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Speakers at the University of Ghana (UG) 76th Annual New Year School Youth School (ANYSC) have advised students and young people across the country to exhibit the highest level of discipline and integrity, describing them as key components to their personal development and the nation’s.
The Executive Director of the ANYSC, Dr Jack Andrews Dotsey, who emphasised discipline, said as the present and future assets of the nation, the youth had the responsibility of determining the country’s economic direction, leadership, and peace over the next several decades and, therefore, being disciplined would underpin their success in their endeavours.
“Discipline is the first key to sustainable development because it will enhance your personal development. Discipline will ensure you keep your focus and will enable you to achieve your objectives. Discipline will enhance your hard work and put you on top of the competition,” he said.
The Youth School held last Wednesday at the UG forms part of the 76th Annual New Year School and Conference, which provides the platform to discuss national issues and proffer solutions to them.
ANYSC is organised by the School of Continuing and Distance Education College of Education of the University of Ghana
This year’s event is on the theme: “Attaining the 5-Ps of Sustainable Development for a Resilient Ghana: People, Planet, Prosperity, Peace and Partnership.”
The Youth School, therefore, afforded students from Accra Academy, Presbyterian Boys' Secondary School (PRESEC) and Accra High School, among others, the platform to engage in meaningful discussions, develop leadership skills and explore topics that fostered personal and academic growth by connecting students with peers, educators and experts.
That would build their confidence and develop solutions that could positively impact their schools, communities and future endeavours.
Reflecting on the historical importance of the New Year School, which played a pivotal role in establishing tertiary education in the country, Dr Dotsey called on the youth to embody the values of visionary leadership, integrity and hard work that the programme represented.
Encouraging participants to make the most of the opportunity, he urged them to focus on their studies, network and acquire critical skills to build a country where people succeeded on merit.
Dr Dotsey further advised the students to embrace discipline as the path to fulfilling their potential and contributing to the nation’s progress, adding, “The youth of this nation, arise! Take hold of the motherland Ghana. Determine its present and future direction. Motherland Ghana, it's in your hands.”
A Lecturer of the Department for the Study of Religions at the University, Dr Ernestina Atsu, who spoke to students on integrity, explained that integrity was rooted in values and required individuals to identify, internalise and consistently uphold them.
She further encouraged the youth to consider integrity as the foundation of leadership which was shaped by consistency in thoughts, beliefs and actions.
“Your consistency in your character increases your leadership effectiveness. So if every time you are on time and people know that they can trust you then they can give you positions or put you in certain roles. So the higher people can trust you, the higher your leadership influence,” she said.
Dr Atsu further explained that by cultivating integrity, individuals could inspire change in families, communities and the nation at large, driving collective progress and sustainable development.
