A seat at the table YOUTH DEMAND: Africa's young achievers - the United Nations
←
→
Page content transcription
If your browser does not render page correctly, please read the page content below
April 2018 - July 2018 www.un.org/africarenewal
YOUTH DEMAND:
A seat at
the table
Africa’s young
achievers
Bringing rural women
to the frontline
Mission accomplished:
Peacekeeping success in Liberia
CONTENTS April 2018 - June 2018 | Vol. 32 No. 1
4 SPECIAL FEATURE
COVER STORY
Africa youth demand a seat at the table
6 The hashtag revolution gaining ground
8 Nurturing young leaders
10 Interview: Jayathma Wickramanayake, UN youth envoy
12 Music: Nigeria’s popular artistic exports chart a new path
14 Profile: Raphael Obonyo Liberian women promote non-violence during the
2011 elections in Liberia. UNMIL/Emmanuel Tobey
15 Profile: Phumzile Van Damme
16 Profile: William Elong
17 Profile: Eric Kaduru
18 Profile: Gwendolyn Myers
19 Profile: Gogontlejang Phaladi Acting Editor-in-Chief
ALSO IN THIS ISSUE Zipporah Musau
20 Interview: Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka, UN Women executive director Acting Managing Editor
22 The UN’s new era of partnership with Africa Kingsley Ighobor
24 Mission accomplished: 15 years of peacekeeping success in Liberia Staff Writer
26 Interview: Lt. Gen. Daniel Opande, first force commander, UNMIL Franck Kuwonu
28 Women: Liberia’s guardians of peace
Research & Media Liaison
29 Africa could be the next frontier for cryptocurrency Pavithra Rao
30 Cape Town water taps running dry Shu Zhang
Yinying Lin
32 South African tourism holding steady
DEPARTMENTS Design & Production
3 Watch Paddy D. Ilos, II
35 Books Administration
35 Appointments Dona Joseph
Cover photo: An African youth makes a point at an international youth forum at the UN head-
Distribution
quarters in New York. Africa Renewal/Shu Zhang
Atar Markman
Africa Renewal (ISSN 2517-9829) is published in supporting organizations. Articles from this
English and French by the Strategic Communications magazine may be freely reprinted, with attribution to
Division of the United Nations Department of Public the author and to “United Nations Africa Renewal,” Africa Renewal is published by the United
Information. Its contents do not necessarily reflect and a copy of the reproduced article would be appre- Nations, New York, on recycled paper.
the views of the United Nations or the publication’s ciated. Copyrighted photos may not be reproduced.
©2017 Africa Renewal. All rights reserved. Subscribe to Africa Renewal
ISBN: 978-92-1-101391-7 Africa Renewal offers free subscriptions to
eISBN: 978-92-1-045128-4 individual readers. Please send your request to
Circulation at the address to the left or by e-mail to www.un.org/africarenewal
Address correspondence to:
The Editor, Africa Renewal africarenewal@un.org. Institutional subscriptions
are available for thirty-five US dollars, payable by facebook.com/africarenewal
Room S-1032
international money order or a cheque in US dollars
United Nations, NY 10017-2513, USA,
drawn on a US bank, to the “United Nations” and
Tel: (212) 963-6857, Fax: (212) 963-4556
sent to Circulation at the address to the left. twitter.com/africarenewal
E-mail: africarenewal@un.org
2 AfricaRenewal April 2018 - July 2018
AFRICA WATCH QUOTABLES
UN Photo/Eskinder Debebe
Women and youth are the
pathbreakers and pillars
for the realization of the
A farmer harvests wheat in Chichaoua Province, Morocco. Alamy/Jake Lyell
African Union’s vision for
an ‘integrated, prosperous
Morocco: and Agricultural Organization (FAO) ”
and peaceful Africa.’
Bience Gawanas, Under-Secretary-
representative in Morocco and the current
Climate change coordinator of the FAO Subregional Office
General of the United Nations and
Special Adviser on Africa
for North Africa. “It has played a determi-
efforts bear fruit No one loses when women
see page 34 and girls experience equality
By Yinying Lin
and empowerment.
Paul Kagame , President of Rwanda
M orocco’s climate change adaptation
plan, launched in 2008, is now bear-
ing fruit, says the United Nations.
Migration within Africa We must rid ourselves of
this colonial mentality that
The UN’s special rapporteur on the
right to food, Hilal Elver, says that the plan
Maroc vert (PMV) or the Green Morocco
I nternational migration, especially from
Africa to Europe and elsewhere, usually
gets negative publicity. Can anything
demands we rely on other
people’s currency.
Plan has resulted in an increase in agri- good come out of migration? Cyril Ramaphosa, President of South
Africa
cultural productivity, although she urged mmYes, according to a new report to
the country to provide more widespread be launched in May 2018 by the United
support for small-scale farmers. Nations Conference on Trade and Devel- If you don’t have a seat at
The PMV focuses on moderniz- opment (UNCTAD). Intra-African migra- the table, you will sit on the
ing large-scale farms with high added tion, if properly managed, can contribute floor.
value, supporting small-scale farms and greatly to the continent’s development by Gogontlejang Phaladi, Botswanan
combating rural poverty. Since 2008, boosting trade, generating jobs, promot- youth activist
Morocco has invested about 150 billion ing entrepreneurship and innovation and
dirhams ($16.3 billion) in more than 700 reducing poverty. We hope that 2018 will be
projects on mechanization, irrigation and The Economic Development in Africa the year when Africa makes
soil fertilization, while it is expected to Report 2018, subtitled Migration and history because it signed the
invest another 20 billion dirhams (US$2.1 Structural Transformation, focuses on African Continental Free
billion) over the coming years in 550 com- how host and home countries on the con- Trade Area.
munity projects, according to data from tinent can better harness the economic Vera Songwe,
the country’s Ministry of Economy and benefits of intra-African migration. executive secre-
tary, Economic
Finance. According to the UNCTAD report,
Commission
“The Plan Maroc Vert has created an most migration in Africa occurs within for Africa
irreversible momentum without prece- the continent—and yields significant ben-
dent,” says Michael Hage, the former Food efits for the continent and its people.
AfricaRenewal April 2018 - July 2018 3
African youth are relying on technology and improved leadership and organising skills to
mobilise for social change and to demand a seat at the table. In this edition, we explore
the factors driving the continent’s emerging young leaders and why they are increasingly
influential in politics and business.
