Ghana Teens Summit’s Post

Stepping into the Unknown: A Story of Growth and Discovery Meet me, a young lady who embarked on a journey of self-discovery by serving in the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) in South East Nigeria, far from her comfort zone in Lagos. Leaving behind the familiarity of family, friends, and opportunities, I embraced the unknown, immersing myself in a new culture, learning Igbo language (at least I know a few phrases), and adapting to a different pace of life. Through this experience, I discovered: A newfound sense of resilience and adaptability. A broader perspective on Nigeria's diversity and cultural differences (story for another day). A network of like-minded individuals from diverse backgrounds (if 3 people count as a network). This experience has taught me that growth happens when we step out of our comfort zones and embrace the unknown. As I am navigating this new chapter, I'm unlocking new possibilities for personal growth. This post is to inspire you to take the leap and explore unknown possibilities. You never know what opportunities, experiences, and growth await you on the other side. #ComfortZone #GrowthMindset #NYSC #PersonalDevelopment

"Reflecting on 64 Years of Independence: My Nigerian Journey" As Nigeria celebrates its 64th Independence Day, I am reminded of the resilience and determination that defines our great nation. Born and raised in this vibrant land, I have experienced firsthand the challenges and triumphs that shape our collective story. My journey as a proud Nigerian has been marked by moments of service, growth, and contribution. I recall my time serving as a Youth Corps Member in Command Science Secondary School (Girls) Gusau Zamfara State, despite the insecurity challenges, as a testament to my patriotism. It was there that I learned the value of perseverance and community. Beyond my national service, I've sought opportunities to make a positive impact: ~ Volunteering with Dubawa Week for Truth (2023), empowering high school students with fact-checking skills to combat misinformation. ~ Participating in the Electoral College of Nigeria's intensive 8-week training, equipping myself with knowledge of the electoral process. ~ Completing an internship in Human Resource and Capital Management at the Global Citizenship Foundation to enhance my skills and contribute to Nigeria's workforce. These experiences have not only shaped me but also enabled me to give back. As I reflect on Nigeria's 64-year journey, I'm reminded that: Our independence is not just a historical event but a continuous process of growth and self-improvement. Every small action counts and collective efforts can transform our communities. To my fellow Nigerians, I ask: What does independence mean to you? How have you contributed to Nigeria's growth? What milestones, no matter how small, have you achieved? Let's celebrate our nation's progress and recommit to building a brighter future. Together, we can overcome challenges and create a Nigeria that's a beacon of hope and opportunity. #NigeriaAt64 #IndependenceDay #ProudlyNigerian #Dubawa #ECN #ServiceToNation #GrowthMindset #CollectiveProgress

Emelia Oware, a client, is a true pioneer developing a progressive school in Accra, Ghana. Her program focus is to “develop individual's capabilities... to move away from the status quo whilst building resilience to be changemakers and/or problem solvers. This is what Africa needs to transform our world." Today we walked through getting the right team together. You can't do this later. This is the ground they will walk on in all they do going forward. She said, "I never knew to think of these things. You are truly a blessing Joanna." Focusing on deeper, core work now will make all the difference in the trajectory in transforming lives.

I am very excited to be in Nigeria 🇳🇬 , Ghana 🇬🇭 & Kenya 🇰🇪 next month while MENAs' countries during Feb, as in the world often divided by flags and borders, I believe diversity, inclusivity, and acceptability are the keys to a brighter future. International education plays a crucial role in making this vision possible. It connects students, Educationists & academic institutions across nations, allowing everyone to experience different cultures, develop cross-cultural understanding, and gain the skills to address global challenges. I Believe by building collaboration and breaking down stereotypes, education becomes the foundation for a united, borderless world. Diversity enriches our lives, bringing together cultures, ideas, and traditions that fuel innovation and understanding. Inclusivity builds bridges, ensuring that everyone feels valued and empowered to contribute. Acceptability fosters harmony, encouraging us to embrace differences and learn from one another. Globalization, supported by international education, is about collaboration, not competition—a vision where shared challenges are met with collective solutions. Together, we can build a world grounded in compassion, understanding, and unity, thriving as one humanity. I believe in No Borders, No divisions & No Flags as the citizen of this globe. Let's connect! intled@intled.io intled.io

Current students and recent graduates, whether undergraduate or graduate, in Nigeria or abroad, often contemplate their plans during and after their academic programs. Common questions typically revolve around setting priorities while in school, planning for life after graduation, navigating immigration in a new country, and relevant skills to acquire. I'm here to offer my perspectives based on my own experiences and the help I've received along the way. While I most certainly do not have all the answers, my opinions and experiences may just be useful. Book a one-on-one session with me here: (https://lnkd.in/gj2Z8hdA) to discuss any of the above or any other relevant topic. I look forward to chatting with you :)

Everything was going well until they asked, "Where are you from?" During my job search for an international teaching position, I received a response from a school expressing interest in my profile. They were impressed with my level of experience and sent me a short test, which I completed and returned. Their feedback was positive, and everything seemed promising. However, things changed when they asked me to confirm my country of birth and current location. After I responded with "Nigeria," I never heard back from them. I’ve often heard people talk about losing opportunities because of the "Nigerian factor," but experiencing it firsthand during my job search was painful. Several opportunities slipped away because of it. Having been teaching abroad and successfully navigating the challenges of international education, I’ve seen the surprise on people’s faces when they observe my teaching methods and results. My boss once asked, "What do you do differently that makes the students enjoy your classes so much?" I’ve created classroom games and use diverse teaching strategies to meet the needs of my learners, ensuring the lessons are both engaging and effective. It’s important to note that Nigeria has many excellent teachers. If we can achieve great things within our rigorous and complex education system, with limited support and resources, imagine what we could accomplish in environments that provide the necessary tools and support! The experiences shared by my former colleagues, who are now teaching in various parts of the world, confirm that Nigerian teachers consistently exceed expectations wherever they go. Shout out to all Nigerian teachers—keep doing what you do best, and continue the good work!

