The Speaker of Parliament, Alban S.K. Bagbin has been honored with the Lifetime Achievement Award at the 6th Annual Jacobs-Abbey Global Institute for Leadership Studies (JAGILS) Awards Night in Alexandria, Virginia.

This prestigious recognition, reserved for individuals who have demonstrated outstanding leadership and a lifelong commitment to excellence, highlights Bagbin’s enduring impact on his community and beyond.

In his acceptance speech, Bagbin used the opportunity to emphasize the urgent need for a shift in how education is approached, urging educators, institutions, and families to focus on developing leadership in the next generation.

“Education must extend beyond academic excellence,” he remarked. “We need to cultivate empathy, integrity, and responsibility in our students, enabling them to emerge as visionary leaders who are capable of addressing societal challenges.”

Drawing from the examples of renowned Ghanaian leaders such as Kwame Nkrumah, Kofi Annan, Patrick Awuah, and Dr. Elsie Effah Kaufmann, Speaker Bagbin spoke passionately about how values-driven education shaped their legacies. He stressed that modern education must evolve to build not just intellectual ability, but also moral courage and social responsibility.

The audience, a diverse group of educators, policymakers, and scholars from around the globe, was deeply inspired by his words. “Our future depends on the leaders we shape today,” Bagbin reminded them, highlighting the collective responsibility of communities to nurture young minds for the challenges of tomorrow.

The JAGILS Awards Night also honored other distinguished individuals for their contributions to society, but Speaker Bagbin’s award and his heartfelt call for educational reform stood out as defining moments. His Lifetime Achievement Award serves as a testament to his dedication to leadership and his vision for a brighter future, grounded in the empowerment of the next generation.

Founded in 2018, the Jacobs-Abbey Global Institute for Leadership Studies (JAGILS) is a distinguished institution that seeks to develop transformative leaders globally. With a mission focused on promoting ethical conduct, strategic thinking, and collaboration, JAGILS partners with academic institutions, governments, and organizations worldwide to shape the next generation of leaders.