Faith

Virtual University

UG Valedictorian Ends 10-Year Wait With 4.0 FGPA, Urges Shift in Learning and Legacy.

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Ephraim Ayeh Oracca-Tetteh, University of Ghana’s 2024 valedictorian, has urged society to rethink how people learn, live, and leave their mark. He made history by graduating with a 4.0 Final Grade Point Average (FGPA), the university’s first in ten years, despite being visually impaired. Speaking on Springboard, Your Virtual University with Rev. Albert Ocran as part of the Thinkathon anniversary series, Mr. Oracca-Tetteh said his achievement was rooted in deliberate strategies that went beyond memorization. He revealed that he studied over 100 books on learning and applied techniques such as chunking, visualization, and the memory palace to master complex ideas. “Learning is not just storing facts. If you can imagine a concept, you can own it,” he explained. Beyond academics, he emphasized the importance of self-awareness and legacy. Drawing from the Latin phrase memento mori, he added that life is short and that every person must think about the change they leave behind. He also referenced memento homo, which means “I am only human,” stressing the need to accept personal limits while striving for excellence. The scholar advised young people to focus on growth rather than excuses. He encouraged young people to utilize technology as a tool for advancement and to view challenges as opportunities to expand their capabilities. “Be a learner. Put yourself forward. Improve what you have,” he urged. Looking ahead, He announced that his book on imaginative learning, already approved by the National Council on Curriculum and Assessment, will soon be released to help students and educators alike. He added that he hopes his journey demonstrates that determination, the right methods, and faith can open doors once thought impossible. About Springboard, Your Virtual UniversitySpringboard, Your Virtual University is a weekly motivational and personal development broadcast hosted by Rev. Albert Ocran. It airs every Sunday at 7 PM on Springboard Channel (YouTube) and Joy FM, and at 9 PM on Joy News TV. The ongoing Thinkathon series brings together thought leaders from various fields to explore the power of ideas in shaping society. By Faustina Yeboah

Virtual University

Faith and Godliness Must Shape Everyday Life Says Methodist Presiding Bishop

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Most Rev. Prof. Johnson Kwabena Asamoah-Gyadu, Presiding Bishop of the Methodist Church, Ghana, says godliness should not be separated from daily living but must guide how people build society and relate with one another. Speaking on Springboard, Your Virtual University, with Rev. Albert Ocran as part of the ongoing 17th anniversary Thinkathon series on the power of ideas in Faith and Society, he said that compartmentalizing spirituality and everyday life weakens society. “We have compartmentalized our lives. Our spirituality is here, our everyday life is there. We have not put the bridge between the two. If we want to build a good society, godliness is essential because godliness encompasses all the virtues that make you human,” he explained. He advised young people to apply themselves fully in whatever field they are in, whether academics, apprenticeship, or agriculture. He stressed that friendships and relationships must also be chosen wisely. “If the young man in your life is asking for sexual favors or taking you away from your studies to go to a club, drop the relationship,” he cautioned. He also emphasized the importance of self-control as a leadership quality, warning that a lack of discipline in small things often leads to bigger failures. “If you don’t control your sense of hearing, you will listen to gossips, and that is the downfall of a lot of leaders. They enjoy gossip,” he said. On marriage, he urged couples to avoid transactional attitudes and instead invest in one another to build stronger unions. “In a good marriage, whether you are a man or a woman, you think about how to improve the relationship. You are sowing into it, and you will reap what you sow,” he said. According to him, Christian teaching on humanity emphasizes the fallen nature of humanity, which must be redeemed to align life with God’s purpose. About Springboard, Your Virtual UniversitySpringboard, Your Virtual University is a weekly motivational and personal development broadcast hosted by Rev. Albert Ocran. It airs every Sunday at 7 PM on Springboardzone (YouTube) and Joy FM, and at 9 PM on Joy News TV. The ongoing Thinkathon series brings together thinkers and leaders from various fields to explore the power of ideas in shaping society. By Faustina Yeboah

