It is one of the conferences organized by the Foundation for future leaders International (FFLI)every year with participants coming from in and outside Ghana. This year’s event will be held at the Sunyani Polytechnic Campus from the 18th -20th June 2010 with the team “THE PAN AFRICA YOUTH AS ARCHITECTS AND BUILDERS OF THE AFRICA”. This year’s event was launched to the Press last night, where on the high table was Mr. Torkorno MD Amal bank, former interim president of Liberia Dr. Amos Sawyer, Mrs. Hannatu Sulley Consultant in UK and Dei tumi CEO of foundation for future leaders international.
As usual the event kicked off with an opening prayer from the organizers, who nearly made a nice slip of tongue with the word “Prayer” but was able to kick off the show smoothly. To do the next of introduction was the CEO of FFLI, who threw an insight on the upcoming event.
After Dei Tumi’s speech which centered around building a strong young entrepreneur for the global world, He then gave the Microphone to His Excellency Mr. Sawyer who also shared a few words with the media. Am very happy to be here today and to be part of this conference, every time am called to join this conference am glad to do so with ease. A short but well thought out speech was delivered by the Former Interim President of Liberia Mr. Sawyer focusing on how such conferences can be held in his country, next to touch the microphone to address the Press was the Managing Director of Amal Bank Ghana, Mr. Torkorno. “I did not know I was going to talk, but let me say that ever since I met Mr. Dei Tumi which was about two years ago, I have ever since being in support of this programme. Let me say that I have being a great supporter of youthful policies in the country and every time I have the chance to do something to support them I am always glad. The youth of Ghana must know that if they should believe in themselves they can be that change that wants to see in society. Mrs. Hannatu Sulley being the only woman in their mist on the high table also shared some words which was very famine but powerful. Mrs. Sulley said, I have always love to affect people (youth) positively with my knowledge, I know that if am able to impact positively one person that person will also share that words of positivity to another person and hence the ripple effect in society will be great. It is my greatest pleasure to be in Ghana my motherland any time the FFLI conference is coming up I tell Mr. Dei Tumi, just a call away and am in Ghana.
In what I call powerful short speeches the floor was open for the media to ask their questions concerning the upcoming event. First to hit the high table with a tight question was Ignatius from Radio Gold Ghana, His question was “Mr. Dei Tumi, you have being influencing young people in the country for some time now, do you really make sure that these young people really do what you teach them?
Dei Tumi in anticipation to correct that notion among people, he said “FFLI is a student thing and hence it has branches in all over the tertiary schools. My outfit has supported many young people from the FFLI group on campuses and is now managers in high institutions; on top of my fingers I can count not less than thirty young people that we have made sure that they put what we teach them into practice”. Is very rare to find young people practicing what they hear from us but for those in our campus group, Yes we make sure they practice what we teach them. In acceptance to that Mr. Torkorno also added that what the youth of this great nation needs is information, with reliable information they can do more.
The next question came from Mr. Evans Helegbe Gold, who introduced himself as the CEO / founder of Passion for Students, is question was addressed to Mr. TorKorno. “I want to know what the cooperate world is treating sponsorship deals concerning programmes, majority of the time cooperate bodies turn out to follow events that will bring short term results which turn out to be mostly entertainment like Miss Ghana, etc”. Am very passionate about this any time I talk about it because I once took a proposal to a cooperate body and was refused the deal because the results is long term, Sir I want to know why cooperate Ghana does that what is your outfit doing to that effect.
Mr. Torkorno in acceptance to this question said that “let me first of all congratulate you, its a very deep question”. But let me say that my Company has never supported an entertainment programme, ever since I met Mr. Dei Tumi, as I indicated earlier on, I have being supporting the event with my all. First of I can’t speak for the other cooperate bodies so I will speak for my side, my company company’s social responsibility is based on education, sports and Health, anything far from that does not get my attention. We have supported many educational programme in the country and will continue to do so. Mr. Dei Tumi added some few words to what the MD said, His words where very simple and clear, “I wish one day, a MD will be refusing an educational proposal and by the time he realizes there is a gun to his head”, then he will know that we need to train these young guys before entertaining them. With what you are saying is very deep, it cannot be discussed here, because when you have sent a well thought out programme, they (companies) will ask you what our returns is. It is more hearting when you respect an MD thinking he is a leader and you realize he is not, It is like Giving a gun to a blind man to shoot there is no vision for such a person.
Many followed as to the end, Mr. Dei Tumi together with his team spoke about this weekend’s programme to be held in Sunyani from topics and speakers. Some of the speakers for the show are; The ambassador of Togo and Dean of the Diplomatic corps accredited to Ghana, H. E. Mr. Jean Pierre Gbikpli Benissan, Professor Stephen Adei, Former Rector GIMPA, Mr. Torkornoo MD Amal Bank, Kingsley Obiakor, CEO and founder Advanced Strategic, Leadership Consult Nigeria, Esme Thompson, CEO Thompson Consulting with the guest of speaker being the former Interim President of Liberia Dr. Amos Swayer.
The conference will touch on issues from the oil and Gas industry, building entrepreneurs to take charge of the African Market. This year’s event is targeted in pointing the way forward for the youth, by inspiring, motivating and challenging them to enter such doors and leaves the rest to the opinion leaders in the country. To me it sounds interesting, and if you have the chance to go Sunyani Polytechnic for this all important conference it will be of great benefit.
Story by: Nana Yaw Wiredu.
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