AFRICAN YOUTH UNITE: 5TH AFRICAN YOUTH SYMPOSIUM CONCLUDES WITH CALL FOR ACTION

By Olaywiola Ibrahim // The 5th African Youth Symposium has come to a close, with delegates calling for increased youth participation in governance and accountable leadership to drive the continent’s prosperity.

Held at the Pan-African Parliament in South Africa, the symposium brought together prominent African and international figures, including Hassan Ghazaly, an Egyptian member of the African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM) Focal Point Committee, who formally handed over the outcomes of the event to the Executive Mayor of Johannesburg, Mr. Dada Morero.

Under the theme Youth in Governance, From Promise to Prosperity, the two-day conference featured robust discussions, academic and political roundtables, and working group sessions focused on peace and security, governance, development, and employment.

In his concluding remarks, Ghazaly emphasized the need for a review of the African Youth Charter, coinciding with its 20th anniversary, and called for immediate action to protect civilians and restore security in conflict hotspots.

The symposium also highlighted concerns over high youth unemployment, the mismatch between education and the labor market, and the need for comprehensive employment policies and entrepreneurship support.

Ghazaly affirmed that prosperity is built through collective effort, leadership, and accountable governance, and urged African leaders to adopt gender responsive budgets and operationalize the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).

The event concluded with a renewed pledge from delegates to strive for a more peaceful, prosperous, and unified African continent.