The University of Education, Winneba, became a hub of energy and ambition as about 1,000 students from the institution and senior high schools across the Central Region gathered for the third annual Skills Summit.
Hosted by the Institute for Liberty and Policy Innovation (ILAPI) in collaboration with the Department of Mathematics and the ICT Club, the 2026 edition carried the theme “The Skills Economy: Resilient Skills, Bold Futures.”
The summit was not just a lecture series but a hands-on immersion. Students rotated through workshops in coding, programming, digital marketing, data analysis, graphic design, and artificial intelligence prototyping skills organizers say are indispensable in a world where technology and adaptability define opportunity.
Dean of Science and chairman of the occasion, Dr Akroful Sam, urged students to broaden their horizons beyond the classroom.
“Learn additional skills outside your educational curriculum, master at least 10 globally sought-after software skills to gain a competitive advantage in the job market,” he said.
Dr Frimpong Ali, Head of the Mathematics Department, pressed the case for STEM education. “The problems out there will be fixed by people with a background in STEM,” he argued, calling on parents and students to be deliberate in choosing science and technology programs at the senior high level.
ILAPI’s Vice President for Institutional Affairs, Ebenezer De-Gaulle, used the platform to introduce the think tank’s latest initiative, Next of Kin. He explained that the project aims to establish structures for the smooth transfer of prosperity across generations. “Everyone is a next of kin, or knows someone who is,” he said, encouraging students to join an essay competition tied to the project.
Mr. De-Gaulle also appealed for stronger partnerships to sustain the summit, citing its value to students. He challenged participants to confront poverty by monetising their skills: “Acquire skills to solve basic problems in communities at a fee.”
The ILAPI Skills Summit has become a fixture on the academic calendar of the University of Education, Winneba, blending policy dialogue with hands-on practical training. Organisers say its mission is to prepare young people not only to survive but to thrive in an economy where resilience and boldness are the currency of the future.