did not pursue her leadership, but because other admired her love for dancing and singing, she was appointed as the Entertainment Prefect. She entered the Training College with a different mindset to the one she had in S.H.S. This timearoundd, she made her mind to aspire for the WOCOM but was discouraged by a teacher before entering the vetting room, as she was said to be too young in age and body to control the older women who are also students on the campus. She was disqualified at the vetting room and could not become the leader she wanted to become. Fortunately for her, Francisca, her best friend, was the one that motivated her to forget all the negativity and pursue other positions, which she did and now, is the first-ever student executive of NUGS to come from the Training College.
Mr. Danie,l in summary, highlighted the need to get other skills apart from our main focus in school, which will go a long way to give us an edge over other candidates for a particular position in the job market. He also hinted at the need to get mentors, make them aware of our admiration for them, get in touch with them, learn from them and also allow ourselves to be taught by them. Mr Frank said something similar, as he chooses his father as his mentor and idolizes Obama, follows Obama and know so much about him. He reiterated the fact tha, we can not do it alone, we need people, we need friends and others to help us in our journey of life. Ms Faithful said it all, motivating the ladies especially, to take risks in doing things they deem right, which will be very difficult from the start, but with constant practice and help from mentors and well-wishers, all that they dream of is achievable.
Some questions were asked by the students, which were answered by the panellists, concerning education, mentorship and innovation. The program was climaxed with the distribution of citations to the CEO of Dreams of Africa Youth for Change, the SRC president of KNUST Obuasi Campus and the panellists; Mr Daniel Arthur-Bentum, Mr Frank Toko Oduro andMs. Afram Faithful Kesse.
Report by:
Francis Hilbrands Agyemang