Majid Michel To students: ‘Ph.D’s Not Talent; Explore Your Gifts’

Ghanaian actor Majid Michel says the way Ghana’s system of education has been skewed to focus on teaching students how to find a job is wrong.

He wished students are made to also exploit potentials they can identify with. The status quo is the reason why Ghana’s unemployment rate is skyrocketing, he noted.

The actor was delivering a motivational speech to about 2000 students from tertiary and second cycle institutions in and around the Central Region at ‘Success Africa 2016’ organised by the LEC Group at the University of Cape Coast.

The multiple award-winning movie star mentioned that self-discovery plays important role in choosing a career, and therefore urged students to find and exploit their gifts to reduce unemployment.

According to a World Bank report on Ghana, about 48 percent of youth between 15 and 24 years do not have jobs. The report recommended to government to work towards equipping the youth with relevant skills through the educational system.

In an interview with TV3, Majid Michel noted how many students are deceived by a popular catchphrase on campus that there is ‘Life After School’. “…that’s why we have people with PhDs who have jobs but haven’t found and discovered their gifts, the system doesn’t teach you how to find your gift but teaches you how to find a job which is wrong…”

He, therefore, advised students who think acting is their passion to pursue it for a successful career.

Majid, known for his romantic roles in movies, also preached about the love of God, which he said is the source of knowledge based on which he charged his audience to love God with their strength by being morally ethical. “Love God by doing what he teaches you to do…” he said.

Station Manager for 3FM92.7, Mrs Petra Aba Asamoah, also charged undergraduates to add value and confidence to their personality to enable them stand out among their peers.

“Students come out with a first class and feel that immediately they should be placed in a very high position, forgetting that formal education doesn’t necessarily link to a job,” she observed.