Vice President Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang (NJOA) has encouraged schoolchildren in Ghana to apply themselves in their educational pursuits, adding to that resilience for excellence.

She was delivering her speech at the President’s Independence Day Awards for Schoolchildren, March 5, 2025, as part of Ghana's 68th Independence Day Celebration.

“I want to use this medium to address all our schoolchildren. Those who didn’t make it today, you can make it tomorrow, so don’t give up. Keep learning. Aim for excellence, you’ll get there. And as I used to tell my students on campus, you shoot for the moon, and if you don’t get to the moon, make sure you land among the stars,” the former University of Cape Coast (UCC) Vice Chancellor said.

Prof NJOA encouraged the schoolchildren to identify and use their talents to serve others in noble and productive ways.

“I want to acknowledge our performers. Look, such talent. And every talent is important. Whatever we can do that supports others, that makes others happy, in the positive sense, is a blessing. So keep that one also in your minds,” she said.

The first-ever female vice president of Ghana, the former education minister underlined citizens of Ghana, irrespective of their age and culture had a responsibility towards the country as they enjoyed the rights and privileges of their citizenship.

She noted she was pleased to have been reminded of this when the schoolchildren took turns to address the audience which had Ga royals and the Education Minister, Haruna Iddrisu, as members.

She underlined this attitude was imperative to achieving the vision of President John Mahama who has rallied Ghanaians to collaborate on resetting and building “the Ghana we want together” for the benefit of all.

“I’ve heard the speakers come in various languages, and they respectfully made their requests known, about protection, about good health, but what I found most important was their own admission that there was a role they had to play, too. I think it’s a lesson for all us; even as we make demands, we also know we have roles to play. So I want to thank our children for reminding us that we all have a responsibility to build the Ghana we want together,” Prof Opoku-Agyemang said, beaming.

She acknowledged dignitaries present including “Nii Me and Naa Me,” and congratulated the awardees.

“Keep the fire burning all the time, keep it burning all the time, keep walking, keep excelling. May God bless all of us,” she urged the schoolchildren.

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