As part of efforts to tackle issues of youth unemployment in the country [ads1]and beyond, Morgan International Community School (MICS), a leading private school in Ghana moves to establish an educational foundation aimed at offering full scholarships to needy but talented and brilliant kids who express interest in becoming future entrepreneurs and leaders.
The 13-member board comprises of professionals from diverse backgrounds of which majority are from the academia, seasoned entrepreneurs and philanthropies.
Mrs. Ophelia Attobrah, a Seasoned Retired Banker and the Chief Executive Officer of Mace Link Company is the Board Chair and Mr. Phanuel Wunu, a lecturer at University of Cape Coast as the Vice-Chair.
Other members of the board include Dr. Isaac Owusu Mensah, a lecturer at the Political Science Department of University of Ghana, Mrs. Emelia Amoako-Asiedu, a lecturer at Wisconsin International University College, Mrs. Rosemary Agoe Pappoe, the CEO of Millstreet Catering Services, Mr. Kumi-Adjei Sam, Manager, GPHA Fishing Harbour, Dr. Frank Etu Menson, a seasoned educationists, and Business Consultant.
The rest are Mr. Kofi Okofo Dartey, head of Planning Unit, Ghana Grid Company (GRIDCo), Dr. Hazel Barard Amuah, Head of Human Resources, Old Mutual Ghana, Mrs. Margaret Opoku and Mrs. Dora Owusu, Mr. Huoadjeto Erick and Mr. Sampson Arthur.
According to Mrs. Ophelia Attobrah, the chairperson of the foundation, the objective of the foundation is basically to identify children with special talents who exhibit some kind of affinity towards entrepreneurship and leadership skills.
Speaking in an interview, Mrs. Attobrah disclosed the Foundation has various committees and specializations in place to make sure it selects the right type of people to achieve its objectives.
She explained that, ELEF targets children from Grade 8 (13 Years) up to 18 years who would be identified under the 5-year programme the foundation is embarking upon stand the chance to benefit under a hundred percent (100%) scholarship package which will guarantee their enrollment into the Morgan International Community School to offer any programme of their choice related to entrepreneurship and leadership at their levels.
ELEF is focusing on six key areas under the entrepreneurship and leadership programme: MICS Academic programmes (Cambridge IGCSE and American IB Diploma), Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM), Media and Creative Arts, Entrepreneurship and Leadership education Entrepreneurship and Exploring Your Potentials Courses and Sports.
The Chairperson further indicated that, under the 5-year programme, MICS will be responsible for forty percent (40%) whilst the remaining sixty percent (60%) will be raised from external sources such as contributions from partners, philanthropies and donors.
“As you know MICS is a well-structured and managed school, not for the poor or the needy but based on the entrepreneurship and leadership program, we want to be able to identify these children and help them, not just from the school but outside the school, develop them so they can also give back to the society one day”, she asserted.
The board chair noted that even though the board of trustees are busy executives, they are committed to contributing their quota to promote entrepreneurship and leadership education in the country.
On behalf of her colleagues she pledged to assist in whatever way they can to advance the course of the Foundation.
According to the Founder of (ELEF), Mr. Obed Danquah, all is set for the entire program to kick start in August, 2018 with the examination and selection process scheduled for June.
The issue of unemployment in Ghana, especially among the youth is a major concern to government and stakeholders in the public and private sectors.
It has even compelled the government of the day to launch many initiatives aimed at private sector development to create more jobs for the youth to reverse the trend.
President Nana Akufo Addo in his numerous remarks reaffirmed his government’s plan to develop the country’s private sector to propel economic growth.
“We are indeed counting on a thriving private sector to drive growth and create jobs. We will stimulate the creative juices of innovators; we will bring to life the adventurer in you.
It is time to imagine and to dream again, time to try that business idea again,” Pres. Nana Akuffo Addo was quoted saying in a recent online publication.
Interacting with Journalists on the sidelines of the launch, Mr. Obed Danquah who also doubles as the founder of Morgan International Community School said the formation of the foundation to undertake such a program has become necessary upon realization that “Africa has a gap that emphasis largely on entrepreneurship and leadership”.
“There is a gap in authentic leadership, not only entrepreneurship, so we want to train children not to have only entrepreneurship but authentic leadership that a child must possess to run institutions or any organizations ethically and correctly” “It is to ensure that students largely benefit largely from a quality education”, he added.
He therefore advised parents and guardians to allow their wards to partake in the examination and selection process to stand the chance in winning the 100 percent scholarship package to study with MICS in case they are lucky to be selected. He also appealed to donors who share similar interest in MICS agenda of raising future entrepreneurs and leaders to one day take over the job market and create more jobs for the teeming Ghanaian youth to support the program with funding.