Youth encouraged to cultivate and maintain core values for success

She urged them to shun mediocrity but strive to do their very best at everything they will handle.

Dr Kacyira was speaking at the graduation ceremony of Design & Technology Institute in Accra.

A total of 77 learners successfully graduated from the one-year intensive training programme in Precision Fabrication and Precision Quality, comprising 59 males and 18 females.

DTI is an all-inclusive and gender-friendly institute that dedicates 30 per cent admission per cohort to females. This is the Institute’s commitment to championing gender equality in TVET for a sustained livelihood for the youth.

She said these values coupled with the quality of training they had acquired would be a good foundation to not only effectively compete in Ghana but also globally.

The High Commissioner said the most important ingredient also of their success in life would be to demonstrate good attitude, not the prestige of the school attended, background and intelligence.

“You are graduating at a time of great opportunity when the implementation of the intra-African Trade is in full gear,” she said.

Dr Kacyira said African countries were working hard to make it easy for Africans and African goods and services to move freely within Africa.

Currently, an Intra-Africa Trade Fair is underway in Durban of South Africa as part of these same efforts to mobilise for full implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area.

She called on the graduates to take advantage of the great opportunity and dare to think and dream big, particular in the field of creative arts and design.

“You can dream and create to great horizon if you allow yourselves to see how to complement one another with the diversity in art and creativity from the different countries on our continent and beyond” she added.

The High Commissioner said technical and vocational education training was a wonderful path and many African countries were investing strongly in this area because skills like the ones being taught at DTI were on high demand as Africa pushed forward on the agenda of industrialisation.

“With the fourth industrial revolution unwinding and the lessons learnt from the COVID-19 pandemic, there is no doubt that the future is digital and technology-driven,” the High Commissioner said.

She said to ensure that Africa did not lag behind, all were required to be innovative in the way they learn, teach and the way they live and work.

She assured the youth, especially the graduating class, of the support of the leaders, in form of progressive policies and specific programmes designed to for them.

The High Commissioner also commended the leaders of Rwanda and Ghana for their demonstration of time and again the value they see in educating the youth and in giving them the platforms to utilize their acquired skills and engage one another.

She commended the CEO of DTI, Ms Constance Elizabeth Swaniker for taking the bold step to start the institute, sharing her talent and expertise with many African youth.

Ms Swaniker said, “We will work to remove barriers that restrict access and success in TVET studies, through excellence in teaching, research, and scholarship.”

She urged the graduands to make good use of the training they have received and use themselves as a reference of the TVET success story, especially their decision to learn a skill rather than seek white-collar jobs or travel abroad in search of non-existent greener pastures.

“You have shown the world that you are brave and committed to using legitimate means to make a living, and this is commendable. At DTI, we don’t only teach, we create things that support socio-economic growth,” she added.

Mr Raymond Adu Adjei, who was adjudged the overall best student, thanked faculty, administrators, and staff of the Institute, as well as the families of the graduating class for their support.