John Agyekum Kufuor Foundation Urges Youth to Take Leadership Roles.
The University of Education, Winneba (UEW) in collaboration with its School of Business and the John Agyekum Kufuor Foundation held a lecture (K-Talk) under the theme “Leadership in Africa: The way forward” on the 23rd March 2018 at the Jophus Anamuah Mensah Conference Centre.
The occasion was graced by the presence of the Ag. Vice Chancellor of the University, Rev. Fr. Prof. Afful-Broni, Registrar of the University, Surv. Paul Osei Barima (Esq.), CEO of Kufuor Scholars Program, Prof. Baffour Agyeman-Duah, Television Presenter and Journalist of the EIB Network, Ms. Nana Aba Anamoah, SRC President of UEW, Patrick Agyei, the Music Department of UEW and students from UEW and University of Ghana, Legon.
The Ag. Vice Chancellor of UEW in his welcome address expressed his passion for leadership and empowerment of the younger generation. In his speech he stated that “Seeing someone and knowing you mentored them is the best feeling ever and that is what the Kufuor Scholars Program was all about-Preparing young people for future leadership”.
Prof. Baffour Agyeman-Duah, the CEO of The John Agyekum Kufuor Foundation and chairman for the occasion reiterated the focus of the Foundation which is to: Provide a specialized transformational leadership preparation for the Ghanaian African youth.
Dr. Joseph Kingsley Adjei from the Department of Sociology and Anthropology, University of Cape Coast, educated the participants with his knowledge of leadership in Africa, expressing the relevance of time. In his speech, he also stated that “one mark of a good leader is to keep to time and it is only on the African Continent that there’s something like ‘African Time’. Quoting Osagyefo Dr. Kwame Nkrumah words, “The black man is capable of managing his own affairs”, he asked if what Dr. Kwame Nkrumah said can be said now in the today’s era.
“Life is not only about eating and drinking but thinking and dreaming. Africa needs youth that are thinkers” He added
Ms. Nana Aba Anamoah in her speech revealed that the only thing that can be done to change Africa was to give opportunity to women. She urged women to be bold, confident and stand firm for what they believe in. As a woman you can be empowered by;
- Knowing yourself
- Knowing your strength
- Learning
- Having goals
- Making yourself memorable
The Scholars of the Kufuor Program in an interview cited some benefits they had derived from the program, as learning how to work in teams, putting down their ideas and devising strategies as to how to bring these ideas to life as well as building their confidence.
The chairman in his closing remarks stated that, “for Africa to develop she needs people with ideas and those people are the youth”, he urged them to take initiative and be better leaders.
The Music Department of UEW who were present at the lecture were not left out as they occasionally livened the talk with their sweet and swift playing of musical instruments as well as a poetry performance by Nagus the Poet.
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