#YouthDayOnY: Careers in agriculture are valuable – Pius Hadzide tells youth

Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the National Youth Authority (NYA), Pius Enam Hadzide, has advised Ghanaian Youth to consider agriculture, vocational and technical training in their academic endeavors.

He described these sectors as valuable, arguing that Ghana is blessed with rich knowledge and resources in these areas.

“A majority of Ghanaian youth do not consider agriculture as their preferred line of work and even in their academic endeavors. Ghana has a large agricultural sector to accommodate a huge volume of investors and farmers. With the rich knowledge and resources Ghana posses in agriculture, it can be a valuable sector of employment for the youth,” he shared during his opening remarks at the maiden edition of the ‘Start Right Youth Conference’ organized by YFM in collaboration with MYO Global.

Pius Hadzide cited Ghanaian actor and politician, John Dumelo as one of the few youths who have invested in the agricultural sector, and reaped the benefits.

“John Dumelo is an actor as well as a farmer. He has invested in the agricultural sector and made agriculture cool and sexy,” he added.

Although some challenges exist in the agricultural sector, the NYA CEO assured the youth government has put in place several interventions to deal with all such challenges.

With regular interactions with dressmakers, hairdressers and barbers being a part of everyday life in Ghana, Pius Hadzide highlighted the technical and vocational areas as prime areas for youth to focus on.

“All of us have had and have regular interactions with dressmakers and hairdressers but we shy away from those sectors of the economy, saying it is not cool and sexy. But those are areas where a lot of employment opportunities lie,” he said.

With approximately 70 percent of the country’s labour force employed in the informal sector, Pius Hadzide challenged the youth to be creators of employment and wealth.

START RIGHT is a concept of YFM and MYO Global that seeks to equip the youth with knowledge about various issues which affect them. It is a platform for achievers in various fields to share their experiences with the youth and to inspire them to succeed.

This series is aimed at promoting youth empowerment, mentorship, entrepreneurship, community engagement and career development. It also provides an opportunity for networking and knowledge sharing.

The START RIGHT concept is powered by Ghana’s foremost urban radio station, YFM Ghana and MYO Global.

The START RIGHT seminar is the bridge which closes the gap between students, aspiring entrepreneurs and accomplished leaders who can serve as role models and help direct their paths.