By Walter Okello
Brussels, Belgium | Sam Ogwal ,the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD)’s specila envoy has challenged young leaders from the Horn of Africa region to take the lead in driving sustainable development in their respective countries.
Speaking at the official opening of a high-level youth engagement meeting held in Brussels, Belgium, Ogwal urged the participants to devise practical strategies for integrating youth-led initiatives into national development agendas across member states of the Greater Horn of Africa.
“Youth remain the poorest demographic in most Horn of Africa countries, yet they are the most energetic and innovative segment of our population,” Ogwal stated.
This energy, if properly harnessed, can propel our nations to greater heights through youth-championed development projects.
“How can we effectively integrate development initiatives that are designed and driven by young people into the mainstream policies of our member states?” Ogwal asked.
The IGAD special envoy also raised serious concerns about the systematic exclusion of youth from electoral and decision-making processes in several countries in the region.
“Young people must be allowed to actively participate in democratic elections in their countries. No one should be permitted to silence or shut down their voices,” he stressed.
Ogwal noted that many youth in Horn of Africa countries continue to suffer the devastating effects of prolonged conflict and insecurity.
He cited recent attacks on homes in parts of Uganda as a stark reminder of the urgent need to place youth at the centre of peace-building and security initiatives.Putting Youth at the Forefront
Ogwal, who is also a parliamentary aspirant seeking to unseat incumbent Moroto County MP Samuel Okwir Odwee in the upcoming elections, emphasized that youth should be positioned at the forefront of national priorities.
“We must deliberately place young people at the centre of everything – from policy formulation to implementation – and allow them to champion the change we all desire,” he uttered.
The Brussels meeting brought together youth leaders, Women and representatives from countries across the Greater Horn of Africa to deliberate on common challenges facing young people, including unemployment, insecurity, political exclusion, and limited access to economic opportunities, and to propose actionable solutions.