Ghanaian President John Dramani Mahama has urged governments across Africa to take responsibility for tackling unemployment, warning against placing the burden of job creation solely on young graduates.
Mahama made the call at the maiden convocation ceremony of the University of Offa in Kwara State, where he said governments must provide an enabling environment for businesses to thrive and generate employment opportunities.
Represented by his Chief of Staff, Julius Debrah, the Ghanaian leader said graduates were entering a period of significant economic and technological transformation driven by artificial intelligence, digital technologies and climate change.
He urged the graduating students to develop practical skills, identify societal problems and create solutions that could generate economic value, rather than relying exclusively on their certificates to secure paid employment.
“My first message to the graduating class is simple: Your certificate is a foundation. It is not a finish line,” Mahama said.
Governments Must Create Opportunities
The president stressed that encouraging young people to become entrepreneurs should not absolve governments of their responsibility to address unemployment.
He said governments must establish stable institutions, provide quality infrastructure and ensure that education equips graduates with relevant skills to compete in a changing labour market.
According to him, businesses need an environment in which they can grow, expand their operations and create decent jobs for young people.
Mahama maintained that while graduates must be innovative and adaptable, governments also have a responsibility to remove obstacles that prevent enterprises from flourishing.
He urged African leaders to prioritise policies that encourage business growth and sustainable employment.
University of Offa Records Growth
The Vice-Chancellor of the University of Offa, Professor Kazeem Gbolagade, said the institution had expanded since receiving its licence in 2021 and commencing academic activities in 2022.
He disclosed that the university began with two faculties and 10 academic programmes but had grown to four faculties and 17 programmes.
Gbolagade said student enrolment had increased from 81 in the 2022/2023 academic session to 640 newly admitted students in the 2026/2027 session.
He attributed the growth to the university’s emphasis on academic standards, information technology, entrepreneurship and adherence to its academic calendar.
The vice-chancellor also disclosed that the institution was assisting students to register their businesses with the Corporate Affairs Commission, while plans were underway to introduce start-up grants for graduates.
The initiative, he explained, was designed to encourage students to become job creators rather than depend entirely on paid employment.
Infrastructure Challenges Remain
Despite the institution’s growth, Gbolagade identified inadequate infrastructure as a major challenge, appealing for support to provide additional student accommodation, a library complex and a 1,000-capacity lecture theatre.
Mahama urged the graduates to use their education to establish businesses, strengthen institutions, develop practical solutions and create opportunities within their communities.
He said Africa’s economic progress would depend partly on the ability of its young people to translate their knowledge and ideas into productive ventures, supported by governments and other stakeholders.