Ghana’s leading urban radio brand, YFM has begun the 2023 youth month celebrations in earnest.

The government of Ghana has set aside the month of August as youth month, and being the go-to brand for the youth, YFM has lined up power-packed activities to empower the youth.

The Start Right Youth Conference which was first on the list of activities was held at the Accra Technical University on Wednesday, August 2, 2023.

The Start Right Youth Conference, organized by YFM in collaboration with MYO Global sought to equip the youth with knowledge about various issues which affect them. It is a platform for achievers in various fields to share their experiences with the youth and to inspire them to succeed.

This series is aimed at promoting youth empowerment, mentorship, entrepreneurship, community engagement and career development. It also provides an opportunity for networking and knowledge sharing.

The maiden edition of the Start Right Youth Conference saw distinguished and accomplished leaders from diverse sectors share insight on the theme; ‘Investment Opportunities for the Youth: Success Stories, Potentials & Risks.

The CEO of National Youth Authority (NYA), Pius Hadzide was the keynote speaker while, John Dumelo - an entrepreneur; Bubune Sorkpor - Chief Investment Officer of MIIF; Felix Della Horsu - Insurance and Investment Specialist; Kobby Kyei - Blogger were esteemed panellists.

The conference brought together young people, institutions, employers, policymakers, and development partners to discuss the need to prepare Ghana’s youth today for the jobs of tomorrow and resolve issues affecting them.

Giving the keynote address, the CEO of the National Youth Authority, Pius Hadzide encouraged the youth to invest in farming, agribusiness, vocational and technical careers as these are cash cows. He added that the informal sector employs 70 per cent of the country’s workforce, making it a viable space for the youth to venture into.

Admitting some challenges exist in the informal sector, the NYA CEO assured the youth government has put in place several interventions to deal with all such challenges.

On his part, the founding chairman for MYO Global and Chairman of MIIF, Professor Douglass Boateng urged the youth to harness what they have to create the future they want to see. He indicated that the MYO initiative is a platform created for the youth to shape the future they desire.

He noted that he is counting on the youth of Ghana to make an impact in the country and raised the need of the youth to rise to the occasion and work together towards a solution. "You are Ghanaian and you have to make Ghana work for you. No one will solve your problems for you, you have to solve it yourself. When it is just one person it can't be done, but when you are together, you have a voice that can solve issues."

Entrepreneur and politician, John Dumelo also admonished the youth to cultivate the practice of patience in their endeavours and avoid get-rich schemes.

He drew a stark contrast between the impulse of placing a bet on a football match and the patient approach required in agriculture.

“This is not about putting 200 cedis on Manchester United hoping that they win against an opponent. Patient is not about a quick 90mins turn around, it is about 90 days turn around if you’re into vegetable farming and varying periods for other kinds like animal raring and the likes,” he added.

Kobby Kyei, a blogger who also spoke at the conference highlighted the need for the youth to be vested more in issues of national interest rather than focusing on the trending stuff on social media.

He urged the youth to focus on hard work, rather than being glued to their phones and constantly focused on likes, and engagements on their social media.

Investment experts, Bubune Sorkpor and Felix Della Horsu beseeched the youth to leverage opportunities within their reach and solve problems in their societies and the country as a whole. They indicated that many opportunities abound for the youth to pursue their entrepreneurial journey. However, they emphasized on the need for adequate research and consultation before one ventures into any business space.

The Start Right Youth Conference was an interactive one with participants visibly impressed and fulfilled with the knowledge shared with them.

Head of YFM triangle, Osei Kuffour thanked panelists and speakers for their insightful contributions to the success of the programme.

“I would like to express appreciation to all speakers, panellists, participants and all present here. My sincere appreciation to my team at YFM and our partners who have worked tirelessly to make this event a reality. Your unwavering support and commitment to the cause have been instrumental in impacting the youth today.

This is the start of more empowering activities for the month of August. Just keep your dial glued to YFM to be updated about what we have for the youth this August,” he stated.