Acting General Manager for Sustainability and Shared Value at MTN Ghana, Georgina Asare Fiagbenu, has challenged Ghanaian youth to stop waiting for opportunities and start preparing to create value.

Speaking to over 100 university students at the 2026 National Youth Mentorship Summit at the University of Ghana, she said Ghana’s future will be shaped not by politicians or multinational companies alone, but by how young people “choose to show up.“

The summit was held under the theme: “Youth Innovation and Wealth Creation, Shaping Ghana’s Future, was organised by the Lec Group, an educational NGO which focuses on organising conferences & training for the youth, driving the financial literacy agenda by instilling the habit of investment.  

In a presentation that blended storytelling with hard truths, Mrs. Fiagbenu said the biggest problem facing young graduates is not unemployment, but unpreparedness.

“A few months ago, I was preparing to launch a personal initiative called Africans Communicating Africa. I needed someone with communication skills to work for two years on the project, so I interviewed several young graduates,” she said.

“Sadly, despite all the applications, I couldn't find one person who met the standard I was looking for. Not a single graduate," she said, adding that the experience reflects a wider issue.

“Many young people say there are no jobs. I respectfully disagree. Yes, there are jobs, but they are highly competitive. But there is also a shortage of young people who are truly prepared for job opportunities.”

Employers, she noted, are looking for “disciplined, competent, and reliable individuals,” and that “excellence should become your lifestyle and not something you switch on only when an opportunity arrives.

"From Consumers to Creators: The communication specialist urged students to move from consuming content to creating solutions.

“You spend more time commenting on social media, but mind you, entertainment cannot become your life's purpose.

If all you do is consume content, when will you create value? Instead of spending all your time watching successful people, why not become someone worth watching?“

She added that instead of waiting for jobs, young people should be asking: “What problem can I solve?”

“The reality is that the overwhelming majority of us will build our lives right here in Ghana. So the choices you make today will determine the Ghana we live in tomorrow.

Mrs. Fiagbenu said character is built long before university.

“My mother had no formal education, yet she taught me discipline, responsibility, and to never litter my environment.

"Simple habits like these define who we become. Character is not built at university. University gives you academic knowledge."

She ended with a 3-point charge to the students: “Sit up. Show up. Show up with excellence. Read widely. Develop your skills. Build your character. Be disciplined. Create solutions. Be ready before opportunity knocks. Because when preparation meets opportunity, success becomes inevitable. The future of Ghana is not someone else's responsibility. It is yours.”

Founder and CEO of LEC Group, Albert Prempeh Kusi, urged students to cultivate innovative and creative thinking to thrive in today’s sophisticated job market.

He further encouraged them to invest in the capital market with the little money they have to secure funding for their business ventures.