“Sit up and show up with excellence” – MTN’s Georgina Fiagbenu challenges youth

Georgina Asare Fiagbenu, Acting General Manager for Sustainability and Shared Value at MTN Ghana, addressed over 100 university students at the 2026 National Youth Mentorship Summit held at the University of Ghana. The summit aimed to shape Ghana's future through the actions of young people, not solely by politicians or multinational corporations. In her presentation, Fiagbenu emphasized that the biggest issue for young graduates is not unemployment but a lack of preparedness.

During her speech, Fiagbenu shared her own experience of searching for a communication professional for her project, Africans Communicating Africa. Despite numerous applications, she could not find a suitable candidate. She stressed that while jobs are available, they are highly competitive, and the issue lies in the unpreparedness of young people.

Employers seek disciplined, competent, and reliable individuals, and Fiagbenu urged students to adopt excellence as their lifestyle rather than a temporary response to opportunities.

She encouraged students to shift their focus from consuming content to creating solutions, rather than merely watching successful individuals. Fiagbenu also highlighted the importance of building character from a young age, noting that her mother, despite lacking formal education, instilled discipline, responsibility, and environmental awareness in her.

The speaker concluded with a challenge for the students: "Sit up. Show up. Show up with excellence," urging them to read widely, develop their skills, build character, and be disciplined to create solutions and be ready for opportunities.