The Vice Chancellor of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), Professor Rita Akosua Dickson, was among distinguished personalities decorated with honours at the 13th Africa Role Model Awards.
The event, held together with the Transform Africa Conference, came off at the Great Hall of KNUST on the theme: ‘Future of Our Youth: job, leadership, entrepreneurship and digitalization’.
In his welcome address, President of Young Professionals and Youth Coalition (YPYC) Andy Osei Okrah underscored the theme and did not mince words by indicating that the future of the youth seems gloomy.
He observed that many young people are growing more and more lazy and searching for quick fixes while university students have taken to betting instead of studying, among other ills.
Mr Osei Okrah, therefore, outlined that the Transform Conference was to situate these in context and draw the attention of young people, policy makers, governments, local and global development partners to collectively address prevailing development issues in line with United Nations (UN) Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
He took the opportunity to launch his book ‘You Are A Leader’ in Kumasi, having been already launched in Accra.
Guest of Honour Asantehene Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, in a speech read on his behalf, lauded “my son” for his unique example, saying it is a great lesson to all.
“I am proud of you and how far you have come to impact not only Asanteman but the country and continent of Africa KNUST. I can remember your initiative of setting up KNUST SRC Development Fund and inviting me to send representative to sit on the Board of Trustees to ensure the judicious use of the students’ funds and using it in building SRC Hostel and naming it after me Otumfuo Osei Tutu II Hostel about 20 years ago on this very campus, an exceptional matured leadership.
“I came to cut the sod of the project in 2000 with you and came again to commission the Hostel with you in 2014.”
On the future of the youth, the Asantehene advocated: “We need to place those to whom the future belongs at the Centre of the processes of defining and engineering the future.”
His Royal Majesty was full of praise for the book written by the former Deputy Ashanti Region Minister and quoted the foreword written by former UN Secretary General’s Representative for West Africa and the Sahel Dr Mohammed Ibn Chambas.
“You Are A Leader is a good-read, indeed a page-turner. It has been artfully put together for the corporate executive tucked in somewhere Gaborone Botswana, the uninitiated but ambitious young man or woman in Bimbila in the Northern Region of Ghana or Techiman in the Bono East eager to start his own leadership journey or business, and for the self-actualized determined to maintain success. The pages of this book offer more than just a how-to manual for developing your leadership; they offer the most valuable gift of all; experience.”
Among the award winners are:
1. Africa Role Model Woman in Executive Leadership- Lifetime Achievement Award – Professor (Mrs) Rita Akosua Dickson, Vice Chancellor, KNUST
2. Africa Role Model in Academic Excellence Lifetime Achievement – Prof Ellis Owusu Dabo, Pro Vice Chancellor, KNUST
3. Africa Role Model “The Grand Award” – Atta Acheampong, CEO, Attachy Constructions Ltd
4. Africa Role Model Overall Male Personality of the Year – Emmanuel Kojo Jones Mensah, CEO Empire Modus Ltd
5. Africa Role Model Overall Female Personality – Professor Marian Asantewah Nkansah, Deputy Director of Students Affair
6. Africa Role Model Overall Organization Category – Multimedia Group
7. Africa Role Model in Entrepreneurship Development Award – Emmanuel Kojo Jones Mensah
8 (a) Africa Role Model Award in Media Excellence( Komla Dumor Award) (Private Media sector) – Sampson Nyamekye, GM, Hello FM
(b) Africa Role Model in Media Excellence ( Komla Dumor) Award ( Public media sector)
– Anthony Bells Kafui Kanyi, GNA
10. Africa Role Model in Public Service Leadership – COP Nathan Kofi Boakye, DG, Legal Prosecution, GPS
11. Young Role Model in Youth Development and Climate Change – Cedric Dzelu, Global YMCA Ambassador
12. Africa Role Model in Leadership Excellence and Youth Mentorship – Prof Ibok Nsa Oduro,
College of Science
13. Africa Role Model in Professional Development – Ing Nana Poku Agyemang, Metro Director, Urban Roads
The event was chaired by former first female Provost of College of Science, KNUST, Professor Ibok Nsa Oduro.
Source: 3news.com|Ghana