Business titan Sir Sam Jonah has used his acceptance speech at the EMY Africa Awards 2025 to shatter the myth that success requires ideal circumstances.

Winning the prestigious Ultimate Man of the Year Award on Saturday, November 22, 2025, Sir Sam Jonah's core message had key advice for the youth, stressing that greatness is born out of discipline and courage, not comfort.

The corporate statesman urged young Africans to stop waiting for government grants, flawless economic climates, or zero-risk environments and to instead take decisive action now.

Greatness is Rarely Born in Comfort

Reflecting on his own journey—from his transformative leadership at Ashanti Goldfields Corporation (AGC) to his numerous global board roles—Sir Sam Jonah stressed that success is achieved through daily commitment, not sudden luck.

“To the young people listening tonight, let me say this plainly: don't wait for perfect conditions. Greatness is rarely born in comfort.”

This assertion challenges conventional thinking, particularly in a region where young entrepreneurs often face significant infrastructural challenges, including unreliable power supply, high interest rates, and limited access to seed capital.

READ ALSO: Sir Sam Jonah crowned prestigious Ultimate Man of the Year Award at EMY Africa 2025

Sir Sam Jonah's point emphasises that resilience and initiative are the most critical ingredients for success.

He reinforced the necessity of discipline over sporadic effort:

“If my journey has taught me anything at all, it is that excellence is not an episode. Excellence is a habit. Excellence is a discipline. It is a standard we must insist upon daily, even when no one is watching…”

The Integrity Imperative: Lead First

The business mogul did not stop at demanding action; he coupled it with a mandate for ethical conduct. He advised young people to safeguard their vision and to prioritise character above all else, especially in an era of digital noise and moral ambiguity.

“If you have an idea, start. If you have a dream, protect it, and if you want to lead, lead first with integrity. For in a world overflowing with noise, it is character that speaks the loudest.”

This message is particularly resonant in Africa, where integrity in leadership is a major focus of public discourse.

Service and the Next Generation

While Sir Sam Jonah challenged the youth to rise, he simultaneously challenged current leaders to enable them, noting that true leadership is about:

“...creating pathways so that the next generation can run faster, soar higher, and dream bigger than we could ever do.”

He humbly acknowledged the support systems that made his career possible:

“I am the beneficiary of mentors who expanded my ambition, colleagues who matched my commitment and ordinary, hard-working Ghanaians whose toil forms the bedrock of every enterprise I've been privileged to lead.”

READ ALSO: Full list of winners at the EMY Africa Awards 2025