The Cabinet Secretary (CS) for Youth Affairs, Sports, and The Arts, Ababu Namwamba has lauded the International Conference on the Great Lakes Region (ICGLR) for its successful role in addressing conflicts between Member States.
Namwamba said despite some persisting events that raise concern, the organization has proved to be useful and that there are encouraging signs that its actions can help restore the trust between parties in conflict.
He singled out the declaration of the special summit of the ICGLR Heads of State and Government on the Fight against Youth unemployment through Infrastructure Development and Investment Promotion which is being implemented in all member countries as among the organization’s achievements.
“This conference is important because the present and the future belong to the younger generation. Youths present in this meeting, as change makers you have the power to act and mobilize others to offer new ideas and alternative solutions to the problems you face,” said Namwamba.
The CS was speaking on Wednesday during the opening of the 3rd general assembly of the ICGLR Youth Regional Forum meeting themed ‘Consolidating the role of youth in the Great Lakes region’ held at a Nairobi hotel.
He at the same time stressed the need for the African Union to work in a more coordinated manner with regional organizations saying that the collaboration will produce effective results that will help restore peace and order.
The CS also said youth communicators should cascade the youth agenda to their peers and communities at the local levels. “Leaders, when you are empowered with knowledge of your rights and supported to develop leadership skills you can drive change in your communities and countries,” he advised.
The ongoing ICGLR meeting seeks to consolidate the role of youth in The Great Lakes Region, to present the project on the promotion of youth employment in the Great Lakes Region through cooperatives and the youth forum strategy and action plan, as well as discuss issues of youth in peacebuilding and the progress and establishment of The youth secretariat and its priority actions.
As part of the process of implementation, the youth representatives signed an accord establishing the Regional Youth Forum of The International Conference on The Great Lakes Region.
During the meeting, the participants will recruit the secretariat’s permanent staff and subsequently launch its office in Nairobi.
By Hamdi Mohamud
