The Honorable Minister of Education and Keynote Speaker, Dr. Yaw Adutwum, The Honorable Eastern Regional Minister, Mr. Seth Acheampong, Honorable Members of Parliament for New Juabeng North and South, Municipal Chief Executives for New Juabeng North and South
Nananom,
Executive Directors – GTEC and CTVET, Members of Convocation Council and Staff, Our Host, Professor David Kofi Essumang, the Vice Chancellor, Distinguished Guests,
All the Organizers of this August Programme, Friends of the Media; Print and Electronic,
Ladies and Gentlemen, All Protocols Observed,
I deem it a singular honour, God’s favour and privilege to address you today as the Guest Speaker for the Second Session of your 17th Congregation as a Technical University.
Nearly three decades and a half, I was in similar shoes, my dear Graduands but Congregation goes beyond Awards of Honors, Diplomas and Certificates to deserving Students and Staff. The congregation is a time for Institutional introspection and a time for reflection and Career Agenda-setting by new Graduands entering into the world of work and realities.
The theme for today’s ceremony is the “Role of the Technical University Graduand in Building a Self-Reliant Nation through Entrepreneurship”
Let me first congratulate all Parents, Guardians and Faculty Members who have every reason to be immensely proud of you Graduands as well as the Administrative and Support Staff of the University who have worked tirelessly for the success of today’s Programme.
I wish humbly and in adoration to thank the Almighty God for the gift of life and the privilege to see and celebrate today with you all. Join me to give all the Graduands, a round of applause. I know it has not been easy, Congratulations!!!
Today, Koforidua Technical University has added another batch of knowledgeable and skilled Youth to the Human Capital base of our Country, Ghana.
To you, Graduands, always remember, the world of work is about doing not knowing, about quality outputs and timely results, not Certificates and Diplomas, about measurable achievements, not processes and about Integrity not wishful thinking, laziness and Dreams without action.
In a world and Culture, where the abiding focus is on “more and newer and better things” – MATERIALISM, I challenge you to re-calibrate your Value System, effect Positive Changes and let your actions reflect Goals, Attainment and Eternity as you go into the world. Remember Always, God First.
According to the National Accreditation Board, there are today in Ghana, 13 Public Universities, 10 Technical Universities and 81 Private Tertiary Institutions. From the Ministry of Employment and Labour Relations, 2020 data sources and the unemployment rate for Youth in Ghana was estimated to be around 12% and the International Labour Organization report in 2020 estimates Global Youth Unemployment at 13.6% due to lack of job opportunities, limited work experience, continuously increasing Population size and barriers to entering the Labour Market. The International Labour Organization also estimates 1.3 billion young people between the ages of fifteen (15) and twenty-four (24) as Unemployed. It is thus of utmost necessity and relevance that we bridge the gap between Academia and Industry. That is regular communication with Policymakers and Employers and produce Graduates that help Employers deliver quality to beat the competition and stay in business with all the challenges.
Indeed, Technical University Faculty and Administration must in our current Economic dispensation focus as INCUBATORS to produce Skilled Youth to fasten the bridging of the gap between Academia and Industry. A Technical University must see itself as a technical and vocational Institution that prepares graduates for specific Trades, Crafts and Technology- in fields such as Engineering, Accounting, Architecture, Medicine, Nursing, Law Pharmacy to mention but a few
Technical Universities must give their students the capacity to use their brains and hands to become Problem-Solvers, Innovators, Risk-takers, Achievers and Ultimate winners. Graduates of Universities and in particular Technical Universities must be Critical thinkers, think outside the box and even without the box where necessary and always use the six (6) friends; WHAT, WHY, WHO, HOW, WHICH and WHEN in their everyday undertakings, question the Status quo and must not accept everything line, hook and sinker.
Technical University graduates are thus supposed to be Craftsmen and Entrepreneurs and should therefore be adequately trained- Knowledge, Skills and Attitude, to be Creative, Innovative and Entrepreneurial enough to be Self-employed rather than always wait for formal and White-Collar jobs for employment in today’s world of work.
The concept of a Self-reliant Country appears utopian since we live an interdependent, value chain, a global village of Rich and Poor Countries, Manufacturers and Buyers, Developing and Developed Nations. The Covid-19, its impact on Countries, Businesses, Work-Life, Methods and llenges the world is facing currently expect all of us to be Innovative and not to look to the West for better Lives. Covid-19 has thus underscored the fact that unilateralism creates more problems than solutions.
