NYA launches youth empowerment programme
The National Youth Authority (NYA), in collaboration with MTN Ghana, last Monday launched a livelihood empowerment project in the Eastern Region to develop the entrepreneurial skills of 40 young people and make them financially independent.
The young people, who were selected from rural communities in municipalities and districts in the region, are undergoing a two-week intensive training in bead making, make-up and weave on and online digital marketing (web development), among others.
The two organisations have this year committed resources to create livelihood opportunities for underprivileged rural youth.
The two-week training workshop is on the theme: “Creating a Brighter Future for Our Youth”.
Skills acquisition
The acting Sales Manager of MTN in-charge of the Eastern and Volta regions, Mr Raymond Tibson, said “this initiative responds to the objectives of MTN Ghana’s plan to promote sustainable living standards as well as improving the livelihoods of millions of people across the globe.
“Empowering young people economically has been one of the platforms adopted for tackling unemployment situations in Ghana,” he said.
High unemployment
Mr Tibson said per the assessment of the Trading Economics Global Macro Model and analysts expectations, by the end of the second quarter of this year, the unemployment rate in Ghana was expected to be two per cent and would trend around 2.70 per cent in 2020.
He said Ghana had a young age structure with approximately 57 per cent of the population under the age of 25, adding that the youth were the greatest assets of any nation and regarded as the future leaders of the country.
Under the circumstances, Mr Tibson said it was important, therefore, to empower young people with employable skills since they are the backbone of the nation and need the support of corporate Ghana in that regard.
He was optimistic that a well resourced and empowered youth would facilitate economic development and reduce the rate of poverty significantly.
Stay focused
For her part, the Eastern Regional Director of NYA, Madam Marian Mansa Minnah, commended MTN Ghana for supporting the initiative financially and encouraged the young people to stay focused and learn with determination to achieve the objective of bettering their lives.
She said in order to build a prosperous region, there was the need to start with the youth.
“When we invest in young people, we are certainly going to reduce or eliminate poverty in the country,” she said.
She thanked MTN Ghana for contributing to reducing poverty and creating prosperity for young people.
During the occasion and also for the first time in Koforidua, MTN Ghana launched 21 Days of Y’ELLO CARE which gives staff of MTN the opportunity to volunteer their service by working in communities to improve lives through the projects implemented by the company.