Andrew Johnson is an extraordinary youth leader

ON THE left lapel of the pin-striped jacket that 29-year-old St Ann native Andrew Johnson wore to the 2024 Prime Minister’s National Youth Awards for Excellence (PMNYAE) on Saturday, May 31, were several pins. One denoting the Jamaican flag was at the top. They were emblematic of his love for his country, his commitment to what he does, and the organisations to which he is connected. Pride has never been so sartorially accessorised.

And the pride was palpable as he crossed the lawns of Jamaica House in St Andrew where the annual awards ceremony manifested, to collect his award for leadership from Prime Minister Dr Andrew Holness. It was a long time and a long way from the playfield of Golden Grove All-Age School in St Ann.

He spent his high-school days in Malvern, St Elizabeth, at Munro College, which he left with 11 subjects at the CSEC level. Two years at Brown’s Town Community College in his native parish produced more subjects, including CAPE electrical and electronics technology Unit 1, for which he was placed eighth in the Caribbean. “An achievement that continues to inspire my commitment to academic excellence and youth mentorship,” he told The Gleaner.

His bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering with a minor in instrumentation and controls was earned at the University of Technology, Jamaica, where he was student representative for the School of Engineering. His most recent academic achievement is a master of science degree in engineering management from the UK’s Brunel University, where he served on the Union of Brunel Students as representative for his programme.

Johnson’s core leadership role is chairman of the National Youth Council of Jamaica, spearheading initiatives to strengthen youth governance islandwide, such as expanding registered community organisations and municipal councils and launching programmes like the Emerging Youth Leaders Awards. He was also deputy chairman of the Youth Advisory Council of Jamaica from 2021 to 2024.

Internationally, Johnson represented Jamaican youths through the Commonwealth Youth Parliament, where he was elected ‘Opposition Whip’, and as a national delegate to the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting. To strengthen regional unity, he helped to establish a memorandum of understanding between Jamaica and Barbados, fostering deeper youth integration and collaboration across the Caribbean.

He has participated in forums such as the Jamaica Diaspora Conference where he represented the youth of Jamaica on the Youth Plenary Panel, and has co-founded the Middlesex Foundation, which directly invests in educational equity for rural primary students.

“I also champion recognition systems like the Emerging Youth Leaders Awards to celebrate unsung community champions, ensuring diverse youth contributions are valued … . These organisations are not just affiliation, they are active channels through which I champion a singular mission, creating platforms where youth lead today, not tomorrow, and where their energy and innovation drive Jamaica’s transformation,” he explained.

“My advocacy focuses on several interconnected areas crucial for Jamaica’s youths. I advocate for youth governance, educational equity, digital transformation and rural empowerment … . Additionally, I advocate fiercely for educational equity and mentorship, particularly in under-served rural communities, co-founding the Middlesex Foundation where I could invest my time and energy in mentoring young people in my parish and beyond.”

Earlier this year, the electrical engineering professional at AEROTEL was appointed a justice of the peace. At AEROTEL, he was one of two 2023 employees of the year. He got his award for his contribution to corporate social responsibility. How then can he use his advocacy to get more youth to pursue engineering as a career path?

“Leveraging this advocacy to inspire more youths towards engineering is a natural extension of my work and personal journey … . Through academic symposiums, like the one I spearheaded on mobile network evolution, I showcase engineering’s exciting realities and societal impact. My advocacy for robust digital infrastructure and climate resilience directly highlights how engineering tackles these critical national and global challenges, making the career path relevant and purpose-driven,” he replied.

The PMNYAE is the latest in Johnson’s long string of honours and awards. As he collected it from Prime Minister Dr Andrew Holness, he beamed. He was also The Governor General’s Achievement Awardee for Excellence in academia, leadership and volunteerism in 2022; an I Believe Initiative Ambassador under the Governor General Programme of Excellence; and the UTech Students’ Union Trail Blazer Awardee in 2023 special corporate social, Students’ Union Council Member of the Year and Student Representative of the Year in 2018.

“I am deeply honoured and truly grateful. Winning the Prime Minister’s Youth Award for Excellence in national leadership is profoundly humbling and deeply affirming. This recognition is not merely a personal milestone; it’s a powerful validation of the collective mission I’ve dedicated my life to uplifting Jamaica’s youths and amplifying their voices in spaces where decisions about their future are made … . But, beyond pride, this award ignites a renewed sense of responsibility,” Johnson said about this most recent achievement.

And, will he be sitting in Parliament someday, doing what he does best, advocating for the nation’s youths?

“My experience in national youth governance and policy advocacy has naturally cultivated a deeper interest in representative politics. However, my motivation is not political ambition, but rather the pursuit of meaningful impact. If elected office provides the platform to further advocate for Jamaica’s youths, I would embrace that responsibility with humility and focus,” he shared.