By Laurina B Lormia
The Young Political Leadership School Africa (YPLS Africa) has concluded a week-long training, announcing Abubakar C. Jalloh, CEO of Too Easy, as the new president of Cohort 11.
The training, organized by Naymote Partners for Democratic Development, was held in Monrovia from August 12-16, 2024, under the theme “Empowering Future African Youth Leaders for Sustainable Development, Peace, and Security.” It brought together 100 emerging leaders from 11 African nations, marking a significant step toward building a stronger and more united youth leadership network across Africa.
This initiative aims to equip young Africans with the skills needed to lead inclusively, ethically, and effectively in their communities and beyond. It brought together emerging leaders from diverse sectors, including young politicians, activists, civic leaders, and representatives from civil society organizations, to prepare them for the challenges ahead in Africa’s political landscape.
Making remarks, Ireland’s Ambassador to Liberia, Gerard Considine, applauded the initiative, underscoring the importance of youth in driving Africa’s future development.
According to him, 60% of Africa’s 1.2 billion people under the age of 25, youth represent both a significant opportunity and a crucial force for global change; engaging young people in political processes is essential to building inclusive, democratic, and sustainable societies.
He added that, young people are often at the forefront of addressing pressing global issues like climate change and peacebuilding stating, “The skills you have developed this week will be vital in creating long-term solutions and ensuring that young voices are heard in leadership and political arenas.”
The Board Chairperson of Naymote and head of the Policy Influencing and Advocacy Unit at the West Africa Civil Society Institute in Accra, Ghana, Omolara T. Balogun, urged participants to view their leadership as part of a collective continental effort, emphasizing that, the challenges facing Africa’s youth are not confined to individual countries but require a united approach.
The Program Manager of YPLS Africa, Alphia Faith Kemokai, expressed thanks and appreciation for the event and its participants, emphasizing the unity and strong relationships built during the program.
According to her, the week-long training was not only about learning but also about forming lifelong connections.
She encouraged everyone to maintain these networks because the person next to them could be tomorrow’s leader.
She highlighted that, the impact of YPLS Africa extends beyond the training itself “We don’t just focus on training leaders; we remain committed to supporting you even after this program concludes. Whether it’s through civic education, cross-border events, or community projects, we will work with you to give back to your society.
She however extended her gratitude to the Embassy of Sweden for their crucial port in making the program possible, emphasizing that “believing in and supporting a vision takes immense effort.”
She concluded that, participants delved into critical issues such as leadership, emotional intelligence, anti- corruption strategies, gender equality in politics, and the role of youth in electoral processes.
