An NGO, Young African Leaders Initiative (YALI), says it has concluded plans to invest in 3,000 youths to promote economic growth and enhance entrepreneurship.
The Coordinator, YALI Network, Mr Innocent Okafor, who made this known at a news conference in Abuja on Wednesday, said that the empowerment would enhance the growth of the nation’s economy.
”The YALI Network empowerment will enable the 3,000 youth to be self-reliant, proffer solutions to business challenges and entrepreneurship, public management and civic engagement as well as enhance nation building,” he said.
Okafor said that the YALI 2022 National Summit would hold on Thursday and Friday in Abuja, with the theme: ”Change the Narratives: A Call to Take Responsibility, Taking Bold Steps Now for our Desired Future.”
He described YALI was a flagship programme of the U.S, launched by former President Barack Obama in 2010.
Okafor said that the programme was aimed at investing in the next generation of African leaders as well as supporting them to advance democratic governance, promote economic growth and fortify civil society institutions for the continent to advance and prosper.
“This is an annual event designed to bring young Nigerian leaders and partners together in order to dialogue on the issues confronting the country and proffer sustainable solutions.
“It will also hold capacity-building sessions, aimed at equipping the youth with skills relevant to their specific tracks, allowing them to effectively lead and bringing about social change and national development.
“This year’s summit, which is the fourth edition, is scheduled to hold on Sept. 29 and Sept. 30 at Merit House, Maitama, Abuja.
“Through a hybrid approach, the forum hopes to reach 3,000 young people who will gain different skills to make a difference in Nigeria,” he said.
The coordinator further said that the issue of national development had always proven to be a sensitive one when raised within the Nigerian space.
He noted that people from different social, religious, economic and ethnic backgrounds always shared different approaches to achieving the peak of a nationally-developed economy.
He added that the summit had, over the years, become a platform for re-orientation, patriotic education and leadership skill-up and technical empowerment for young African leaders.
Okafor said that the theme for this year’s summit was intentionally crafted and developed to sharpen the perspectives and redirect the positive energy of participants toward a collective growth through innovative approaches to the nation’s challenges.
“These are challenges of business and entrepreneurship, public management and civic engagement,” he said.
Okafor further said that the objectives were to provide a forum to educate, equip, increase youth awareness and participation in nation-building and create opportunities and platforms for them.
He said that the summit would encourage open dialogue, constructive critique and self-reflection, with discussants drawn from related sectors to deliberate extensively on the assigned topics.
Okafor listed some of the topics for discussion as: Developing a better food systems value chain;, Ending Hunger; Promoting Youth Engagement in Climate Action; Achieving desired future through technological and vocational skills advancement and 2023 Bold Steps: My Vote, My Future.
