The Managing Director of Access Bank Ghana, a leading African bank, Mr. Olumide Olatunji has encouraged new graduates at the Colleges of the Health Sciences and Basic & Applied Sciences, University of Ghana (UG), to plan a future for themselves that is ambitious and attainable.
He was addressing graduates at the convocation ceremony of both colleges held at the Cedi Conference Centre of the Department of Economics, UG.
In his address, Mr. Olatunji admonished the graduates not to take for granted what a good life vision can propel them to achieve. Citing the remarkable growth story of the Access Bank Group, Mr. Olatunji intimated that nothing is out of reach for the graduates if they plan for their future, form meaningful friendships that can inspire and also prepare for failures, as it is inevitable in life’s journey.
He added, “As today’s millennial, your role is critical to national development. You find yourselves in a unique period in history, where unlike many decades ago, you have the opportunity to change the narrative or perception about Ghana or Africa, by creating great stories for yourselves in your line of work.”
Olumide also took the opportunity to applaud the University of Ghana for producing some of the brilliant professionals in Ghana today, serving various industries including banking. He mentioned that some of the graduates produced by the University have always excelled at the Access Bank Banking School for Excellence in Lagos, Nigeria, where fresh graduates from all the Bank’s African subsidiaries receive a 4-month intensive training on the rudiments of banking.
“Year on year, Ghanaian graduates come out tops and this is something worth celebrating, he concluded.
The Chancellor of the University of Ghana, Mrs. Mary Chinery-Hesse used the occasion to give progress reports on various initiatives of the university and steps being taken to cement its position as the premier university in Ghana.
Also present at the congregation were the Senior Minister of State, Mr. Yaw Osafo Marfo, Chairman of the University Council, Prof. Yaw Twumasi, Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Ebenezer Oduro Owusu and other members of the university faculty.
Over the years, Access Bank has demonstrated a strong commitment towards education through its investments and business practices. Its award-winning Banking School of Excellence has since 2010 trained over 294 fresh Ghanaian graduates, helping to build a sustainable talent pipeline for the banking industry.