The General Overseer and Global Senior Pastor of City of Faith Ministry, H.E. Amb. Dr Evans Oppong, has urged students of the University of Cape Coast (UCC) to develop strong problem-solving skills and take control of their destinies if they want to succeed in the modern job market.
He said the global system was structured in a way that keeps many people average, stressing that only those who think differently and provide practical solutions to problems would excel.
Dr Oppong made the call at a business conference dubbed “Knowledge Revolution” held at Auditorium 900 of UCC.
The event was organised by Evans Oppong Ministries in collaboration with the Design Thinking and Innovation Hub (D-HUB) of the university to equip students with employable and soft skills.
The conference sought to prepare students for the realities of the job market and encourage them to become innovative and self-driven.
Provide solutions
Addressing the students, Dr Oppong said life does not reward people simply because they hold certificates or believe they deserve success.
“Life does not reward you because you deserve it. Life rewards you because you provide solutions,” he said.
He explained that every individual was created to solve a problem in society and urged students to discover what they could offer the world.
According to him, many young people focus only on earning degrees without asking themselves important questions about their purpose and value.
“The first question is not even what course you want to read. The question is: what do you have to offer the world?” he stated.
He added that unless students identify their strengths and talents, no amount of prayer, political promises or external support would guarantee their success.
Take charge of your destiny
Dr Oppong stressed that students must take personal responsibility for their lives instead of relying on politicians, family members or lecturers.
“Your destiny is too precious to leave it in the hands of someone else. Your mother, your father, your pastor, your lecturer — they are only support systems. Your destiny is in your hands,” he said.
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He noted that although governments may have good intentions, they alone cannot transform individual lives.
“No political party can change your life for you. You must take that decision yourself,” he emphasised.
He encouraged students to see themselves as unique and strive to be different in their chosen fields.
“The world is not looking for another lecturer or another pastor. The world is looking for a different lecturer, a different leader — someone who brings something new,” he said.
Beyond certificates
Dr Oppong also drew a distinction between schooling and education. He explained that schooling leads to certificates, while education is a lifelong process of self-development.
“Your degree does not make you succeed. It helps you to discipline yourself to build success,” he said.
He cited examples of brilliant students who excelled academically but struggled later in life because they failed to develop practical skills and vision.
He urged students to read widely, take notes and commit to continuous learning beyond the classroom.
“Education does not end after four years in the university. It is a lifelong journey,” he added.
Understand the changing world
Touching on the global economy, Dr Oppong said the world was changing rapidly due to technology and digital transformation.
He noted that today, people can do business across borders without travelling and that social media has created new career paths that did not exist years ago.
“The world is changing very fast. If you don’t change with the change, the change will change you,” he cautioned.
He advised students to think about the future and acquire skills that would remain relevant in the years ahead.
According to him, success is no longer limited to location, as one can succeed from any part of the world with the right skills and mindset.
“You can make it wherever you are, if you know what you carry,” he said.
The “Knowledge Revolution” conference forms part of efforts to build students’ confidence, innovation and readiness for the competitive job market, while encouraging them to become agents of change in Ghanaian society.
For his part, the Director of the Design Thinking and Innovation Hub (D-HUB) at UCC, Dr Edward Nii Amar Amarteifio, advised students to go beyond their academic programmes and deliberately acquire soft skills to enhance their employability.
He encouraged students to take advantage of their time in school to learn foreign languages and other complementary skills that would make them competitive in the global job market.
According to him, in an increasingly interconnected world, the ability to communicate across cultures and adapt to different environments gives graduates an added advantage.
Dr Amarteifio stressed that academic knowledge alone was no longer enough, and urged students to be proactive in developing skills that would set them apart after graduation.
Source: Anthony Sasu Ayisadu/ATLFMNEWS
