Only Transformed Youth Can Make A Difference
(Dr. Pipim’s Leadership Training on New Year’s Day)
I spent the first weekend of the New Year (Dec 31-Jan 2, 2022) at a leadership training retreat on the campus of the University of Skills Training and Entrepreneurial Development at Mampong-Ashanti, Ghana. There on that campus, I participated in training the latest batch of topnotch students enrolled in the Kufuor’s Scholars Program (KSP). The goal of the KSP is to groom effective and transformational leaders who will facilitate Ghana’s/Africa’s development. The Kufour Scholars Program (KSP) is a leadership development initiative by Ghana’s former President, John Agyekum Kufour.
[NOTE: The Kufuor Scholars Program (KSP) provides a specialized three (3) year transformational leadership preparation for the African youth, targeting Level 100 students in Ghanaian universities. For 3 years, the KSP offers the selected candidates mentorship and coaching, stipend, and specialized seminars, leadership retreats, and experiential activities, guided by the core values of transparency, accountability, equity, inclusion, fairness, and commitment to excellence.
For this year’s transformational leadership training retreat, the new enrollees (KSP Class of 2025) were camped for 2 weeks on the earlier named university in Mampong-Ashanti. I was there for only the weekend for the New Year (Dec 31-Jan 2). For more on the KSP, see www.kufuorscholarsprogram.org].
ASSIGNED TOPICS:
In my opening presentation on Saturday, January 1, I spoke on the overall theme of the 2-week KSP leadership retreat—namely, “Bringing the Best Out of You.” Being their very first message of the new year, I emphasized that God has a purpose for their lives. That, discovering and living that purpose would enable them make a difference in the world.
The opening message set the tone for my later presentations that day on the topics assigned me—namely, a 2-part treatment of the subject “Integrity & Uprightness (Moral Principle at All Cost).”
CHALLENGE & APPEAL:
On New Year’s eve (31st Dec 2021), when the entire nation (Muslims, Christians, African traditional religions, and secularists) were celebrating different versions of the so-called “Crossover night” to ussher in the new year, the Kufuor Scholars were challenged to listen to and reflect on my video sermon titled “Healed Wounds, but Ugly Scars.” That sermon, recorded at a 2004 youth conference in North America, made a compelling case for the truth that our choices have consequences. (You can listen to the sermon on my YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1-O0vTxDXbs)
However, the bulk of my training that weekend took place on Sabbath, January 1, 2022. Employing the title of my book AFRICA MUST THINK (which I made available to all the students) I challenged the students to THINK—and Do! To think boldly, think solutions, and to think out-of-the-box, I also challenged them to think EXCELLENCE, not mediocrity. I argued that just as “excellence is integrity,” so also “mediocrity is corruption.”
In all, I devoted 8 hours on the Sabbath day to make my presentations and answer their questions. As part of my presentation, I had also invited one of my mentees (Mr. Kwabena Danso (of the bamboo bicycle fame) to come down from his home village to address the student audience and field their questions.
My final charge to the Kufuor Scholars took place on Sunday, January 3 (just before they boarded their rented VVU bus for community outreach in the Mampong township. They had all contributed some money and some clothes to be distributed to the poor and needy in the town).
In that final message, I dared the students to refuse accepting any situation as “impossible.” For, “with God NOTHING is impossible” (Luke 1:37). Nothing means Nothing! There should be nothing that should stand in their way to solve any problems that may confront them. And, based on a page from my book “SURE PROMISES” (I gave a complimentary copy to each student), I argued that because “Divine Omnipotence can overcome all our natural impossibilities,” there’s nothing that can prevent or stop them from making a difference.
APPRECIATION:
There was no better way for me to have spent the new year than in mentoring the next generation of African leaders. Thank you, Dr. Seth Pascal, the Program Director of the Kufour Scholars Program (KSP), for giving me the privilege of sharing with these elite group of Ghanaian university students. Of all the transformational leadership training programs on the continent of Africa, yours is one of the very best. All because of your selfless and sacrificial leadership.
