In a quest to empower Ghanaian youth to overcome the challenges facing Africa, Access Bank partnered with Reset Global People, to organize it’s ‘Fill The UPSA Auditorium' youth conference in Accra.
The event under the theme ' Income, Impact, Influence’ aimed at providing a platform for networking, building global competencies and critical skills that will help to transform the youths' vision for a better future through innovative action.
Addressing the over 2,000 youth who converged at the University of Professional Studies for the event, Pearl Nkrumah, Executive Director for Retail and Digital Banking of Access Bank (Ghana) Plc said the youth forms a significant 25 percent of Africa's population (according to a MO Ibrahim Foundation research) and need to be supported to make the desired impact in all sectors.
She acknowledged some challenges the youth faced and assured that Access Bank is a dependable African Bank with right products and programmes tailored for the youth.
“Since 2014, Access Bank has championed financial literacy and access through our Youth Banking. Our focus has been to deliver financial services to the youth especially those in tertiary institutions across the country whiles focusing on their specialized needs.
We have partnered hall week celebrations, supported career fairs, internships, and sponsorships. Through these avenues Access Bank has impacted over 70,000 youth”, Pearl said.
She added that through Access Bank's Youth Banking programmes, many graduates have been employed in the financial sector. "Graduates have received full-time employment in the banking sector through our Solo Ambassador Initiative.
"Subscribing to our Youth Banking gives one access to our Solo Account, financial literacy, seminars, webinars, free digital banking, and opportunities to be youth ambassadors for the Access brand", Pearl revealed.
Renowned international speakers who graced the event include Robert Burale, Transformational Speaker, Vusi Thembekwayo, Entrepreneur, Beatrice Mensah Tayui, CEO of Cybele Energy Inc., and Futurist Kwame A.A. Opoku, host of the event. They took turns to motivate the youth and provoke them to take actions that would impact their future.
Vusi challenged the youth to believe in themselves because they can make global impacts. He said Africa's greatest challenge is the lack of trust in the African race and impedes the progress of the continent. He advised the youth to think global and build effective teams that would support them. "It's important to build quality teams around you because your dreams will become realities depending on the quality of people who surround you", Vusi noted.
Robert urged the youth to be confident, build their capacities, harness their gifts and strive to excel at every opportunity that comes their way. He challenged them to eschew mediocrity, invest in themselves and face their 'demons', which set them back.
Sharing her career path and successes at the event, Beatrice implored the youth to pursue diligence and honesty in their dealings. She said, " the pathway to success is diligence and honesty " and challenged them to be ordinary people who do extraordinary things.
Kwame challenged the youth to be the solution to Africa's problems. He said, "Africa's problems will be solved by Africans."
Access Bank has over the years developed a deep understanding of customers’ needs, delivering excellent service and empowering them to achieve more through financial inclusion.
Pearl Nkrumah - ED for Retail and Digital Banking Access Bank addressing the participants