YOUTH LEADERSHIP
African youth participate at an international youth forum at the UN headquarters in New York. Africa Renewal/Shu Zhang
African youth demand a seat at the table
Voices of young Africans are becoming difficult to ignore
BY BUSANI BAFANA
A
new wave is sweeping across And here I am, the youngest MP. And I’m Tunisia, Morocco, Cameroon, Zambia,
Africa. Elections on the conti- so proud of what I am,” Ms. Oromait told Tanzania, Uganda and others. And the
nent are increasingly yielding the UK’s Independent newspaper in an August 2018 presidential election could
younger leadership than ever interview. give Zimbabwe’s political leadership a
before. From presidents to ministers and In South Africa, Lindiwe Mazibuko, youthful makeover.
governors, senators to members of parlia- 37, was elected leader of the opposition Forty-year-old Nelson Chamisa, the
ment, Africa’s young people are demanding in parliament in 2011, representing the new leader of the opposition Movement
a seat at the political table. Democratic Alliance. She became the first for Democratic Change, is angling to be
The youth are using their large num- black woman to hold that position. “There Zimbabwe’s new leader. Were Mr. Chamisa
bers to vote in younger leaders or leaders is no prosperity for our continent without to win, he would be one of Africa’s youngest
they feel will be sympathetic to their plight. a vibrant, diverse and truly competitive democratically elected presidents.
In Uganda, Proscovia Oromait was only politics, founded upon excellence, trans- Sixty percent of Zimbabwe’s 5.3 mil-
19 in 2012 when she became the world’s parency and commitment to the public lion registered voters in the watershed
youngest MP, representing Usuk County good,” Ms. Mazibuko said in a TEDxEuston elections are under 40, according to the
in the Katakwi District. “What I said when talk in January 2016. Zimbabwe Electoral Commission. It is a
I was younger was that in years to come, I There are more young leaders coming show of commitment by the youth to decid-
will become the president. It’s just been up in parliaments in Nigeria, Ghana, Cote ing a new course of governance after the
my dream to become a leader of Uganda. d’Ivoire, Kenya, South Africa, Egypt, leadership of Robert Mugabe.
4 AfricaRenewal April 2018 - July 2018
Mr. Mugabe, 94, was Africa’s oldest adds Mr. Dlamini, who is the chair of Times translates to poorer living conditions, fuels
leader until he resigned as president in Media Group of South Africa and head migration out of Africa, and contributes
November last year, having ruled for 37 of Massmart, a retailer affiliated with to conflict on the continent itself,” notes
years. Walmart in the US. the AfDB.
“They [youth] are young entrepre- The AfDB adds that “the desired long-
A young voice neurs, innovators, scientists, academics, term outcome is expanded economic
In a recent interview with the German radio engineers, professionals. They do not want opportunity for both male and female Afri-
station Deutsche Welle, Mr. Chamisa said, aid or charity. They want to unleash their can youth, which leads to improvements in
“It is young people who are the movers and full potential,” said Mr. Dlamini, who was other aspects of their lives.”
shakers. We want to also see that in politics. named “Young Global Leader” in 2008 by The bank therefore aims to create 25
We want our continent to be painted young. the World Economic Forum, a recognition million jobs through its Jobs for Youth in
We want our continent to have a young accorded “higher-performing leaders” who Africa Strategy (2016–2025) and spur eco-
voice.” mentors other youth. nomic growth by empowering the youth to
In a 2015 article for CNN, David E. Africa’s population will be 1.6 billion realize their full potential.
Kiwuwa, an associate professor of inter- by 2030, according to the UN Depart-
national studies at Princeton University ment of Economic and Social Affairs, and Disrupting the status quo
in the US, notes that “the average age of the rapidly growing youth population will African youth are demanding a seat at the
the ten oldest leaders [in Africa] is 78.5 political table, but the agribusiness sector,
compared to 52 for the world’s ten most- which could be worth $1 trillion by 2030,
developed economies.” according to the World Bank, is the low-han-
On average, according to Mr. Kiwuwa, ging fruit.
“only between 15% and 21% of [these Afri- The African Agribusiness Incubator
can countries’] citizens were born when Network (AAIN), a business development
these presidents took the reins.” company based in Accra, Ghana, wants
Some Africans argue that “with age and youth to innovate and lead the continent’s
longevity in office come wisdom, foresight Lindiwe Mazibuko, 37, economic transformation.
and experience,” Mr. Kiwuwa writes. He was elected leader of the Democratic Ralph von Kaufmann, an agribusiness
further posits that, given opportunities in Alliance in 2011, South Africa. mentor and consultant with AAIN, says
politics and other sectors, Africa’s youth that “agribusiness presents opportunities
can transform the continent. He regrets for youths and women, but there is a need
that the long tenures of older politicians to create the right policies that facilitate
continue to stifle the emergence of credible their participation.”
youthful successors. Nthabiseng Kgobokoe, a young live-
Innocent Batsani Ncube, a 39-year-old stock and horticulture farmer in South
Zimbabwean political scholar, echoes Mr. Africa, told Africa Renewal that the first
Kiwuwa’s sentiments, stressing that youth step must be to “include the youth in
rarely get the attention of Africa’s political policy making. Education alone cannot
leaders, who do not believe young people Proscovia Oromait was only 19 address all our issues; there is a need to
can lead. in 2012 becaming the world’s youngest create conducive political and economic
Older political elites believe they have MP in Uganda conditions for us to be successful young
all the solutions to development chal- entrepreneurs.”
lenges, Mr. Ncube told Africa Renewal. constitute 42% of that number. The youth Ms. Kaobokoe said young entrepre-
“An example is the approach that those in will need opportunities to participate neurs across Africa face similar challenges,
leadership use to solve young people’s job in politics, jobs and overall inclusion in including a lack of access to financing and
problems. Their solutions mostly suit the development. other resources, red tape and inadequate
elites, rather than the young people. There The African Development Bank (AfDB) policies to foster inclusive growth.
is limited consultation in ideation between says that one-third of Africa’s 420 million Policy makers forget that youth are the
the youth and the older leaders.” youths (those ages 15–35) are unemployed, backbone of any socioeconomic and politi-
Youth need a seat on the transforma- another third are vulnerably employed and cal development, stresses Ms. Kgobokoe.
tion train because of their energy and only one in six young people is gainfully Talented young people must step for-
passion, argues Kuseni Dlamini in a paper employed. ward and be part of decision making, says
published in 2013 by Ernst & Young, a UK- “While 10 to 12 million youths enter Ms. Mazibuko. “We [in Africa] are emerg-
based professional services firm. the workforce each year [in Africa], only ing from that stereotype of a dark conti-
“The single most important factor for 3.1 million jobs are created, leaving vast nent, the hopeless continent.... We must
continental growth is the energy and pas- numbers of youth unemployed. The conse- run for office, we must work in the civil
sion of young Africans who have a palpable quences of youth unemployment in Africa service and we must disrupt the political
sense of positive energy and optimism,” are pervasive and severe: unemployment status quo.”