Virtual University

17 Years On, Springboard Still Graduates a Nation of Doers

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Springboard marks its 17th year with Thinkathon, a seven-week ideas series inviting Ghanaians to think boldly, act responsibly, and build a culture of integrity. Seventeen years ago, a simple on-air conversation at Joy FM became a movement. Springboard, Your Virtual University, hosted by Rev. Albert Ocran, has grown into one of Ghana’s most trusted platforms for thought leadership and practical capacity building. Reflecting on the journey, Rev. Ocran said “This broadcast was born on the evening of August 4, 2008, when Comfort and I sat in the studios of Joy FM to discuss building a good society. Seventeen years later, it is remarkable to reflect on how far we have comewith the broadcast, the number of platforms it now serves, and the millions of lives it has positively impacted. To God alone be the glory. We thank all our sponsors, stakeholders, listeners, and viewers. You make Springboard, the Virtual University.” Across the years, Springboard has hosted some of the nation’s most influential voices, including Pastor Mensa Otabil, Archbishop Palmer-Buckle, Dr. Patrick Awuah, Bernard Avle, Kwami Sefa Kayi, Azumah Nelson, and Anita Erskine, sharing ideas that shape mindsets and inspire action in business, governance, academia, sports, and faith. The impact is echoed by national figures. Actor Adjetey Anang notes, “What Springboard Virtual University gives you is social skills. It helps you set yourself apart and be street-smart.” Veteran stateswoman Joyce Aryee calls the programme “relevant” and “timely.” And Professor Pikay Richardson urges young people to tune in, emphasizing Springboard’s role in democratizing knowledge: “In the knowledge economy, knowledge is power…this is one programme where you can actually get knowledge, virtually for free.” To mark the anniversary, Springboard has launched Thinkathon, a seven-week series convening experts to test bold ideas for national progress. For nearly two decades, Springboard has functioned as a “national classroom,” translating insight into action for listeners across generations. It airs every Sunday at 7:00 p.m. on Joy FM and Springboard Zone (YouTube), and at 9:00 p.m. on Joy News TV. With Thinkathon, Springboard widens the conversation, equipping Ghanaians with ideas, practical guidance, and the motivation to lead in their communities and workplaces.

Virtual University

“Every Cancer Patient Deserves a Special Nurse” – Naomi Oyoe Ohene Oti

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2025 Aster Guardians Global Nursing Award winner, Naomi Oyoe Ohene Oti, is calling for greater recognition of cancer nursing as a dedicated specialty within healthcare, saying patients battling such conditions deserve focused, expert care. Speaking on Springboard, Your Virtual University with Rev. Albert Ocran, the Oncology Nurse Specialist stressed, “Every patient, and by extension every cancer patient, deserves to be taken care of by a special nurse. There is a need for us to realize cancer nursing as a specialty.” The conversation formed part of the broadcast’s ongoing Changing Narratives series, which highlights Ghanaians who are reshaping the national story through bold and impactful work. The award-winning specialist used the platform to highlight the emotional weight many nurses carry in silence. “Sometimes you see yourself in your patient,” she said. “Depending on the state they come in, it can be emotionally draining. You go home carrying what they are going through.” As an Oncology Nurse Specialist, she stated that her Christian faith is key to how she copes and provides comfort. “Sometimes a patient will ask, ‘Will I survive?’ and because both of us are Christians, I’ll tell them, ‘God will do it.’ I’ve found myself praying for patients. Faith is what keeps me going.” She also shared the core qualities that drive her work and what she believes every great nurse must have: compassion, skill, and faith. “Compassion gives you the drive. Skills give you the ability to deliver. But faith keeps you grounded and strong,” she explained. Reflecting on her journey, the award-winning nurse said her passion for nursing was shaped early by her environment and upbringing. “Growing up, I’d follow family members to the hospital. I watched nurses speak with authority, care, and calm, and people listened. I admired that. I wanted to be that.” Raised by parents of modest means, Mrs. Oyoe Ohene Oti credits her father’s belief in education for helping her pursue her calling. “My dad was a security officer and my mum a trader. He used to say the best thing you can give your children, apart from God, is education. He didn’t get to attend university even after gaining admission, but he made sure all his children did.” She described the award experience as a journey of visibility and purpose. “It’s opened up opportunities to meet amazing people and tell our story. This is what nurses are doing to impact the world.” About Springboard, Your Virtual UniversitySpringboard, Your Virtual University is a weekly motivational and personal development broadcast hosted by Rev. Albert Ocran. It airs every Sunday at 7 PM on Joy FM and 9 PM on Joy News TV. The show provides thought leadership, practical life lessons, and transformational conversations with trailblazers across sectors. The current Changing Narratives series spotlights Ghanaians making bold moves to rewrite the national story through innovation and impact.