A Self-Reliant Country in the context of the topic I hazard, is the Country that produces to at least take care of its Citizenry in Food, Clothing, Manufactures as well as Industry and Social Amenities among others and also produce extra for Exports and has the capacity enough to gainfully engage the Youth and the Skilled workforce in productive activities through conducive enabling environment where micro grows to small, small to medium and medium to large scale without inhibitions in Policies, business environment and the transaction cost of doing business. A Country that creates the enabling environment to better develop one’s talents, traits, potentials and acquired Knowledge and Skills. A Country where meritocracy and achievements are adored as opposed to nepotism and partisanship, where excellence and standards are celebrated as opposed to mediocrity.
In the 400 meters hurdles race in the on-going Tokyo Olympic Games, the time set by the Gold and Silver medalist broke the existing world records at 45.9 and 46.2 seconds respectively and many other records have fallen for example in the Women’s 100 meter race and Men’s High Jump. An unknown Italian man and a Namibian woman both achieved gold and silver medals in their respective 100 meters races among others. That is Competition, that is Standing tall, that is not allowing the situation to overwhelm you
It is however instructive and important to note that, not all of you would be Entrepreneurs. Entrepreneurs are focused, goal-setters, risk-takers, perseverant and achievers. They nurture ideas, decipher effective markets on the ideas should they become products or services, clear about technical know-how and know-what needed and build or have useful networks before thinking of Money or Financial Support. For the old age Maxim says “good things sell themselves”.
Entrepreneurship is a process where individuals pursue identified opportunities and realize them through innovation and persistence. Entrepreneurship development is thus a Human Developmental Strategy which makes the Entrepreneurs the Centre of the Strategy. It is thus a well thought out continuous Strategy, not government or Political Party driven but relevant and necessary for all times and robust enough to learn from the processes, identify the good practices of what works and what does not work and learn from them. It is practical centered and not book and theory centered.
As one successful Ghanaian Entrepreneur said “if gold was on the ground for everyone to see, everyone will be rich” and Abraham Maslow, the respected Psychologist known for his theory on Motivation aver that “the most valuable 100 people to bring into a deteriorating society are not Economists or Politicians but rather 100 Entrepreneurs”
What then is the role of the Technical University Graduand in contributing to a self reliant Ghana through Entrepreneurship? As indicated earlier in this address, annually YA Ghana produces more Graduates than the formal job openings available. Again, Technical University Graduates are supposed to have the capacity to use their brains and hands, critical minds, innovative and entrepreneurial; “Doers not only Knowers”. Thirdly in a deteriorating society, we need other Professionals but the most critical are Entrepreneurs.
For your Role in building a Self-reliant Ghana through Entrepreneurship, you my Brothers and Sisters and the 2021 graduands of the Koforidua Technical University, must know that;
There are no “easily found” job openings out there in the Market.
- You have inherent capacity to use your acquired knowledge and skills to create, take calculated risk, be innovative to be self-employed and employ others and be successful without necessarily travelling outside for Greener Pastures which often times turn to be a mirage.
- Be Focused and Strategic enough to take advantage of Policies and the enabling environment created to move from micro to small, small to medium and medium to large scale.
- Have Positive and “Can do” mindsets and set high standards of Excellence in your work and Career life.
- Avoid Mediocrity, avoid Complacency, watch your Life Styles and distractive friends.
- Challenge the Status quo and think outside the box and even without the box where necessary.
- Know that there will always be challenges and difficulties in both your Internal and External environments.
- Admit your own Strengths and Weaknesses and learn to learn or/and consult and seek advice. Have Mentors and Coaches.
- Be Technically sound at all times, learn to learn, be pragmatic and go to school on the winners.
- Above all things, do not lean on your own understanding but believe, trust, depend and rely on God through His Son Jesus Christ always as you journey through the changing scenes of life and work.
In Conclusion, when Mohammed Ali went to the Gym to learn how to become a boxer, the Gym owners told him; here we train winners and not boxers.
Congratulations once again to you all; Graduands, Parents and Guardians, Faculty, Administrative and Support Staff, Remember always, in Life the battle is not for the Swift. Avoid “get rich quick” Mentality. Eschew Corruption and Materialism. Let your Value System reflect Hard work, Excellence, Humility.
Remember God First and aspire to be Winners, the Head and not the Tail. Finally, I wish to counsel you as you begin your work life Journey with these two Bible Quotations;
- Ecclesiastes 12:1, “Do not let the excitement of Youth cause you to forget your Creator. Honour Him in your Youth before you grow old and say, Life is not pleasant anymore”
- Mark 8:36, “For what shall it Profit a man, if he gains the whole world but lose his Soul?”
Thank You very much indeed for your time and attention!
God bless all the Graduands!!
God richly bless us all!!!