AfricaRenewal April 2018 - July 2018 5
YOUTH LEADERSHIP
The hashtag revolution gaining ground
Africa’s millennials are using technology to drive change
BY ELENI MOURDOUKOUTAS
W
hen some 276 teenage large numbers of society very quickly and
girls were kidnapped differently from what you would do when
from their boarding you had to go to the streets or knock on
school in northeastern doors or put up flyers.”
Nigeria in April 2014, Oby Ezekwesili, a Young people’s political activism prob-
civil society activist and former World ably safeguarded the integrity of the 2016
Bank vice president, was disheartened by election in The Gambia. They began using
the lacklustre response of her government the hashtag #GambiaHasDecided when
and local television stations. former president Yahya Jammeh refused
Ms. Ezekwesili and others decided to to vacate his office and hand over power
take to social media to demand action from after suffering electoral defeat. In addi-
the government. They emphasized their tion to spreading the word over Facebook,
point with a march to the national assembly Twitter and Instagram, the anti-Jammeh
in the capital, Abuja. campaign also encouraged citizens to wear
Within three weeks, the “Bring Back T-shirts bearing the slogan.
Our Girls” campaign put the girls’ kidnap- “Social media has forever changed the
ping front and centre on the world stage: dynamics of politics in Africa,” Raffie Diab,
the Twitter hashtag had been used over one one of the campaign’s founding leaders, told
million times, including by notable influ- Africa Renewal.
encers former US first lady Michelle Obama In October 2014, young people organ-
and girls’ rights activist and Nobel laureate ised over social media against Blaise
Malala Yousafzai. The grassroots move- Compaoré, then president of Burkina
ment proved instrumental in pressuring the Faso, who was planning to change
Nigerian government to acknowledge the the constitution to allow him to
kidnapping and to commit more resources run for another two terms, thereby
to rescuing the girls. extending his 27-year tenure.
The emergence of the movements
Technology and young people Ça suffit (That’s Enough) and Le balai
Beginning with the Arab Spring in 2011, citoyen (the Citizen’s Broom) marked
young Africans have been using techno- the first time since the Arab Spring that
logy to mobilise around issues affecting popular movements managed to unseat
them. Images of young Africans assembled an African president.
in protest, mobilising around hashtags, are
now commonplace on Twitter, Facebook Driving transparency
and other social media platforms. Likewise, young people in Senegal have
Professor Alcinda Honwana, inter- drawn attention to the country’s high
regional advisor on social development unemployment rate over social media, and
policy at the United Nations Department their protests galvanised the population to
for Economic and Social Affairs, cites the vote out President Abdoulaye Wade in the
immediacy of social media as a key factor 2012 election.
in mobilising large numbers of people and Just as citizens broadcast the abuses of
catalysing change. government with video and photographic
“Without the internet and social media, evidence during the Arab Spring, Afri-
it would be very difficult to organise a huge ca’s younger generation is taking
rally in 48 hours,” Prof. Honwana told Africa advantage of tech-based strate-
Renewal in an interview. Social media ena- gies to drive accountability and
bles organizers to have a major impact on transparency.
society, she said, “because you can assemble
6 AfricaRenewal April 2018 - July 2018
One example of this is Livity Africa, a anyone can get detailed information on the leading pan-African youth development
South Africa–based nonprofit organisation record of a public official. network. It adds that, “Instead, increas-
whose aim is to amplify authentic youth African leaders themselves are also now ing reports reflect that young people use
voices and concerns, in part through its using technology to attract young people to these virtual spaces as platforms for cyber
nationwide media channel, “Live Maga- their campaigns. bullying, violence and intimidation.” The
zine” SA. Launched in 2011, the chan- Voters under the age of 35 made up 51% association maintains that this is “an age
nel highlights issues that are of the entire electorate in the 2017 election of unprecedented access to explicit images
overlooked by mainstream in Kenya, and the number of voters in the and videos” that can have a harmful influ-
media, and it encourages 26–35 age range had more than doubled ence on the youth.
government accounta- since 2013, according to data from the elec- In 2016, the African Development
bility via its weekly toral commission. Bank, a multilateral development finance
“Live from Parlia- Kenyan president Uhuru Kenyatta institution, reported that by 2050 Africa
ment” segment. maintains active Facebook and Twitter will be home to 38 of the 40 youngest
Similarly, accounts, and his supporters say his modern countries in the world, and that all 38 will
the Nigeria- communication tactics are “demystifying have median populations under 25 years
based SMS and the presidency.” of age. Experts believe that the youth vote
web platform In an unprecedented break from his will determine election outcomes in a few
“Shine Your Eye” predecessor Robert Mugabe, Zimbabwe’s years.
facilitates public new president Emmerson Mnangagwa has Campaigns encouraging young people
engagement wasted no time in engaging directly with to vote span the continent. In 2014, South
with parliamen- Zimbabweans over social media, regu- Africa’s electoral commission launched
tarians and other larly posting comments on Facebook that the “I Voted” campaign, which encouraged
elected officials by address concerns raised by his constitu- voters to take a picture of their marked
providing access to ents. Mr. Mugabe famously did not own a thumb and post on social media with the
their track records. By smartphone. hashtag #IVoted. The hashtag boasted
sending a free SMS mes- Mr. Mnangagwa is gaining popularity more than 30,000 uses on Twitter.
sage to the platform’s dedi- for posting short videos on his Facebook
cated number or visiting its website, and Twitter accounts in which he encour- Not a cure-all
ages citizens to message their thoughts as However, Prof. Honwana warns that social
part of a “new national dialogue,” main- media is not a cure-all for apathy. In the
taining that leadership is a “two-way case of South Africa, the national South
street.” The digital approach is exciting African statistical service reported that
many Zimbabweans who are eager to get young people accounted for only 18% of
the president’s attention. total voters in the 2016 local government
While young people in recent years have elections, despite those under the age of
become the most politically engaged on 35 making up 66% of the total population.
the continent, their involvement has been She asserts that while social media can
primarily through protests and activism be a useful tool for conveying the impor-
rather than voting. tance of voting, young people will not take
up ballots over mobile devices unless they
Negative effects believe that their votes will bring about
Youth engagement with social media also real change in their lives.
has its negative effects. “Sadly, [social] In the 2016 presidential election in the
media is Gambia, for instance, young people largely
not supported Adama Barrow, who challenged
often used Mr. Jammeh, because they thought Mr.
wisely by Barrow would bring about a change in
youth,” notes governance. “I just know Barrow will be
the Africa different. He’s listening to us,” 25-year-
Alliance of the old Gambian voter Haddy Ceesay told The
Young Men Chris- Guardian, a UK-based newspaper.
tian Association, a Still, Prof. Honwana does not see social
media as just a trend. “If we are talking
about young people, I think everything
that will happen from now on is going to
Young people are using technology to be through social media. That’s where they
change society. Alamy/Shakirov live,” she said.
