Challenging Your Youthfulness
Speech delivered by M. Sahr Nouwah, Board Chair- Youth Coalition for Education in Liberia at the Annual Youth Education & Empowerment Summit- Monrovia, Liberia- November 18, 2019 at the Boulevard Palace.
Your Excellencies’
Honourable Ambassadors,
Government dignitaries’
Our distinguished youth’
Ladies and Gentlemen:
Please accept my greetings from the Board of Directors of YOCEL.
Let me warmly welcome you all to AYEESUMIT 2019. I am thrilled for your commitments and your support. I am aware that we have partners who will never let us down and we are very grateful to the funding agencies as well as our partners in development and for their moral support. This summit empowers leaders- and provide you the space to explore, connect and create. We are here to create the education we want.
Ladies and Gentlemen, please feel at home especially those of you coming from far- know that Liberia has been a STAR on the African Continent and no matter what, the Youth of this nation will continue to represent this starship and making Africa proud is our duty.
Today, we are gathered here to discuss about education and the empowerment of Youth for the development of Africa and the world at large. This I must say, is not just a call, it is an obligation and a deliverable for us all. More so, we are ever prepared to meet the simple demands of Youth of this country, Africa and the world as they are not too much for anyone to meet- the need to prepare you to lead and to take control of your destiny is now.
Statistically, there are about 1.2 billion youth aged 15–24 years globally as of 2015, accounting for one out of every six people worldwide. By 2030, the target date for the sustainable development goals, the number of youths is projected to have grown by 7 per cent, to nearly 1.3 billion according to the UN. In the same 2015, Youth in Africa constituted 19% of the global youth population, numbering 226 million. By 2030, it is predicted that the number of youths in Africa will have increased by 42%. According to the United Nations, young people account for about 65 percent of Liberia’s population of 4.1 million.
These numbers are an advantage, a blessing to nurture and we are here to place a challenge on you all to participate, inspire each other, act rightly and produced durable solutions to your educational systems and processes.
Ladies and Gentlemen, last year speaking to a group of African Youth at his same event, I challenged us then that we are no longer waiting for any politician to set an agenda for us. This statement did not die. Months later, the Youth Coalition for Education in Liberia organized the first Education Financing for Liberia which is now expected to become a regular annual event. I am determined to make this happen. I am officially announcing my sponsorship to the event and taking lead as board member, chairman and also a Pan Africanist hopeful of a better Africa before 2063.
Ladies and gentlemen, following up with key actors that attended this event last year, let me announce to you that in Cote d’Ivoire, we now have a young Ivoirien Mr. Brou Jean Jacques who is leading a youth organizing events. These events are similarly building a new movement for true youth leadership in la Cote d’Ivoire.
On this note, let me please announce to you never to accept anyone calling you a future leader. You are now a Leader and you must lead with faith, courage, resilience and a commitment free of corruption- enshrine your professional life into what is call National Call to Duty.
Youth of today, I am about to officially become a graduate of what we defined in Liberia as a Youth. During my youthful age, I served in places where many would have thought that it was not possible for a young person — this includes taking key leadership positions in the Church serving God, Leading projects becoming a motivational leader for colleagues and becoming an expatriate as well as a consultant — all as a young person. I must announce to you that I did all of this without being corrupt, I remain respected and I am prepared to now enter my adulthood without blemish. This I want you all to challenge yourselves and become better, stronger and successful than I ever did.
As we gather here today, let me challenge you all. As you leave this conference, please become a leader immediately and serve with grace, humility, professional conduct and ethically responsive to the needs and aspiration of other youth as well as the community that you will serve.
Distinguished Young People, Ladies and Gentlemen, please accept a call to duty and deliver diligently. In the Novel ‘’Things Fall Apart’’, Written by a patriot, a Nigerian and a true African, we read of Okonkwo who never waited to be a future leader, but rather challenge Amalinze the Cat and won at a tender age of 18. He was humbled and prepared- ready to win and he won. I am calling on you all to be the Okonkwos of your countries- building resilient educational systems and producing at scale. We can do this now and now is the time.
Ladies and gentlemen, Youth empowerment is a process where children and young people are encouraged to take charge of their lives. I am now challenging you all (The Youth and children here today) to take charge of your lives.
You can do this by examining the circumstances around you and your community and then take action in order to improve access to resources, and change the consciousness through your beliefs, values, and attitudes which must be enshrined in good leadership free of corruption, pride and irresponsible work life.
Young men and women, the destiny of your countries’ education for you and those after you lies in your hands- the need to eradicate poverty, disease and hunger through good and productive education in your countries is a battle for you — do not wait for anyone- not even your government.
Distinguished guests, our beloved youth, special guests, government officials, development agencies and the very young leaders, please listen and listen well to the voices of these young people, work with them, include them and allow them to lead our development. Guide them rightly and you will yield the right and durable solutions we are all seeking with ease.
On this note, let me conclude by Thanking you very much and we are watching you.
