The IFED Global has called on the government at all levels and stakeholders to take advantage of the potential of the youth in the African continent by empowering them for rapid socio-economic development in society.
The executive president of IFED, Acheampong Tutu, in a statement made available to Nigerian Tribune on Wednesday through the organization’s representative in Nigeria, Ayodele Ayo-Akande, spoke during a one-day virtual media launch and Stakeholder Engagement Workshop organized on Thursday, March 30, 2023, at Shogun in Accra-Ghana.
He noted that the organization, in collaboration with the Kariega Youth Development Centre and the Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality in Port Elizabeth, South Africa, is poised and determined to make a significant impact on the African continent through strategic initiatives and stakeholders relevant to the implementation of projects on the continent.
He and other resource persons appointed as Panel Co-ordinators in persons of Mr. Franklin Leonards, a Security Consultant and CEO of Leonards Group of Companies, Mr. John Appiah, President of the African Chamber of Youth, and Mrs. Jacqueline Dufie Mpare, the Head of Agency Banking at Ecobank Group were of the view that Africa is very blessed with diverse resources hence requires the right kind of leadership and development strategies to see significant growth.
The statement read, “They thereby called upon all Stakeholders, including governments from these African countries, and development agencies to partner this initiative to empower the African youth to make a meaningful impact and transform lives in their little way.
” Out of several proposals submitted from different parts of Africa under 5 thematic areas, five were shortlisted and reviewed by the above-mentioned Panel coordinators who brought on board their wealth of knowledge and expertise.
” Two proposals were finally selected after several hours of deliberations and voting between the Stakeholders who had joined online and the Panel coordinators by the ratio 60%: 40%, respectively.
” The Change Africa Project and Conference, South Africa-2023, is a flagship initiative to assemble Africans in the diaspora and at home on cultural exchange, social project discussions, and implementing five (5) workable projects on the continent. Also, policy reviews in the thematic areas would be done for in-depth deliberations to arrive at policy resolutions for implementation by the various African governments.
” Kariega Youth Centre and Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality are the host partners for this year’s conference in Port Elizabeth of, South Africa. The project plans would be implemented by the working groups of stakeholders ( of the Change Africa Project and supervised by the Project Executive Board. Beyond the intellectual part of the conference are series of activities to ensure cultural exchange and socialization among participants.
” Every year and in that sense, there is the need to develop a framework for the working groups. Also, this workshop identified two (2) topical policies of Africa’s development interest.”
He added that , ” the Conference to be hosted in Port Elizabeth, South Africa is scheduled from October 30th to November 3rd 2023 and promises to have high profile speakers such as Presidents and Representatives of Governments, CEO’s and Founders of top Organizations among others.”
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