For the government and all stakeholders, the issue of youth unemployment and low-paying jobs remains at the forefront.
Over 100,000 recent graduates from tertiary institutions enter the already congested job market each year.
Students in higher education who are seeking jobs in a variety of areas are urged to look into business options for self-employment.
In Ghana, the youth unemployment rate stayed essentially stable in 2022, hovering around 7.14 percent.
Concerns regarding the sufficiency and applicability of education and training in relation to economic demands were highlighted by the large number of unemployed youth.
Given this, pursuing business while still a student has been recognized as a way to secure both personal development and financial independence.
Chief Executive Officer of Serendipity Academy, Dr. Elvis Justice Bedi, urged the youth to consider taking up entrepreneurial activities during their academic journey.
“Young people have relied on the government for so long that it’s time for them to start making their own decisions and trying to support what the government is doing by starting a business. That is the very first step to reduce unemployment in the nation. As a medical student, I needed a job to help pay for my education, so I started trading. There have also been some difficult days. If there is someone out there who wants to make a change, I would tell them to fully understand time management. Trust me, everything else will fall into place if you manage your time well and are disciplined.
The world is advancing, and we can’t be living with the $60 per month payment. Get into something, learn a skill. You can’t depend on the government. I was the only person trading at my time when there were about 232 students, and I was the only one that graduated learning a skill called forex. What happens to the 231 people? They are doctors and there are a lot of doctors in the system who are unemployed. it’s about working smart. You have to start from somewhere, believe in yourself, it’s possible,” he said.
Elvis Bedi was speaking at the ‘Learn to Earn 3.0′ financial literacy training by the Secretary and Financial offices of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology Students’ Representative Council.
The training themed: “Forex Mental Health and Psychology Awareness” aims to empower individuals with the technological knowledge and skills to manage their finances effectively.
KNUST SRC General Secretary, Comfort Awuah, said the training will leave beneficiaries with financial skills to earn a living.
“We have always been preaching about students graduating from university and being outstanding. We had the idea of having a programme to educate and train students by giving them financial skills to be able to journey into the financial markets of forex trading.
“We have been inspired to have such a programme for the students of KNUST. They held on to it. They came around with their books and their pens to jot something down to be able to help them. I mean not just graduate with a certificate but then also graduate with skills and strategies on how one can earn,” she said.
