By Iddi Yire/Jacqueline Appiagyei, GNA
Accra, Nov. 18, GNA – Dr Yaw Osei Adutwum, a
Deputy Minister of Education in-charge of Basic and Secondary Education, has
urged young people to use every opportunity that come their way to become the
best in the sphere of life.
He said coming from a poor background was
not an excuse for one not to take opportunities and chances that come their
way.
He also urged them to be super determined to
break the cycle of poverty in their families.
“If you are lucky to come from a home
of affluence, then why should you do less than your parents, so whether you are
rich or poor you can be successful by taking advantage of good
situations,” Dr Adutwum remarked over the weekend at the opening of a
three- day hackathon competition in Accra.
A hackathon is a design sprint-like event in
which computer programmers and others involved in software development,
including graphic designers, interface designers, project managers, and others,
often including domain experts, collaborate intensively on software projects.
The programme, which being organised by the
United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) in partnership with the United Nations
Development Programme (UNDP), Ecobank and Plan International, is on the theme
“Generation Unlimited Youth Challenge: 2019/20”.
The young people are grouped in 15 teams
with facilitators, peer leaders and mentors and each group is ready to speak
for themselves, it would be diversity of situations and minds.
Dr Adutwum said the fears of determination
to succeed could make one set higher standard to excel; adding that “so
don’t think you are an average person, you can do great things to attain
greater height”.
He advised young girls not to limit
themselves because they could do better when determined; declaring that
mentorship was a good thing so young people should get mentors to make good
choices.
Madam Marie Pierre, UNICEF Regional Director
for West and Central Africa, said the launch of the youth challenge 2019/20 was
to support young people to identify concrete solution to the problems being
faced in all countries related to education and employment.
She said this challenge was actively
organised in 40 countries worldwide; adding that the young people would share
ideas, suggestions and vitality of grammar.
Mr Samuel Hiram Yaro, Regional Head
Operations and Technical, Ecobank said: “It doesn’t matter which region
you are from, when you learn hard and utilized opportunities such as this
programme, you would make your dreams a reality”.
He said Ecobank was partnering UNICEF and
other stakeholders to celebrate 30 years since the United Nations adopted the
Convention on the Rights of the Child.
“We are commemorating this event with
series of activities with the key ones being today’s Hackathon, we are about to
witness,” he said.
Mr Solomon Tesfamariam, Country Director
Plan International Ghana, said their core business was advancing the life of
children particularly focusing on quality improvement of boys and girls, and
that young people who were generational thinkers were good for the country.
He said the programme was a unique
opportunity for young people to share ideas and also contribute significantly
to the economy.
Madam Silks Hollander, UNDP Acting Resident
Representative in Ghana, said the young people were all winners if they have
the right mind set.
She said the youth were the change agents
across Ghana and the world; ” So it is a huge responsibility and with this
opportunity. They should use it to learn from each other”.
GNA
