5,000 youth attend NELEF 2025 in Accra

The National Emerging Leaders Economic Forum (NELEF) 2025, has been launched in Accra yesterday, expecting 5,000 youth across the country to attend.

The forum, which will be organised by the Visionary Organisation Development and Entrepreneurial Club (VODEC) Africa, is slated for September 22, 2025 at the University of Professional Studies, Accra (UPSA) auditorium.

The event to be held under the theme; “Is There Enough Youth Employment; The Gateway to Sustainable Economic Development,” will seek to empower future leaders for sustainable economic growth.

Speaking at the press launch, the Chief Executive Officer of VODEC Africa, Mr Daniel Asomani, said this year’s forum would move “beyond inspiration and toward concrete action,” focusing on practical solutions to empower young people as innovators, job creators and leaders.

He noted that the forum would convene an outstanding roster of speakers from the country and abroad, including leaders in business, technology, policy and social innovation, with discussions tackling entrepreneurship, governance, climate change, technology and digital transformation, and emphasising on implementation and collaboration.

“Our goal for NELEF 2025 is not just to fill a room with bright ideas, but to ensure every participant leaves with actionable steps, follow able conditions and the confidence to turn their vision into reality,” Mr Asomani stated.

Since its inception, the CEO highlighted that VODEC Africa has mobilised hundreds of volunteers, supported thousands of entrepreneurs across the country, and launched hundreds of projects, both rural and urban.

These initiatives, he said ranged from agricultural innovations in northern communities to start-ups and social enterprises in major cities, addressing issues such as waste management, sustainability, and youth leadership development.

“The upcoming forum is expected to provide a platform where youth voices can directly shape national development strategies. The youth of Ghana are not just ready for the future, they are ready to shape it,” he affirmed.

He added that VODEC Africa had set ambitious goals to increase the number of youth-led enterprises it supports tenfold over the next decade, expand into every region, and forge strategic partnerships to connect young innovators with global markets, investors and mentors.

On his part, the Board Chair of VODEC, Reverend Lawrence Tetteh, expressed concern about the growing challenge of graduate unemployment in the country, noting that many young people complete school only to find themselves without jobs.

He stressed the urgent need to make agriculture attractive and lucrative, since the sector has the potential to absorb a large number of the youth while ensuring national food security.

He further encouraged young people to embrace technical and vocational education, explaining that such practical skills would not only provide them with sustainable employment opportunities but also enable them to contribute meaningfully to the socio-economic development of their communities.