The Chief Finance Officer of MTN Ghana, Antoinette Kwofie, has called for increased investment in equipping young people with digital skills to enhance their ability to thrive in the fast-changing, technology-driven world.
She said inadequate investment and proper guidance continued to hinder the efforts of many young people to acquire the skills needed to support their education and careers.
“There is inadequate guidance and investment for the youth. People do not build the right foundation, and many do not want to work hard to get to the top.
“The youth want to be spoon-fed, but what they need is proper guidance that will help them make the right decisions to guarantee their future because the future is today,” she stated.
Ms Kwofie made the remarks at the 10th anniversary celebration of the Martha Inspires Foundation held last weekend in Tamale on the theme: “Amplifying Youth Voices, Building Legacies.”
The event brought together students from senior high schools, tertiary institutions, youth groups and civil society organisations.
It was organised in partnership with the National Youth Authority, Songtaba, Norsaac, SWIDA-Ghana, Savanna Opticals, WEE-North, Twisco and other partners, with MTN Ghana as the lead sponsor.
Ms Kwofie explained that empowering young people with digital skills would enable them to set goals, develop strong study habits and overcome challenges, ultimately improving their academic performance.
She added that it would also help them make informed choices about their future, reducing uncertainty and anxiety in society.
“MTN Ghana is passionate about equipping the youth with digital skills and tools that can help them thrive in a changing world. Our network also helps young people to create livelihoods for themselves and to put the country on the map for all the right reasons,” she said.
She further encouraged the youth to embrace opportunities that would positively shape their academic and professional journeys.
For her part, the Chief Executive Officer of the Martha Inspires Foundation, Martha Anabila, commended participants for their commitment and reflected on the foundation’s decade-long work in empowering youth in the Northern Region, particularly in literacy and mentorship.
“Our focus is mentorship and child literacy. Once you connect with the Martha Inspires Foundation, your life will never be the same; it will definitely change for the better,” he said.
Ms Anabila advised the youth to prioritise networking, stressing that many opportunities are lost when young people fail to connect with others.