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AN associate professor in the Department of Economics at the University of Ghana, Professor Eric Osei-Assibey, has called on African students abroad to return to help build the continent.
He said African youth, particularly those with international educational exposure and experience, played a critical role in shaping the future of the continent.
“The return of African students to Africa, filled with knowledge, new experiences, and a determination to make an impact, is essential for the continent’s overall development.
“The future of Africa depends mainly on its greater youth, especially those with high exposure and experience with international education who have a fair idea of the gap between Africa and the global world,” he said.
Prof. Osei-Assibey was speaking at the launch of Pan-African International Students (PAIS) Ghana in Accra last Thursday on the theme: “Brain Gain: Returning to Take on Africa’s Challenges.”
PAIS, a movement geared towards supporting Africa’s international students on the continent and beyond, was launched by Kwiverr, a prominent global organisation dedicated to mobilising and empowering young people.
It seeks to mobilise and empower international students hailing from Africa to make a lasting positive impact in their respective countries and also influence the world through the love and teachings of Jesus Christ.
Prof. Osei-Assibey explained that the importance of PAIS to the development of Africa could not be overemphasised because across the globe, the youth played a key role in shaping the growth and development of nations.
He said PAIS intended to provide African students with cross-cultural training and fundamental orientation, fostering a missionary mindset during their time abroad with specific focus on their home continent.
The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Axis Human Capital, Dr Esi Ansah, underscored the importance of civic participation and the need for Christians to assume responsibilities in governance and other sectors of the society.
She indicated that governance was serious business which needed responsible christians to play a major role in it.
“One thing we need is civic participation, we need to move from knowing our rights to knowing our responsibilities.
One of the game changers is changing the systems and this means more of us need to step into governance and not necessarily government,” she stated.
Dr Ansah added that “we need a new batch of people with fresh energy to be able to hold the rest of us and everybody up to fight for a better nation.
For his part, the International Director for Kwiverr, Dr Yaw Perbi, said the objectives of PAIS included supporting international students and scholars in their pursuit of quality education, addressing their emotional needs, mobilising and equipping the church to engage with students from abroad, and enhancing the capacity of international students, local church staff and Christian organisations.
