Nestle Ghana Limited, in collaboration with the National Service Scheme (NSS), has organised a youth empowerment summit at the Accra International Conference Centre (AICC).

The event sought to offer transformational skills through mentorship to prepare participants for available economic opportunities in Ghana and beyond.

It was also aimed at stimulating the passion of the youth in career development for a brighter future.

Over 1000 participants who have successfully ended their one-year mandatory service had seasoned entrepreneurs and business personalities to mentor them.

The Human Resource Manager of Nestle Ghana, Sophia Benson, said the partnership with NSS to hold such a summit was only a step in the right direction since the country has about 58% of her population below 25 years.

She observed that the youth of today are the workforce, entrepreneurs, innovators and business leaders of the future; hence, the need to equip them with all the relevant skills and trainings.

The company has established what it has termed the Global Youth Initiative under which people can access economic opportunities through employment, entrepreneurship and agripreneurship programmes.

According to Sophia Benson, Nestle also has an entrepreneurial initiative known as 'My Own Business' which aid people in managing their micro-enterprises by offering commercial equipment and training on sales, management, hygiene, safety and quality standards.

These small business owners, she said, hire other people as street vendors.

The company encourages people, especially the youth, to create livelihoods as farmers, run their farms as businesses and also use regenerative agriculture methods to support sustainable food systems.

Nestlé has operated in Ghana for 65 years and has its Central and West Africa Regional offices in Ghana.

The Nestlé Business Services, a shared service centre that provides services to businesses within Africa and beyond, is also in Ghana.

These three entities employ about 1,200 full-time persons and also provide Ghanaians with great opportunities for internships and training.

On a yearly basis, they admit into their facilities about 170 people for internships and National Service.

“We have a graduate training programme that offers young people their first jobs and a robust mentoring opportunity that set them up for great success,” Sophia Benson said.