Napo urges Africa to turn education, energy into drivers of sustainable development

Former Education Minister and 2024 New Patriotic Party (NPP) vice presidential candidate, Dr Matthew Opoku Prempeh, has called on African leaders to strengthen education, improve energy productivity and build strong institutions to accelerate the continent’s development.

He said Africa’s natural resources and potential alone were insufficient to drive transformation without capable people and effective leadership.

Dr Opoku Prempeh, popularly known as Napo, made the remarks following a public lecture at Coventry University in the United Kingdom on education, energy and sustainable development.

“Africa’s transformation depends on our ability to turn education into capability, energy into productivity, and good ideas into results that improve lives and endure beyond generations,” he wrote in a social media post on Friday, October 9.

The lecture, titled “Education, Energy and Sustainable Development: Preparing Future Leaders for Africa’s Transformation,” brought him into engagement with students and members of the university community.

Dr Opoku Prempeh stressed the need for African countries to develop the human capacity and institutional strength required to translate development ambitions into lasting results.

“Our resources and potential alone are not enough; we need capable people, strong institutions and leadership that can translate ambition into sustainable development,” he added.

He expressed hope that the engagement would encourage participants to reflect on their individual and collective roles in shaping Africa’s future.