A strong message of hope, discipline, and intentional living resonated through the auditorium of Nifa Senior High School as former World Bank country director, Mr. Francis Ato Brown, charged students to take control of their future by making wise and deliberate choices in life.
Addressing hundreds of students at the fourth edition of the Influential Conference, organized by As I Grow at Nifa Senior High School in the Okere District of the Eastern Region, Mr. Brown emphasized that success is not accidental, but the cumulative result of conscious decisions made over time.
Delivering a keynote address that captivated both students and educators, he challenged the youth to recognize that every choice, whether academic, moral, social, or personal, has the power to either build or break their future.
“The life you will live tomorrow is being shaped by the decisions you make today. Whether you choose discipline over distraction, knowledge over ignorance, or integrity over compromise, each choice becomes a building block of your future,” Mr. Brown stated.
He warned against the growing culture of shortcuts, unhealthy peer influence, and destructive social habits, describing them as silent threats to the aspirations of young people. According to him, the choices students make regarding friendships, lifestyle, and their attitude toward education will significantly determine the course of their lives.
“Your friends matter. Your habits matter. Your attitude toward education matters. Even what you consume, whether on social media, in conversation, or through entertainment—shapes your thinking and influences your direction in life,” he advised.
Mr. Brown urged students not to allow temporary setbacks, difficult family circumstances, or financial limitations to define their destiny, stressing that resilience, discipline, and wise choices can help individuals rise above adversity and achieve greatness.
His message formed a central pillar of the conference’s broader mission to equip young people with the mindset, values, and practical life skills needed for holistic development in a rapidly changing world.
The conference also became a platform for renewed calls for stronger mentorship structures and purposeful guidance for schoolchildren in the district.
The Okere District Director of Education, Faustina Akorfa Akplu, underscored the urgent need for deliberate mentorship both in schools and within communities, noting that the future of the district, and indeed the nation, depends largely on how well today’s youth are nurtured.
According to her, education alone is not enough; children also need strong moral guidance, positive role models, and supportive mentorship to become confident, responsible, and purpose-driven citizens.
She encouraged students to approach their studies with seriousness and commitment, reminding them that their future rests heavily on the choices they make during their formative years.
Also speaking at the event, Chief Executive Officer of As I Grow, Isaac DebrahBekoe, stressed the need to expose young people early to critical life issues that could shape or derail their future prospects.
He identified teenage pregnancy, substance abuse, peer pressure, and poor decision-making as some of the major challenges confronting adolescents today.
Mr. Bekoe explained that the Influential Conference was established to empower young people with knowledge, confidence, and practical life skills that would enable them to navigate adolescence successfully and grow into responsible adults.
“Holistic development means preparing children for life, not just examinations. We want to raise a generation that is informed, resilient, visionary, and socially responsible,” he noted.
The gathering brought together students, educators, development practitioners, and youth advocates in a shared commitment to raising a generation defined not by circumstance, but by character, purpose, and sound choices.
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