A former Acting Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Defence, Dr Sunday Attah, says African youths must no longer be viewed as problems to be managed but as promises to be fulfilled.
Attah made the call in his remarks as the Chairman at the inauguration of the African Youth Peace Corps (AYPC) in Abuja.
He also said that the future of Africa rested largely on its youthful population, stressing that young people should be seen as the continent’s greatest asset.
“Africa’s greatest resource is not oil, gold, gas or diamonds. Africa’s greatest resource resides within its young people: their minds, creativity, resilience and dreams,” Attah said.
According to him, in spite of the numerous challenges confronting the continent, Africa possessed an enormous demographic advantage that could drive peace, development and prosperity if properly harnessed.
“African youths are not liabilities but assets, and not spectators of history but builders of history. They have a critical role to play in shaping the future of the continent.
“Peace remains the foundation for development, because it is more than the absence of war, it also represents justice, opportunity, inclusion, dignity and hope.
“That sustainable development cannot thrive in an environment characterized by violence, instability and division,” he said.
He challenged young Africans to become peace ambassadors, bridge-builders, defenders of human dignity and agents of reconciliation capable of fostering unity and progress across the continent.
Attah’s remarks came as the AYPC was formally inaugurated as a continental movement dedicated to raising a new generation of Peace Ambassadors across Africa.
In his address, the Convener and Continental Coordinator-General of AYPC, Dr Abdulwaheed Odewale, outlined the organization’s vision and strategic programmes.
Odewale disclosed that the organization would promote school peace clubs, community peace initiatives, youth leadership academies, and digital literacy programmes.
He said the programme would also intervene in environmental sustainability campaigns, interfaith dialogue platforms and volunteer service schemes across the continent.
He stressed that the initiatives were designed to equip young Africans with the knowledge, leadership skills and civic values required to address emerging challenges
The AYPC convener also said that sustainable peace could only be achieved through dialogue, justice, inclusion, respect for diversity and equal opportunities for all members of society.
Odewale called on African youths to reject terrorism, violent extremism, criminality, cybercrime, drug abuse and all forms of violence that threaten peace and human dignity.
He expressed confidence that Africa’s future would not be determined by the challenges confronting it but by the willingness of its people, particularly its youths, to create solutions.
The launch of the AYPC marked the beginning of what organizers described as a continental movement of hope, service, leadership and peace.
In her goodwill message, a member of the AYPC governing council, Queen Hadassah Allaputa, said peaceful hearts produce peaceful communities.
“A generation that is at peace with itself can become a powerful force for transformation across the continent.
“Young people are the architects of its peace and development, therefore sustainable peace begins from within, and that young people must first cultivate inner peace,” she said. (NAN)