AfricaRenewal April 2018 - July 2018 7
YOUTH LEADERSHIP
Students at the African Leadership University in Mauritius. ALU website
Nurturing young leaders
Training young African leaders can take societies to great heights
BY FRANCK KUWONU
T
hanks to a unique fellowship at the United Eddy Oketch, the seventh of eight siblings, who
Nations Economic Commission for Africa dropped out of school to provide for his family, parlayed
(ECA) as an Ibrahim Leadership Fellow, his intuitive organizing ability into an Ibrahim fellow-
Marian Yinusa is making an impact in the lives ship in 2017.
of school-age girls in her birthplace of northern Nigeria. Carl Manlan, who was a fellow in 2014, remembers, “I
Currently a senior financial economist at the Africa shadowed [the work of senior officials] and was in most
Development Bank (AfDB), Ms. Yinusa also runs the of the ECA executive secretary’s meetings.” Hifikepunye Pohamba
GENN Initiative (Girls Education in Northern Nigeria) Mr. Manlan currently heads the Ecobank Founda- (2014)
foundation, which pays for young girls to go to school. tion, the charitable arm of the West African retail and
She would probably say her many accomplishments investment bank with headquarters in Lomé, Togo. After
were a surprise—even to her!—yet she was strongly his fellowship, Mr. Manlan served as executive secretary
motivated to help girls break the barriers keeping them of the Africa against Ebola Solidarity Trust, a charity
from school. “I wanted to do something about it,” she that partnered with the African Union between 2014
told Africa Renewal. and 2015 to mobilise funds to train and deploy African
While at the ECA in Addis Ababa, she followed keenly health workers to help fight Ebola in Guinea, Liberia and
the day-to-day work of senior officials, which led to more Sierra Leone.
responsibility and a promotion at her job. Aside from the Ibrahim leadership fellowship,
According to the Mo Ibrahim Foundation, sponsor prominent leadership training initiatives for young
of the Mo Ibrahim Foundation Leadership Fellowship Africans include the African Leadership Initiative, the
Program, the purpose of the program is to mentor future African Leadership Institute, the Young African Lead-
African leaders by offering them an opportunity to work ers Initiative, the African Leadership Development
at the highest levels of the AfDB, the ECA or the Interna- Program, the Africa Science Leadership Programme
tional Trade Centre (ITC). and the African Leadership Academy (ALA).
Ms. Yinusa is one of 18 fellows so far to benefit from ALA is a pan-African high school based in Johannes-
the leadership programme. She describes her experience burg, South Africa, where more than 700 students from Pedro Pires
(2011)
as “learning by observation.” 45 countries have received training in the past 10 years.
8 AfricaRenewal April 2018 - July 2018
“Africa does not need lead- problems usually put the spotlight MO IBRAHIM in Kigali and New York. She par-
ers who are 75 or 65 years old. on the continent’s inadequate elec- FOUNDATION ticipated at the World Economic
We need leaders who are young‚ tric power, deep and entrenched WINNERS Forum in 2011 as a Young Global
vibrant‚ innovative and who the poverty, insufficient or underpay- Leader, and now juggles legal prac-
continent’s youth can relate to,” ing jobs and slow pace of industri- tice with other jobs. Yet she feels
declared Graça Machel, widow of alization—and on ways to mobilize Africa does not provide enough
South Africa’s iconic anti-apart- resources to address these chal- leadership development opportu-
heid fighter Nelson Mandela, at lenges. There is a need for good nities for young professionals.
the celebration of the 10th anni- leadership, said Sam Adeyemi, a
versary of ALA in Johannesburg leadership consultant, during an Nudging the elders
in February. online debate at the World Eco- In addition to formal leadership
The Sudanese billionaire entre- nomic Forum on Africa 2017. training programmes, Africa’s
preneur and philanthropist Mo Ibra- current leaders also need to
him has decried the entrenchment of Educate, observe and learn contribute to the development of
aging African leaders who sideline Contributing to the same debate, the young by demonstrating good
younger generations, fighting tooth Mr. Swaniker remarked that “great leadership skills, analysts say.
and nail to hang on to power when leaders aren’t born—they’re made,” In February former Liberian
they’re past their prime. and added that the deliberate train- president Ellen Johnson Sirleaf
Fred Swaniker, a leadership ing of “leaders who take societies to won the Mo Ibrahim Prize for
development expert and cofounder great heights” is what makes most Achievement in African Lead-
of ALA, says he established the acad- nations successful. Both speakers Ellen Sirleaf ership for leading her country’s
emy because his experience growing repeatedly mentioned a need to (2018) recovery, through reconciliation
up in countries such as his native ramp up leadership training for and nation-building, after years
Ghana, the Gambia, Botswana, young Africans. of bloody conflict.
South Africa and Zimbabwe made In retrospect, both leadership Launched in 2006, the prize
him realize the difference that edu- training beneficiaries, Ms. Yinusa is meant to promote good gov-
cated leadership makes in a country. and Mr. Manlan, believe that hands- ernance and peaceful political
on experience at multinational transitions by recognizing and
Leaders of tomorrow organizations benefited them as celebrating African presidents
He chastises post-independence young professionals. Mr. Manlan who, according to the Mo Ibra-
leaders who “brought nothing but says the fellowship equipped him him Foundation, “have developed
havoc to Africa,” but praises lead- with the requisite knowledge and their countries and strengthened
ers such as Paul Kagame of Rwanda experience to shoulder increasing democracy and human rights” and
and the late Nelson Mandela of managerial duties at the interna- are “exceptional role models for
South Africa who he says have pro- tional level. He would therefore like the continent.”
vided purposeful leadership for other institutions to provide more Ms. Sirleaf handed over power
their countries. such programmes. to 51-year-old George Weah in
Mr. Swaniker envisions a gen- Jacqueline Musiitwa, who January.
