By Alimamy Kamara
Senegalese President, Macky Sall and his Malian counterpart Ibrahim Boubacar Keita are taking part in the 4th Pan-African youth leadership summit in Dakar, on the theme: Youth Unemployment in the Post- 2015 Development Agenda of the United Nations.
In his keynote address, the Prime Minister of the host country, Aminata Touré said "a country without an action plan and interest in her youth is of no essence to the people". She said the importance of such a summit rested on the pillars of the efforts President Sall attached to such an event and that her government would continue to strive to provide education, employment and the necessary skills needed to prepare young people for their task of nation-building.
In a paper on the topic "Investing in the capabilities of youths to achieve sustainable development" at the first plenary session, Sierra Leone's Minister of Youth, Alimamy Kamara said the future of the African continent could only be secured if youth issues were taken seriously, according to Ralph Ese’Donnu Sawyerr, Sierra Leone's Information Attaché in Dakar.
The minister said “education, security and the promotion of youths are doubtless cardinal issues especially with regards the girl child”.
Minister Kamara said that under the leadership of President Ernest Bai Koroma Sierra Leone had ratified the African Youth Charter which he described as a roadmap for the advancement of young people on the continent. “It is my firm belief and that of my government that a practical way to look into the interest of youth is to globally invest in them”, the minister said, amid applause.
According to the organisers, the summit is expected to, among other things ensure that youth claim ownership of the UN Millennium Development Goals policies and programmes fostering job-creation for young people, the fight against HIV/AIDS and youth entrepreneurship.
They say the Dakar meeting marks the beginning of a global consultation process of young leaders who will lead the 2nd UN Global Youth Leadership summit to be held in September 2015 with technical and financial partners of the summit including the UN, UNFPA, UNAIDS, UNDP, UNICEF, and the Economic Commission for Africa.
(C) Politico 15/01/14
