From working on the streets as a head porter (kayayoo) to leading a transformative education and empowerment initiative, Miss Teni Agana is rewriting the future of hundreds of young people in the Upper East Region.
Ms. Agana is doing this through the Loozeele Initiative and its expanding Loozeele Resource Centre in Sherigu. She is building what she hopes to become a pipeline that connects local students to global opportunities.
In an exclusive interview with A1 Radio, the Managing Director of the Loozeele Initiative shared the full scope of her five-year vision — a holistic learning hub that integrates STEM education, career mentorship, tertiary application support, and skills training for disadvantaged youth, particularly young women.
A Resource Centre That Does More Than Teach
The Loozeele Resource Centre’s first phase is complete — a fully functional computer lab equipped with 40 computers and 10 tablets, currently serving over 24 schools.
“Before this, ICT teachers were drawing keyboards on blackboards. Now students can touch and feel what they’re learning,” Teni said.
The second phase, now underway, includes the establishment of a robotics and 3D printing lab in partnership with Firefly IO. The lab will feature robotics kits, 3D printers, and infrastructure to support robotics competitions, both locally and internationally. “We want our students to see beyond the world around them — to realize they can be engineers, innovators, or entrepreneurs,” she noted.
Plans are also in motion for a fully-stocked library and learning hub, offering textbooks, past exam questions, and leisure reading materials, thanks to Book Aid International. A games corner and interactive spaces are also included to enhance engagement and creativity.
Turning Brilliance into Scholarships
Beyond the walls of the centre, Teni is running what could be one of the most grassroots-yet-global talent pipelines in northern Ghana. Every year, she organizes a cohort of brilliant but underprivileged students, preparing them to apply to top universities across the world, including her alma mater, Ashesi University.
“I give myself two weeks to work with them during application windows. My goal is that at the end of that period, at least half should get into tertiary institutions — with scholarships,” she said. Those who don’t make it right away are encouraged to “rest, restrategize, and try again.”
Her own story is central to this mission. After losing her father early in life and being forced to hustle in Kumasi without support, Teni eventually gained admission to Ashesi University — a turning point she describes as deeply transformational. “Ashesi didn’t just educate me; it reshaped my mindset. It taught me leadership and gave me a platform to give back.”
Now she wants more young people, especially from underserved communities, to benefit from such life-altering opportunities. “If I can get five into Ashesi this year, they’ll come back and change their communities. That’s the ripple effect I’m working toward.”
A 5-Year Deadline for Impact
Teni is clear-eyed and determined. “I’ve given myself five years to make this work — to increase the number of students going to university, to see more youth completing school, securing jobs, and breaking the cycle of poverty.”
For those not suited to formal education, the Loozeele Initiative offers skills training in areas like sewing, soap making, and pad production, ensuring that no youth is left behind.
A Message to Young Girls
To the young girls who may read or listen to her story, Teni offers both inspiration and a challenge: “Opportunities are out there, but you have to put in the work. If you want to go to university, start from primary school. Study hard. The money may not be there now, but if you don’t get the grades, you won’t qualify for the support that exists. Push through, and the sky will be your starting point.”
Source: A1radioonline.com|101.1MHz|Mark Kwasi Ahumah Smith|Ghana