Joaquim Chissano
eration of young African leaders who received a fellowship at ITC in 2012, (2007) But there appears to be a
will be able to create prosperity. now heads the Ugandan branch of dearth of exceptional political
The Mo Ibrahim Foundation’s Financial Sector Deepening, a UK leadership; over a decade of its
Leadership Fellowship and ALA government-funded financing pro- existence, except for Mr. Mandela,
address leadership training differ- gramme for reducing poverty in who was given an honorary award,
ently. The six-year-old fellowship sub-Saharan Africa. Having previ- only five leaders have met the
doesn’t involve academic training ously attended many short leader- prize’s criteria: Ms. Sirleaf (2018),
or seminars. ship programmes and seminars, Joaquim Chissano of Mozambique
With a goal of making the youth she “immediately jumped” at the (2007), Festus Mogae of Botswana
of today the leaders of tomor- opportunity to go to ITC. “Of all the (2008), Pedro Pires of Cabo Verde
row, ALA is setting up a network training that I attended, this was the (2011) and Hifikepunye Pohamba
of leadership colleges across the only one that offered real-life profes- of Namibia (2014).
continent, and hopes to train sional experience, and it’s the best so Between academic training
three million young African lead- far,” she says. championed by ALA and real-
ers over the next 50 years, Mr. Ms. Musiitwa had trained as a life experience advanced by the
Swaniker says. The first campus lawyer and in 2007 founded the Hoja Ibrahim leadership fellowship,
was opened in Mauritius in 2015 Law Group, a legal consultancy on there appears to be “room for a
and the second in Rwanda in 2017. corporate governance, commercial Festus Mogae lot more” efforts at training young
(2008)
Those discussing Africa’s and public law issues that operates leaders, Ms. Musiitwa says.
AfricaRenewal April 2018 - July 2018 9
INTERVIEW
Youth can be agents
of positive change
— Jayathma Wickramanayake, UN youth envoy
J ayathma Wickramanayake, 27, from Sri Lanka, is the new UN Secretary-General’s
Envoy on Youth. Her role is to expand the UN’s youth engagement and advocacy
efforts. She also serves as an adviser to the Secretary-General. Shortly after her extensive
tour of the Gambia, Ghana, Nigeria, Senegal and South Africa in February, she sat down
with Africa Renewal’s Zipporah Musau to discuss her mission. Excerpts:
Africa Renewal: You have just come back
from a mission to five countries in Africa. What did they tell you were their main
How was it? concerns?
Jayathma: It definitely exceeded my Young people voiced concerns about lack
expectation! I did not have much exposure of access to education, unemployment,
to Africa before I took up this job, because migration, and young women’s sexual and YOUTH LEADERSHIP
my work was mainly in my home country reproductive health. These were the core
[Sri Lanka], working with youth. So, I never issues discussed in all five countries I
really before now had the opportunity go visited. due to teenage pregnancy. Female genital
to Africa and interact with young people, mutilation is another big issue.
even though I have friends from the region. Can you expound a bit on these issues? On migration: Due to lack of oppor-
On education: the main concern is access tunities for young people, many of them
Why did you choose Africa and how did to education, but not just any education, risk their lives crossing the Sahara and
it start? but quality education. There is a study that Mediterranean Sea to get to Italy or other
UNFPA - the United Nations Population shows that about 30% of the skills acquired countries to look for better opportunities.
Fund, approached me with this wonder- in 2015 will not be relevant by 2020. So, in Many die in this process of trying to take
ful proposal of a multi-country mission to such a rapidly changing world, what should this extreme path.
Africa. Then a few days before I travelled, we teach in our schools? Do we teach the
my office sent out a tweet announcing the usual subjects or do we focus more on What is your office doing to help these
trip and the response was amazing. Upon skills-development? Young people require young people in Africa?
arrival to each country, the welcome, the skills that are adaptable and can be useful In my position, I am tasked with bringing
level of energy, and the love extended to me in multiple professions and fields. the UN closer to young people, and young
was unbelievable. I may be Sri Lankan by On digital divide: Unlike young people closer to the UN. As a representative
birth, but part of me is definitely African people living in the urban areas, those of the Secretary General, I meet top gov-
by choice. in rural areas are left behind in terms of ernment officials and other stakeholders
information and technology. There are and use such opportunities to raise aware-
What were your impressions of the young also girls who do not even have a chance to ness of the issues young people are facing
people you met? get basic education, let alone technological and then urge the officials to address them.
The amount of resilience the young people education.
in the continent have surprised me. You On issues affecting girls: Girls face What would you say you achieved during
might have seen pictures of us laughing various barriers as they seek education. this trip?
and dancing together, but just before that, Often it becomes an issue when they are The biggest outcome of my mission to
we were sitting under a tree talking about on their menstrual cycles because they Africa was being able to act as a bridge to
issues and challenges these youth face, even don’t have pads or their schools don’t have bring the young people’s concerns to the
to the point of sometimes crying together. adequate sanitary facilities. Some girls’ attention of decisionmakers, urging them
I met some who have gone through situa- education is often disrupted to take care to make a difference in young people’s lives
tions incomprehensible for us sitting here of their younger siblings, while others are and holding them accountable. Having
in New York. married off at a very young age or drop out those one-on-one interactions with the
10 AfricaRenewal April 2018 - July 2018young people to run for elected office. We
are working with the interparliamentary
union, OHCHR, UNDP, and some other
partners on scaling it up. During my trip
I also called for youth affirmative action
within political parties, urging the official
to remove existing barriers to youth par-
ticipation in decision-making.
What are your views on youth taking seek-
ing positions, not just in politics but also in
business and other spheres?
It’s been amazing! Some of the brightest
young minds that I’ve met on this job are
from Africa. I say that without any bias.
I am very impressed by the work young
Africans do, they are so creative. On this
trip I met young innovators, for example,
one of them has invented a three-wheeler
which uses solar power, another one had
developed an online platform to help can-
didates running for office to design and
organize their political campaigns.
What challenges do young people pushing
for space, a seat at the political table, face?
We have identified several layers of bar-
young people I meet, some of whom have Jayathma Wickramanayake, UN Youth Envoy. riers that hinder young people from par-
gone through really tough situations, ena- Africa Renewal/ Shu Zhang ticipation. The first layer is at the personal
bles me to bring their voices to the discus- level - having no confidence or belief in
sions here at the UN. I talked to marginal- they can also bring solutions to the table. themselves. The second layer is social -
ized young people, as well as innovators, And when talking to decision-makers, I family and friends around a young person,
and social entrepreneurs, who inspired me was able to highlight this role of young who may sometimes discourage them from
to raise their issues in my meetings with people as agents of positive change, so that venturing into politics. And third is politi-
government ministers, parliamentarians, they can treat youth as assets, rather than cal party structures. Young people are
UN Country Teams, and the media in every liabilities. under-represented in political parties. The
country I visited. same for the women too.
