Wisconsin Youth empowerment In Focus At 11th Congregation

A total of 902 students graduated at a colourful ceremony on the premises of the Charismatic Evangelistic Ministry (CEM) in North Legon. These were made up of 13 Diploma students, 765 Undergraduate students and 124 Postgraduate students.

Speaking on this year’s theme “Youth Empowerment: Creating a Credible & Reliable Workforce in the 21st Century”, Dr. Senkbeil, Provost and Executive Vice President of Concordia University Irvine, USA, added that they must keep on learning, must exercise leadership and must constantly remind themselves of the greater meaning and purpose of life.

Dr. Senkbeil added: “Knowing our purpose in life motivates and empowers us to be reliable workers, and to remember the deeper significance of our work: for ourselves, for our society, and for the world.”

For his part, the Vice Chancellor of Wisconsin International University College, Ghana, Professor Obeng Mireku, spoke of the need to reform education curricula in order to equip young people with skills relevant to the requirements of the 21st century. He added that the focus must be to empower youth to create work, not just to get a job.

Citing statistics from the World Bank, Prof. Mireku said that young people account for 60% of all unemployed Africans. He added, therefore, that a “seismic change” was needed to change this narrative or else Africa would be sitting on a time bomb.

Prof. Mireku said that education was one of the best weapons to tackle youth unemployment. He called on government and bodies such as the Nursing & Midwifery Council not to impose training quotas. Rather, he urged them to concentrate on building a thriving health tourism industry in Ghana or exporting surplus human capital to other countries.

Delivering the valedictory address, Charles Asiedu Jr., said: “We all have our own book of life that has not yet been fully written and every day that passes is another page we write in. Luckily, as Wisconsin graduates, we have been given some of the paper and ink we need to write our own stories. With the love and support of our families and friends our stories will become best sellers.”

Other speakers included the Vice Chancellor of University of Ghana, Prof. Ebenezer Oduro Owusu, who presented a goodwill message on behalf of Wisconsin’s four mentoring institutions, and special guest Mr. Ramsey Jay Jr., an investment consultant, motivational speaker and author based in California, USA.

Alumni representative Mr. Selorm Kpade administered the alumni oath to the new graduates, entreating them to support their alma mater.

Awards were given to outstanding students across various programmes. Long service awards were also handed to faculty and staff members, as well as awards for best lecturer and best administrator.

The programme was punctuated by lively performances by the Abibigromma Cultural Troupe and the Greater Accra Mass Choir. The event also featured a flag parade of all the nations from which Wisconsin students, past and present, come from.

The event was supported by Access Bank, ADB, CalBank, the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA), the Institute of Chartered Accountants Ghana (ICAG), and Boss energy drink, which is produced by Blowchem Industries Ltd