The 2025 National Youth Mentorship Summit and Awards, held at the University of Ghana Business School, was more than a gathering—it was a transformative experience that brought together the nation’s leading minds in entrepreneurship, finance, leadership, and youth development. 

But among the constellation of inspiring voices, it was Nana Yaa Serwaa Sarpong, celebrated Media Expert and General Manager of EIB Network, who delivered a keynote speech that left the most lasting impression.

Nana Yaa’s story is one of resilience, vision, and reinvention in Media and building brands. From her early days as a teenage TV presenter, she has risen to become one of Ghana’s most influential women in media. 

With over 26 years of experience in Media alone, she now oversees some of Ghana’s top media outlets under the EIB Network umbrella. Her journey, marked by passion and purpose, framed the tone for a summit rooted in transformation and global relevance.

In her keynote address, Nana Yaa urged participants not only to develop big visions but to measure themselves by continental and global standards, “We are our only competition,” she declared, “but when setting your standards, set them to both continental and global benchmarks.”

 Drawing from Psalm 90:12 and Proverbs 4:23, she emphasized to the youth gathered, the importance of intentional living, guarding one’s heart, and valuing time as the currency of purpose. “What you set your heart to determines what you achieve,” she said, urging the young participants to develop discipline, consistency, and courage in pursuit of their goals.

A standout quote from her speech “What separates a poor man from a wealthy one is courage,”sparked thunderous applause. 

Nana Yaa reminded the youth that true sustainability in leadership is not about titles but about long-term thinking, resilience, and a commitment to personal development, irrespective of the reality around you.

She also shared her vision for Women in Sustainability Africa (WiSA), an initiative she founded to champion inclusive development and gender-balanced innovation.

 “If it resonates with you,” she told the audience, “join and help shape a future of sustainable leadership, nation and continent.”

In a dedicated segment, Nana Yaa laid out a powerful roadmap for the youth of Ghana to leverage the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to create meaningful opportunities.

 She explained how SDGs are not abstract policies but practical frameworks for young people to build sustainable livelihoods. From climate-smart agriculture, entrepreneurship and digital innovation to social impact ventures, she emphasized that the SDGs hold vast potential for youth-led transformation.

She said, “You have access to tools the generation before you never had.Use the SDGs to solve local problems with global thinking. Create value, and prosperity will follow.”

The summit, themed “YouthPreneur: A Catalyst for a New Economy”, was hosted by Albert Prempeh Kusi, CEO of LEC Group and a leading voice in youth empowerment. It welcomed an exceptional lineup of mentors and speakers who shared real-world insights and inspiration.

Among the notable guest speakers were:Nana Oye Bampoe Addo, Deputy Chief of Staff (Administration) at the Office of the President, who represented the Presidency and offered policy-level perspectives on youth development.

Georgina Asare Fiagbenu, Senior Manager of Corporate Communications at MTN Ghana, who spoke on behalf of Stephen Blewett, CEO of MTN Ghana, emphasizing the role of digital transformation in youth employment.

Richie Mensah, music producer and CEO of Lynx Entertainment, who inspired with his journey of building Ghana’s Afrobeats stars from the ground up.

Sina Kamagate, Executive Head of Retail Banking at GCB Bank PLC, who provided financial literacy tools tailored for the youth.

Janet Sunkwa-Mills, CEO of Afribiz Group and Jane’M Salon & Spa, who brought insights from over two decades of FMCG marketing across the continent.

 Albert Prempeh Kusi, whose mission of reframing the youth from job seekers to job creators resonated throughout the summit.

As the summit drew to a close, Nana Yaa’s parting words became a mantra for the next generation:“Be disciplined. Be consistent. Be courageous. And never forget, sustainability starts with you.”