🌍 Happy International Youth Day! 🌍 On this International Youth Day, I reflect on my journey with Junior Achievement Nigeria, where I've had the privilege of working with incredible young people across Nigeria for the past 23 months. It’s been an amazing experience, and I’m constantly inspired by the boundless potential I see in our youth. At JA Nigeria, we hold a deep belief in the boundless potential that young people possess. That’s why we are committed to providing opportunities for those between the ages of 5 and 35 to discover, nurture, and deploy their potentials for economic value through the various learning experiences we provide. One of the most rewarding aspects of my work is witnessing the profound impact that a single, well-thought-out program can have on the economic future of a young person. It’s a reminder that when given the right tools and opportunities, our youth can achieve extraordinary things. (For example, the picture attached is from one of our flagship programs - Venture in Management Program (ViMP), which has been a pipeline for the emergence of high flying corporate and business executives since its inception in 2000. I am eagerly looking forward to the commencement of ViMP 2024 soon.) To all the young people out there, remember: there is no limit to what you can become, except those that you create for yourself. You already have everything you need to succeed within you. All you need is to discover, nurture, and deploy your potential—and that’s exactly what we strive to help you do at JA Nigeria. Let’s continue to inspire and prepare our youth to succeed in a global economy. #InternationalYouthDay #YouthEmpowerment #JANigeria #EconomicFuture #BoundlessPotential

Thrilled to share that I've recently attended an international conference at the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN)! I'm proud to have been a part of this enriching experience, and I'm excited to share my knowledge and insights gained from the conference with my network. Here's my certificate of attendance #NOUN #InternationalConference #AcademicExcellence #LifelongLearning #PersonalGrowth"

95% (if not more) of Nigerian graduates don't feed from what they studied in school. They don't do anything that has to do with what they studied in school. They crafted another path and career different from what they studied in school. The need for finishing school is a must to help graduates transition seamlessly from what they studied in school into building a noble career in the corporate world. Learning relevant skills is very important regardless of what you studied in school or the grade you graduated with. Most of the interviews for even entry-level have little or nothing to do with what you studied in school but the skills you have to bring value to their organization. Nigeria is not a place where you can be thinking about only what your certificate can offer you. You need to build yourself, learn and develop relevant skills, and build a professional network of value providers. We will all understand it better by and by. I am F. O

𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘄𝗮𝘆𝘀 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗹𝗼𝗼𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮𝘁 𝗴𝗶𝘃𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗯𝗮𝗰𝗸 𝘁𝗼 𝗡𝗶𝗴𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗮? 🇳🇬 𝙒𝙖𝙞𝙩, 𝙝𝙚𝙖𝙧 𝙢𝙚 𝙤𝙪𝙩 𝙛𝙞𝙧𝙨𝙩! I know you will say that Nigeria isn’t making sense right now, but do you know there are people flourishing in this same soil? You may say, “I just want to japa, to find greener pastures.” But do you know the land is only greener where you water it? I was speaking to someone sometime last month about the japa mindset and how we can have the right kind of mindset even though we want to advance, and she responded, “it’s because you have travelled, that’s why you are saying this.” And honestly, I understand why she felt that way. But if you had known me earlier, you’ll know my message hasn’t changed. “What if you were placed where you are for a time as this?” “What if you have the opportunities you have now so someone else can be blessed because of you?” 𝙒𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙞𝙨 𝙢𝙮 𝙥𝙤𝙞𝙣𝙩? The question is, “What are you really striving for? and How can you bless the lives of people or give back to people?” Wherever you go and whatever you do, please give back. I want to be known as someone who not only received blessings but blessed the lives of people. This is why, I aim that our #educationsystem in Nigeria 🇳🇬 will improve. We have a whole new generation coming behind us, who may not experience close to the quality of education we received. I aim to give back through informal education, creating a place where people can learn creatively outside the formal walls of the classroom. 𝙒𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙙𝙤 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙖𝙞𝙢 𝙩𝙤 𝙙𝙤? 𝙇𝙚𝙩 𝙢𝙚 𝙠𝙣𝙤𝙬 𝙞𝙣 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙘𝙤𝙢𝙢𝙚𝙣𝙩 𝙨𝙚𝙘𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙡𝙚𝙩’𝙨 𝙨𝙚𝙚 𝙝𝙤𝙬 𝙬𝙚 𝙘𝙖𝙣 𝙘𝙤𝙡𝙡𝙖𝙗𝙤𝙧𝙖𝙩𝙚 𝙩𝙤 𝙖𝙘𝙝𝙞𝙚𝙫𝙚 𝙨𝙤𝙢𝙚𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙜𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙩. #nigeria #globalleader #blessed #educationalleadership