‘Develop capacity for entrepreneurship among the youth’ – Osei Bonsu to African Leaders as he dazzles at Ignite Community speaking event in San Diego

• Posted on June 28, 2017June 28, 2017
• by Nana Kwesi Coomson
• Comment

Philp Osei Bonsu, Head of Public Relations for the Electricity Company of Ghana in the Western Region who is amongst forty (40) fellows for the 2017 cohort of the Mandela Washington Fellowship from Ghana has dazzled at an Ignite Community Speaking Event in San Diego, California.

The public lecture which was organized by the University of San Diego’s Institute for Peace and Justice, The San Diego Diplomacy Council and Start Up Show San Diego, was on Innovation, Empowerment and Servant Leadership featuring African Social Entrepreneurs.

Focusing on the broad theme of Empowerment, Mr. Osei Bonsu spoke on the topic: ‘An empowered African youth – the catalyst for change’. He noted that one of the great fundamental changes of the coming decades will be the massive relative shift of the global population to Africa and called on the youth of the continent to seize the moment.

“Africa’s population is the youngest at the moment with a median age of just 20. There are around 200 million Africans aged between 15 and 24. If the individual talents of this young constituency of Africans are better harnessed, that will be the game changer for Africa,” he said.

He further called on African governments to drive economic growth with inclusion by consciously investing in the skills and education of the youth – An education that equips students with the skills relevant to the labor market and one that also trains students to create jobs.

He argued that “the safety of the continent’s development will be under severe threat if the issue of high youth unemployment is not addressed. There is the urgent need therefore to develop capacity for entrepreneurship among the youth as a major driver of job creation”.

The public lecture which was live on The Start Up Show San Diego’s online TV channel, had a very enthusiastic audience who gave Mr. Osei Bonsu a standing ovation after his presentation which easily passed as the best for the night. The audience was made up of Students, Faculty Staff, Mandela Washington Fellows and some members of the public.

Philip later joined three other African Social Entrepreneurs (who also spoke on the other themes) in a panel for the ensuing very insightful and stimulating discussion moderated by one of San Diego’s finest broadcasters and host of the StartUp Show, Eric Westreich. 

www.233times.net is keenly following Mr. Osei Bonsu’s exploits in the USA for the 6-weeks he will be there as a Mandela Washington Fellow.

Author: Nana Kwesi Coomson (www.233times.net) @nkcoomson on Twitter