The Former United Nations Special Representative of the Secretary-General for West Africa and the Sahel Dr Mohammed Ibn Chambas, says active participation of the youth in decision making process is paramount to African continent’s growth.
He said the Continent’s political history had taught African leaders to acknowledge the dangers of keeping the youth on the periphery, which could result in social upheavals and disruption in the pace of development.
Dr. Chambas said this at a conference, organised by the Young Professionals and Youth Coalition, on the theme: “Transforming Africa: The Role of the African Young Leader.”
Dr. Chambas argued that with over 200 million people, aged between 15 and 24, Africa was on the threshold of harnessing enormous active resources to transform its fortunes for sustained development should young people be involved in decision-making.
He added that it behooves young African leader to shirk the trappings of youthfulness and engage in global leadership best practices to transform the Continent.
Dr. Chambas said Africa required serious transformational leadership to address the challenges of climate change and COVID-19.
The role of young African leaders, he said, required innovative and transformational drivers of development to create a new generational path into the future.
“The new young leaders’ role also demands effective involvement and participation in World Youth Agenda 2030 and 2063 for the attainment of the Sustainable Development Goals,” he added.
Dr. Chambas urged young entrepreneurs to take advantage of the Africa Continental Free Trade Area to create jobs and address the high level of unemployment in Africa.
On his part, the President and Founder of Young Professionals and Youth Coalition (YPYC), Andy Osei Okrah, observed that the role of young Africa leaders would only come alive if the Continent’s governing architecture and social construct were woven around the primary interests of the youth.
He said the YPYC, therefore, sought to network, transform and engage the mindset of the youth nation-wide in discussions that is tilted towards the importance of leadership and entrepreneurship to deliver national goals.
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