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| AMB. (DR.) AMINA C. MOHAMED |
Addis Ababa, Thursday January 26, 2017– Kenya’s
Foreign Affairs Minister Dr. Amina Mohamed who is a candidate for the
position of Chairperson of the African Union Commission (AUC),
accompanied by Mrs. Sicily Kariuki, Kenya's Minister for Youth and
Gender Affairs met with youth from various African countries during the 9th African Union Gender Pre-Summit in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, under the theme: "Harnessing
the Demographic Dividend Through Investments in Youth: Empowering Young
People, Especially Young Women, For Leadership and Civic
Participation." This event marked the beginning of the 28th AU Summit .
Amb.
Amina's Vision for the AUC has centered the role of the youth in
Africa's development. In her new year's letter to Africans, she wrote: "In
sum, our youth are our currency. This century is theirs and Africa’s!
To harness their potential, we must collaborate both politically and
economically. We must work in partnership and integrate in a manner that
catalyses Africa’s synergy and diversity."
Amb.
Amina highlighted the need to listen to the needs, challenges and
solutions proposed by the youth. She expressed concern that youth
engagement has often taken an "address approach" as opposed to a
"dialogic approach." She stated that it was critical to recognise that
Africa's youth, in this age, are the most educated, most exposed, most
informed, most innovative and proactive. As a result, the promise of
their potential can only be realised through consistent and sustainable
partnership and joint decision-making with the youth.