A big thank you also goes to Mr. Kwabena Danso (of the Boomers International and bamboo bicycle fame) for coming down to share his personal experience as a former student and young entrepreneur. And, finally, another big thank you goes to the musicians who “stopped” by on that New Year’s day to share with us their beautiful spiritual songs. Africa can really sing!
TESTIMONY FROM JUSTINA
The life-transforming and spiritual impact of my weekend presentations is captured in one student’s letter to me after the weekend event. The message from this 23 year old aptly illustrates how the KSP leadership training is changing the mindsets of the young students, and how these young people are positioning themselves to be part of the change-makers in Ghana/Africa.
On the night of Sunday, January 2, 2022, long after I had departed from the KSP retreat campsite in Mampong, I received the following WhatsApp message from one of the students at the KSP retreat. Earlier that day, that young 23-year old had taken a photo with me, as the group boarded their bus and was about to leave for community outreach. Here’s what Justina sent me:
“I am Justina [A.B., 23 yrs old]. A second year student of Kwame Nkrumah University of Science & Technology (KNUST), reading BSc in Food Science and Technology….
“I aspire to be a Doctor in food science, a philanthropist and an influential Public speaker like you.
“As an African youth I have been encouraged through your outstanding talk to begin to THINK.
“Zero Hunger in Africa and the world as a whole, as part of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals which seek to make the world a better place, is one of the factors that pushes me to THINK.
“Bill Gates said if we are going to feed about 9 billion people In the years to come then we must begin to have the future of our food at heart🥺
“As an upcoming food scientist and technologist, it’s really disheartening how food insecurity has become so alarming. In one of your speeches, you made mention of how Ghana imports most food products which can be produced here in our country to generate income and how that is really affecting our economy and development. This really spark up a burning desire in me to begin to THINK Sir.
“So as part of my plans to help Africa, I want to establish a lot of food processing and production companies across the continent, by the grace of God, to create employment and also impact skills in our Human Resources.
“I aspire to be a renowned member of the USFDA, World Food Program, and others to help curb the issue of hunger in our world.
“Please I’m always available for any work. Kindly let me know if you would need me for anything at all
“I would be available please
“Thank you.”
MY FINAL THOUGHTS:
Transformational leadership training, such as the one being promoted by the Kufuor Scholars Program and our own EAGLESonline center for leadership development, offers the greatest hope for the continent on Africa. As I explained, inasmuch as “the heart of the African problem is the African heart,” the continent will experience a lasting change only as its leaders have had their minds transformed. A reset of our African mindset.
I believe the young people in the KSP training program are experiencing such a reset in mindset. It’s why I was greatly inspired by the commitment of the young people to the core values of excellence, integrity, and service. I was equally inspired by their determination to make a difference.
In these young students, I find hope for our continent of Africa. Though beaten, battered, and bruised, Africa will rise again to take its rightful place in the world and to fulfill its God-ordained mission to the world. There is hope for Africa because God is raising up a new generation of brilliant & godly young people who’re determined to make a difference.
Yes, there is hope for the entire continent of Africa because of God—and because of transformed youth. AFRICA WILL RISE AGAIN—in our generation!
Pray for the youth, pray for our transformational training programs, and stay tuned!
PS: Photos from the KSP leadership training retreat are available on my Facebook page at this link: https://tinyurl.com/2s3vnzbt.
—By Samuel Koranteng-Pipim, PhD
January 4, 2022
Executive Director, EAGLESonline; &
Corporate Executive in Residence, Innovation & Incubation Hub,
University of Ghana Business School (UGBS), Legon-Accra
SAMUEL KORANTENG-PIPIM,PH.D. , is a US-based Ghanaian author, inspirational speaker, leadership trainer, and an advocate for youth empowerment. He was trained in engineering and systematic theology, and has authored more than twenty books. They include his bestselling works Hope Through the Dark, Six More Chances, Healed Wounds but Ugly Scars, and Patience in the Midst of Trials and Afflictions. Dr. Pipim currently directs two Centers for Leadership Development known as EAGLES (Empowerment & Advisory Group for Leadership, Excellence, & Service) and ANANSE (African Network & Advisory for Needed Services & Excellence). www.EAGLESonline.org. He also serves as a special consultant on Bible projects for Remnant Publications. 