NEPAD challenges students on their role in Africa’s Development

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In commemoration of South Africa’s Youth Day on June 16, the NEPAD Agency hosted some University students to brainstorm on developmental issues confronting Africa. Selected students from various institutions across the continent discussed their perception and thoughts of the Youth, their prospects for the future and role in Africa’s development.

Thirty-six years ago, when high-school students in Soweto, a South African township near Johannesburg, started agitating for better education, a group of youths with boldness and determination revolted against the system to make their voices heard and consequently bring about a positive change. These youths recognised that their destiny rested squarely in their hands, and in spite of the overwhelming odds against them, bring about meaningful change.

In celebrating this Day, NEPAD provided students a platform to voice out their thoughts on infrastructural issues, poverty reduction and agriculture as well as to get them acquainted with some of NEPAD’s activities. This is more compelling as Africa has the largest youthful population with two-hundred million under the age of 30.. It has increased pressure on African leadership to develop dynamic and concrete solutions for their growing demands.

Addressing the Youths in a video message, NEPAD Agency’s Chief Executive Office Dr Ibrahim Assane Mayaki said that the day is a reminder that voices of the youths need to be heard in order to solve development issues facing the continent.

“Our youths are key to realising an African Renaissance and platforms such as this one offered by NEPAD is a good one for discourse on Africa’s development,” he said.

During the discussions the students stressed the importance to accelerate youth empowerment and to find adequate channels to have their voices aired as they have the greatest stake in Africa’s future.

“We need youth to champion development initiatives like NEPAD, youth that can influence other youth,” Nokuthula Vilakazi, a PHD student of the University of Pretoria, said.

Participants were briefed on how NEPAD is tackling development issues through its flagship programmes such as the Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP), the Programme for Infrastructure Development in Africa (PIDA) and the Youth Education and Training Programme.

In an effort to put the youth at the centre of sustainable development, NEPAD promised to seek avenues for knowledge exchanging such as university tours, social media engagements and the development of an African Youth think tank as a means to recognise that young people are an important and inalienable asset towards development.

Apart from now having a better understanding of NEPAD, they left with a pledge to become actively involved in advocating for the Agency in their various institutions.