Youth In Leadership:
Photo credit: GRNMA Youth Boot Camp ,2022 Edition @ Accra.
”When a younger generation takes over, I believe Vietnam’s economy will advance faster…These were steps toward a younger generation, more widely traveled and exposed to the real world, who would know only too well how far behind Vietnam as compared to its neighbors.
From Third World To First, Page 318.
Indeed, the 21st Century marks a new dawn. A new dawning where leadership is not defined by age but rather leadership for the youth by the youth!
It is in the light of the above philosophy that, the Ghana Registered Nurses and Midwives Association ( GRNMA) find it necessary to invest in youth leadership to train the next generation of policy makers. The association takes cognizance of the immense contributions of the youth to it's future prosperity, hence the need for their investment in various fields.
This might sound ridiculous to you but let us work the math. Try adding a minimum of 25 or 30 years to the ages of our current leaders in our continent today, and you will realize why we must treat youth leadership with much urgency! The GRNMA has indeed seen the light and has taken it upon themselves to annually train young leaders who are willing to challenge our nation’s status quo and beyond.
Mr. Kofi Annan( Fmr UN Gen Sec) summarized the repercussions of marginalizing the youth in matters of leadership by reiterating that, “Any society that does not succeed in tapping into the energy and creativity of its youth will be left behind.”
It is therefore imperative for the association to continuing investing in the demographic dividends of the teaming boom of it's youthful population to help avert any possible future casthathrophe of mass youth unemployment.
I would therefore like to offer the following recommendations:
1- Allow young people to lead. Just visualize what results might be if young people participate and lead in positions of influence. This would ensure that young people drive conversations that construct their existence.
2- Assess their abilities and challenge them. Challenging their abilities would always unearth the leader in them. When it comes to composing creative and innovative ideas, it is evident that older generations have much to learn from young people. Therefore, investing in young leaders also has a tremendous impact on the older generation’s lives in any society.
3- Provide regular mentorship program for them to showcase their creativity and Innovations
4- Involve them in decision making process..
I take leave of you with a big question to consider: How well has your society tapped into the energy and creativity of its youth?
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