How will you amplify this message?
Any immediate results? One of the things I am trying to do is to What’s your advice to young people who
I saw some remarkable results! For bring some of these young change-makers get into leadership?
instance, the UN Country Team in Nige- to the UN Headquarters for the forthcom- When you get to a position of power, always
ria will set up an advisory mechanism for ing High-Level Political Forum and UN remember why you are in that position in
youth to be consulted on its work on the General Assembly to showcase, not just the first place. Thousands of young people
ground. the issues they face, but also the solutions look up to you. Also, don’t forget to create
that they bring to the table. I have also tried a space for other young people to come
What are the young people themselves to amplify this through the UN country onboard.
doing to improve their lot? teams in various countries.
The mission offered a great opportunity to What values should they live by?
highlight the amazing contributions these Do you have any special programmes They should live up to the values that
young people themselves are making to or campaigns targeting young people in we, as young people, have been demand-
improve their communities. For example, Africa? ing all along - integrity, transparency,
in Nigeria I met this young woman - a sur- Indeed, we do. In fact, one of our big- saying no to corruption and standing up
vivor of rape - who has developed a mobile gest campaign is “Not Too Young to Run,” for democracy. This could mean some-
phone app that can help other young started in Nigeria and aimed at lowering times doing things in unconventional
women to report gender-based violence the legal age required to run for office from ways, maybe changing systems completely
to the nearest police station. This shows 40 to 35. We have now made it a global upside down - we need transformational
that young people are not just victims, campaign that advocates for the rights of change.
AfricaRenewal April 2018 - July 2018 11YOUTH LEADERSHIP
Music: Nigeria’s new export
Naija beats topping international charts, but dividends are “scattered”
BY FRANCK KUWONU
I
t is a cold evening in Antwerp, Bel- African Act award for “If,” one of his hit
gium’s second-largest city, famous songs—a love-themed ballad with a blend
for diamonds, beer, art and high-end of Nigerian rhythms and R & B.
fashion. Inside a small restaurant, Since its release in February 2017, the
a mix of the latest American pop and official “If” video has racked up more than
rap—clearly enjoyed by diners—is playing 60 million views on YouTube, the high-
on a radio. est number of YouTube views for any
Nigerians Olalekan Adetiran and Nigerian music video and one of the
Adaobi Okereke, enjoying a kebab dinner, highest ever recorded for a song by
are startled when the radio begins play- an African artist.
ing the unmistakable “Ma Lo”—a catchy, Across the African continent,
midtempo and bass-laden song by popular other musical groups, such as
Nigerian artistes Tiwa Savage and Wizkid. Kenya’s boy band Sauti Sol, Tan-
The song, currently a hit in Nigeria and zania’s Diamond Platnumz and
across Africa, awakens thoughts of home; South Africa’s Mafikizolo, have
they cannot stop smiling at the pleasant collaborated with or featured Nige-
surprise. They are visiting Belgium as part rian top stars in attempts to gain
of a tour of European countries and their international appeal. Reuters news
cultural landmarks. service calls Nigerian music a “cultural
A week earlier, barely two months after export.”
its release, the eye-popping video of the The Nigerian government is now
song had been viewed on YouTube more looking to the creative industries, includ-
than 10 million times—and counting. ing performing arts and music, to generate
For Mr. Adetiran, hearing “Ma Lo” on a revenues.
Belgian radio station not known to cater to
African communities confirms that music A billion-dollar industry?
from Naija (as Nigerians fondly refer to In rebasing or recalculating its GDP in
their country), is going places. It reflects 2013, the Nigerian government included
the greater reach of a new generation of formerly neglected sectors, such as
Nigerian artists. the entertainment industries led by
Just like the country’s movie indus- Nollywood. As a result, the country’s
try, Nollywood, Nigerian music is drawing GDP increased sharply, from $270 billion
interest from beyond the borders, show- to $510 billion, overtaking South Africa
casing the vitality of a creative industry that year as the continent’s biggest
that the government is now depending economy, notes the Brookings Institution,
on, among other sectors, to diversify the a US-based nonprofit public policy think
economy and foster development. tank. Brookings reports, however, that
the GDP rise didn’t show an increase in
Greater recognition wealth and that a recent crash in the price
Last November, Wizkid won the Best of oil, the country’s main export, is slowing
International Act category at the 2017 economic growth.
MOBO (Music of Black Origin) Awards held Nigerian music sales revenues were
in London, the first for an Africa-based estimated at $56 million in 2014, accord-
artist. He beat back competition from more ing to PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC),
established global celebrities such as Jay-Z, an international accounting and auditing
Drake, DJ Khaled and Kendrick Lamar. firm. The firm projects sales revenues to
At the same MOBO Awards, Davido, reach $88 million by 2019.
another Nigerian artist, took home the Best
12 AfricaRenewal April 2018 - July 2018Globally, the creative industry is among creative industry—about the films, theatre
the most dynamic economic sectors. It and music,” Mr. Mohammed said.
“provides new opportunities for developing He was reacting to UNCTAD’s find-
countries to leapfrog into emerging high- ings that the creative industry contributed
growth areas of the world economy,” the £84.1 (about $115.5) billion to the British
United Nations Conference on Trade and economy in 2014 and $698 billion to the US
Development (UNCTAD), a UN body that economy that same year. “Nigeria cannot
deals with trade, investment and develop- afford to be left behind,” Mr. Mohammed
ment issues, said in a 2016 report. declared.
Over the last decade, Europe has been The Nigerian government is already
the largest exporter of creative prod- providing incentives to investors in the
ucts, although exports from developing sector, including a recent $1 million ven-
countries are growing fast too, UNCTAD ture capital fund to provide seed money for
reported. young and talented Nigerians looking to set
According to PwC, lumped together, up business in creative industries. The gov-
annual revenues from music, movies, art ernment is also allowing the industry “pio-
and fashion in Nigeria will grow from $4.8 neer status,” meaning that those investing
billion in 2015 to more than $8 billion in in motion picture, video and television
2019,. production, music production, publishing,
Nigeria’s National Bureau of Statistics distribution, exhibition and photography
reports that the local music sector grew can enjoy a three- to five-year tax holiday.
