Youth Must Drive Africa’s Sustainability Agenda—Nana Yaa Serwaa Sarpong

News Ghana, Latest Updates and Breaking News of Ghana, Ike Dzokpo, https://www.newsghana.com.gh/youth-must-drive-africas-sustainability-agenda-nana-yaa-serwaa-sarpong/

The Leadership Empowerment Club (LEC), in collaboration with its partners, has successfully held the Grand Finale of the 2025 National Youth Mentorship Summit and Awards at the University of Ghana, Accra. 

The Summit, held under the theme “Youthpreneur: A Catalyst for a New Economy,” was aimed at equipping young people with practical skills, mentorship, and inspiration to become innovative entrepreneurs and transformational leaders.

As LEC’s flagship initiative, the annual summit continues to serve as a vital platform for leadership development, entrepreneurial training, and career guidance for youth in Ghana and across Africa.

This year’s edition featured distinguished speakers from leading institutions including MTN Ghana, GCB Bank PLC, InvestCorp, and Bel Beverages Company Limited. Discussions focused on financial literacy, purpose-driven leadership, entrepreneurship, and personal growth.

Nana Yaa Serwaa Sarpong Honoured for Impactful Contribution

A major highlight of the summit was the recognition of Nana Yaa Serwaa Sarpong, General Manager of EIB Network and Founder of Women in Sustainability Africa. She was honoured for her outstanding contribution to youth empowerment, mentorship, and leadership development in Ghana and beyond.

Speaking at the event , Nana Yaa encouraged the youth to value time, live intentionally, and embrace discipline, innovation, and sustainability as pillars of both personal and national development.

“You will not stay young forever. Time will pass. Hold it dearly and account for it,” she urged.

Quoting Proverbs 4:23, “Guard your heart with all diligence, for out of it flow the issues of life,” she emphasized the need to cultivate the right mindset, values, and character to lead a meaningful and impactful life.

“Everything you want to achieve, whether emotional, spiritual, social, or professional, starts with the heart. And the heart here represents your mindset and values,” she explained.

Nana Yaa cautioned against shortcuts to success, particularly for young women, stressing that true achievement comes from going through the process of growth and self-development. “If you rely entirely on others for your success, you may one day regret those choices. Embrace the process, and your results will speak.”

Using a vivid metaphor, she likened the journey of success to standing in line for porridge. “Jumping the queue causes chaos. Likewise, bypassing the process can have serious consequences.”

A Call for Global Vision and Higher Standards

She challenged young people to broaden their aspirations beyond Ghana’s borders. “Ghana is a small market. Think continental Africa. Think global,” she said.

“You are your own competition. But to set higher standards, you must benchmark against global excellence.”

Nana Yaa also emphasized the importance of discipline, consistency, and a growth mindset. “Discipline is essential. A growth mindset embraces feedback, adapts to change, and turns challenges into opportunities,” she added.

“Knowledge is like light. Where there is light, darkness cannot exist. So keep turning your lights on,” she said, urging students to become lifelong learners beyond the classroom.

Redefining Empowerment and Advancing Sustainability

Based on her experience with Women in Sustainability Africa, Nana Yaa reshaped the concept of women’s empowerment as a collective responsibility shared by both genders.

“Women are born into a world of bias, sometimes even internalized. We need men to stand with women. Let’s be encouragers,” she said.

She called on youth to actively engage with the 17 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals and to develop solutions in critical areas such as clean water, food security, healthcare, and waste management.

“Sustainability is Africa’s future. Whether through technology, agriculture, or circular economies, the opportunities are vast,” she noted.

She encouraged volunteering, advocacy, and digital engagement as powerful tools for driving the SDG agenda. “Many are already building careers and businesses in this space. Start today. Choose one or two SDGs and ask how you can make a difference.”

“Turn Your Lights On”: Knowledge as Power

As she concluded, Nana Yaa reminded participants that education must serve a greater purpose. “Don’t pursue education just to pass exams. Use it to solve real-world problems,” she said.

“Wisdom is born from knowledge. The West is ahead because they invested in knowledge. Africa’s future will be determined by what we do with what we know. The time is now. Let’s keep turning our lights on.”

Outstanding Students Honoured

The summit climaxed with an awards ceremony recognizing outstanding students for their leadership, innovation, and active participation. Some participants received souvenirs and airtime from MTN Ghana, while the most outstanding student was awarded a brand-new laptop to support their academic and entrepreneurial journey. The event reaffirmed the summit’s mission to inspire, develop, and celebrate young achievers committed to shaping Ghana’s future and beyond.

Source: Isaac Kofi Dzokpo/newsghana.com.gh

News Ghana, Latest Updates and Breaking News of Ghana, Ike Dzokpo, https://www.newsghana.com.gh/youth-must-drive-africas-sustainability-agenda-nana-yaa-serwaa-sarpong/

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