Chief Executive Officer for Ghana National Petroleum Corporation on Thursday, October 14, 2021, has advised graduands of the University of Professional Studies(UPS) to develop 21st-century skills. He was the guest speaker for the 4th session of the 13th congregation organized for accounting, financing, banking, and insurance students who were graduating from the noble institution.
The guest speaker said this because of how companies or institutions look forward to these experiences from fresh graduates thus the need to develop them. “Currently, industries search for graduates who have more than a university degree. They consider also life skills such as creativity, innovation, critical thinking, collaboration, teamwork, communication, empathy, digital literacy, among others, as essential skills for effective individual performance. These life skills mentioned above and affirmed by UNESCO, underpin the abilities for adaptive and positive behavior that aid in dealing effectively with the challenges of everyday life, particularly, work. It is important, therefore, that graduates acquire life skills as mentioned”.
Dr. Sarpong continued that digital literacy is very important in this era of digitization because it helps accountants, financiers, bankers, and insurers. Digital literacy is how individuals can understand and use technology to evaluate, create, and communicate information using technical skills. To him, it is very nice for these graduates to become familiar with software that will upgrade their digital knowledge.
He added that “With the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic, businesses have resorted to working remotely to curb the spread of the virus at the workplace. Applications such as Microsoft Teams, Zoom, Webex Meetings, Google Meet, Blue Jeans, among others are being used to communicate virtually regardless of time and location. Many businesses are likely to maintain such arrangements beyond the pandemic era given cost optimization opportunities in remote working. As new accounting, finance, banking, and insurance graduates, you must be conscious of this regime of working offsite and adapt according”.
Dr. Sarpong again said that there are some outsourcing functions like procurement, payroll, pensions, taxations, and benefit recruitment which pave way for self-employment and that is what every graduate should take note of. ” I encourage you to set up your own firms to tap into the growing outsourced financial and business service. Be entrepreneurial! For your training here has given you what it takes to do that”.
Similarly, students are advised to familiarise themselves with research, creativity, innovations, and developing good critical thinking skills since all these are paramount in every business. In line with what he said, mobile money transactions are growing immensely in the country therefore thorough monitoring as a businessman or woman will enable you to identify threats or opportunities.
The guest speaker amplified in his statement that graduands must hold the habit of learning as they are leaving to the next level. Continuous learning will help them to be relevant, updated, and competitive in their field of work.
Talking about professional values and ethics, Dr. Sarpong said it is one area that accountants, auditors, bankers, and insurers focus on which will help them in their endeavors. ” I have been guided in my professional career by what I call my five(5) Hs. These are honesty, humility, hard work, human relation, and humanity. I have lived with these values in my professional career, and I have not been disappointed.”
According to him, honesty, trustworthiness, and reliability are of extreme value to businesses, therefore, it is required of every employee to put a good attitude and in that way, they can build trust.
Graduates should work hard in every opportunity they find themselves in because success comes from hard work and diligence.
Moreover, “Being humble will enable you to accept mistakes and correct them, learn what you do not know, respect fellow employees irrespective of their ranks and foster good human relation. In particular, I wish to caution you against looking down on your subordinates. Their roles are important and complementary to what you do. The watchman, the janitor, the clerk, the accountant, and the marketer are all relevant to the achievement of the corporate goal. You need to be humble to make good strides in your career and contribute positively to the achievement of the goals of your organization”, He added.
His final message to the graduates was that they should practice how they will be able to relate to colleague employees since good human relations as an individual will maintain sanity.
His Last advice to the student was that they should embrace the 5Hs, develop and apply requisite life skills, never cease learning, and strike a good balance between work and non-work activities as was said earlier to them. “I advise you to order your steps in the spirit of God in all the things you do as you step out into the world of work so that you will be rich in wisdom and ideas and the opportunities will be endless. The business world awaits you. Go out there and let your light shine! Congratulations! ” Dr. Sarpong advised.
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