“in real terms by 8.4% for the first three Other incentives, such as government-
months of 2016” and that in the first quar- backed and privately backed investment
ter of 2017, the sector grew by 12% com- funds, are also being implemented.
pared with the same period one year prior. Yet as hopes of a vibrant industry rise,
The growth may be attributed to a pervasive copyright violations could stunt
reversal in music consumption patterns, its growth.
according to local media reports. Up to the
early 2000s, the music in clubs and on the Profits are “scattered”
radio in Nigeria was dominated by British In December 2017, the Nigerian police
and American hit songs. Not anymore. charged three people in Lagos with copy- Still, online release
Reportedly, most Nigerians now prefer right violations. Their arrests had been poses its own challenges.
songs by their local artists to those by widely reported in the country months For example, Mr. Adeti-
foreigners, even the big ones in the West. earlier. “Piracy: Three suspects arrested ran and Mr. Okereke recall
“When I go out, I want to hear songs at Alaba with N50 million [US$139,000] visiting in March 2017 a club
by Davido or Whizkid or Tekno; like other worth of materials,” Premium Times, a in Dakar, Senegal, where DJs
people, I cannot enjoy myself listening to Lagos-based newspaper, announced in a spun Nigerian beats nonstop. The
songs by foreign artistes anymore,” says headline. two realised only much later that
Benjamin Gabriel, who lives in Abuja. With Alaba market in Nigeria’s commercial those songs had been down-
a population of about 180 million, Nigerian capital, Lagos, is famous for electronics, but loaded from the Internet.
artists have a huge market to tap into. The it is also notorious for all things fake and “When you create your
big ones like Whizkid and Davido are feel- cheap, attracting customers from across content and put it out, it’s
ing the love—maybe the cash too! West Africa to East Africa. scattered,” Harrysong, a
Recent efforts by the authorities to Nigerian singer, told the
The new oil fight piracy led to police raids of Alaba New York Times in June
“We are ready to explore and exploit the and other markets in the country, result- 2017, echoing Mr. Adetiran
‘new oil,’” Nigeria’s minister of information ing in the seizure of pirated items worth and Mr. Okereke’s experi-
and culture, Lai Mohammed, commented $40 million. ence. He was expressing
ahead of a creative industry financing Despite such raids, the business of performers’ sense of power-
conference held in Lagos last July. pirated music and movie CDs continues lessness as they lose control
“When we talk about diversifying the unabated, turning enforcement efforts into of sales and distribution of
economy it is not just about agriculture a game of Whack-A-Mole. With minimal their music.
or solid minerals alone, it is about the returns from CD sales, Nigerian artists The Times summed
rely on ringtone sales, corporate sponsor- it up like this: “Nigeria’s
ship contracts and paid performances to Afrobeat music scene is
Wizkid performs in London, United Kingdom. make ends meet. Most Nigerian artists now booming, but profits go to
Alamy/Michael Tubi prefer online releases of their songs. pirates.”
AfricaRenewal April 2018 - July 2018 13YOUTH LEADERSHIP
PROFILE
Raphael Obonyo master’s in public policy at Duke University in
the United States.
In 2012 I was selected to serve on
From poverty to the the United Nations Habitat’s Youth
Advisory Board (YAB), and I was later
pinnacles of power
nominated as a special adviser. My
profile had been subjected to a global
vote, where it received the highest
number of votes.
YAB is a board comprising 16
A Kenyan boy’s odyssey young people from across the world.
BY RAPHAEL OBONYO The board members are volunteers,
and for two years they serve three
M
main roles: represent young people in
y name is Raphael Obonyo local and international forums, advise
from Kenya. I grew up in the UN on how to engage urban youth
Korogocho, the third-largest in sustainable urbanization, and develop
slum in the capital, Nairobi, and strengthen youth participation and
where people live in grinding poverty. advocacy in youth-led initiatives.
I was the fourth child in a family of nine, Through this UN role, I traveled to differ-
and we all lived in a single room with our ent countries around the world, spoke at many
parents. My dad was a cook at the University of forums, and met and shared platforms with presi-
Nairobi. He walked 10 km to and from work daily dents and other global leaders.
to support our large family. Currently, I sit on the boards of international
From an early age, I knew that education would bodies such as the Global Diplomatic Forum and
be my only route out of poverty and hence took my the World Bank’s Global Coordination Board on
studies seriously. In school I befriended my deputy head Youth and Anti-Corruption.
teacher’s son and we became study partners. The I am also giving back to my community. I took
teacher, Stephen Kariuki, would buy books and part in initiating various youth and community
other school items for me and his son. development projects, including the Youth Con-
It was impossible to study or do homework at gress of Kenya and the Kenya Youth Media, which
home because there was not enough light from the tin have trained many young people from Koro-
lamp we used. Mr. Kariuki opened his home for me to gocho on entrepreneurship, filmmaking and
study on weekends. In academic grading, I was always first journalism. After training, we help teach the trainees
in class and his son would be second, or vice versa. how to access capital to start small businesses. The
I was among the top students in the Kenya Certificate of Pri- initiative is helping to improve living conditions and
mary Education exams in 1995. Because my dad couldn’t afford reduce poverty amongst the youth.
to send me to high school, my friends from St. John’s Catholic I have always described myself as a restless dreamer. My
Church in Korogocho raised money to pay my fees for the first ambition is to one day serve as the Secretary-General of the
term at Dagoretti High School. United Nations or the president of my country. But most impor-
Many of my classmates were from wealthy and prominent tantly, I want to keep doing my best at every level, to be the best
families, unlike me with meager possessions that included that I can be, and to make a difference in the world.
donated secondhand uniforms and small change for pocket So this is not all. There is more work to do. I see myself as a
money. work in progress.
In school I faced hardships. Frequently I was sent home for I always share the story of my life journey to inspire
nonpayment of school fees. During visiting days, I watched with young men and women born in disadvantaged places. I often
envy as fellow students were visited by relatives clutching big urge the youth to live by the three d’s: dream, discipline and
shopping bags filled with food and goodies. determination.
During holidays I would walk the 10 km from Korogocho I have faith in the young people of Africa. My passion for the
to McMillan Memorial Library in the city and back, to study. youth is founded on our enormous potential to create a better
Despite all these hurdles, I performed well and was admitted to future for ourselves and for others.
the University of Nairobi. Youth in Africa need opportunities. They represent dyna-
After undergraduate education, I did community work in mism, talent and energy that must be harnessed for the conti-
Korogocho before clinching a scholarship from the International nent to make real progress. It should go without saying that the
Fellowships Program through the Ford Foundation to take a youth are Africa—and we cannot leave Africa behind.
14 AfricaRenewal April 2018 - July 2018YOUTH LEADERSHIP
PROFILE
Phumzile Van Damme
A young MP with a mission
Standing up for women’s rights in South Africa’s parliament
BY GAYANE ALIKHANYAN
P
humzile Van Damme, one of the youngest An opportunity came in 2014 when she was elected
members of parliament in South Africa, is also to parliament at the age of 31, helping to break a
the shadow minister for communications. gender barrier that once confined women to only
She grew up in a family of strong 3% of the lawmaking body. Today 42% of all seats
women, and her gift for leadership was already in the South African parliament are held by
apparent when she was a child. In the fifth women.
grade, she called a student strike because Last year she further distinguished
the teacher would not allow students to herself by bringing a case against the
go out for break. For that she earned the British multinational public relations
nickname “Big Mouth.” Ms. Van Damme and advertising firm Bell Pottinger
became active in national politics after Private for stoking racial tensions to
graduation from Rhodes University in keep the ruling ANC in power. The
Grahamstown, South Africa, in 2007, firm was subsequently expelled from
with a bachelor’s degree in law and
politics. She joined the Democratic
Alliance (DA) as a staffer. The DA
is the official opposition party to
the governing African National Con-
If breakdown
gress (ANC). happens, you must
Without the financial backup that never, ever think
other politicians had, Ms. Van Damme that it’s a sign of
at some point did menial jobs.
As a black woman, people expected
weakness or it’s
her to join the ANC, the party of Nelson a failure. Do not
Mandela, but she had other ideas. give up hope. Keep
“I joined the DA as a disgruntled ANC trying. Knock on
supporter who found the DA’s liberal poli-
cies more appealing to me personally. My per-
every door.
sonal politics are very liberal. I believe in the
liberty of the individual, equality, freedom
and democracy,” Ms. Van Damme says.
Passionate about empowering young South Africa’s public relations and commu-
women, Ms. Van Damme is dedicated to making nications association.
sure they have the support they need to stand on Nevertheless, it is still a turbulent ride
their own feet. “The harder I work, the easier I make for women who choose a public service career.
it for young women who climb up the ladder behind me, Phumzile has been disappointed by many devel-
so that their struggle will be a bit easier than mine,” she opments in her field, but says, “Each time, I believe
says. I learn from that disappointment and I become
“It is challenging to be a young woman. You struggle stronger.”
to be heard, people don’t take you seriously. You have to Her message to young women is, “If breakdown
work twice as hard [as men] to be taken seriously,” Ms. happens, you must never, ever think that it’s a sign of
Van Damme told Africa Renewal. Despite such challenges, weakness or it’s a failure. Do not give up hope. Keep
she says, she would never give up fighting to bring about trying. Knock on every door. Work hard, have a balance
change in South Africa. and take care of yourselves.”
AfricaRenewal April 2018 - July 2018 15YOUTH LEADERSHIP
PROFILE
Gwendolyn Myers
A peace advocate
Mobilising the young for peace and development
BY GWENDOLYN MYERS
I
was born in 1990, a year after the Liberian civil war began, the presenter of a radio programme. My father had taken me
and was only 13 years old when the war ended in 2003. to the Talking Drum Studios in Monrovia, managed by the
My mother told me that at the time of my birth, she nongovernment organization Search for Common Ground.
could not afford even a blanket to wrap the new baby. Following weeks of practice, I was selected from among many
A midwife was kind enough to assist with a cloth. Those were other children to present a programme called Golden Kids
trying times for my family. News. Through this programme, I learned how to confidently
As a child, I dreamt of seeing an airplane—not even being articulate issues.
in it—and regularly begged my father to take me to the airport In high school and during my undergraduate studies, my
to see one. These days, I fly to different regions of the world on friends and the school administration often called me to settle
speaking engagements as a peace and human rights advocate. disputes between students. It was an indication that I could
The countries I have visited include the United States, Turkey, do well in peace efforts. On my graduation, the Catholic Media
the Netherlands, Cambodia, South Africa and Rwanda, among Centre hired me to present a programme on Radio Veritas, its
others. broadcast channel.
I did not initially aspire to a career in peace, human rights A life-defining moment came in 2008 when the United
and women and youth empowerment advocacy; I wanted to be Nations Mission in Liberia asked me to help organize a group
a doctor and had successfully completed undergraduate stud- of young volunteers to raise awareness among the youth on
ies in chemistry and biology at the Mother Patern College of social issues such as HIV and AIDS, anti-rape and so on. We
Health Sciences, an affiliate of the Stella Maris Polytechnic, in later named the group Messengers of Peace, and registered it
Monrovia, Liberia. as a nongovernmental organization with the goal of engaging
Once I began getting involved in peace advocacy, witnessing young people nationwide in volunteerism and peacebuilding.
the international community’s peace efforts in my country, I In 2017 I was elected to the World Economic Forum’s
realised that disarming the fighters was just an aspect Global Shapers Advisory Council, for governance and
of peace; to achieve genuine peace requires reconcili- accountability. The forum also nominated me as an
ation among the various groups, between young and expert in human rights, making me one of more than
old, the genders, etc. 5,000 leading experts engaged by the forum to shape
I decided against going for medical studies, a a global agenda. I am also a member of the Work-
move that mystified friends and relatives. In fact, ing Group on Youth for Gender Equality coordi-
my pastor urged my parents to “speak sense into” me. nated by the UN Inter-Agency Network on Youth
A career in medicine, they felt, would be much more Development.
rewarding than any advocacy work I might want to The highlight of my career was in 2015 when
do. Peace advocacy would be a waste of my intel- I delivered the first-ever official address on
lect and talent, they insisted. youth, peace and security on behalf of the
I received a Gbowee Peace Foundation schol- United Network of Young Peacebuilders
arship funded by the US Agency for Inter- before the UN Peacebuilding Commission in
national Development and the International New York. I used the occasion to advocate
Research and Exchanges Board, a nonprofit, for the adoption of Resolution 2250, which
in 2012. This enabled me to study peace- urges countries to include young people in
building and leadership at the Centre for peace processes and conflict resolution.
Justice and Peacebuilding, Eastern Men- I believe that young people need to
nonite University, Virginia, US. It was an demonstrate wisdom and ethical conduct
opportunity I took delightedly. and must be engaged in community-
My passion for peace work began at age and youth-based initiatives that promote
13, when I would engage other children as peaceful coexistence.
16 AfricaRenewal April 2018 - July 2018You can also read
