Vice President Jeremiah Koung has called on the young people of Africa to be active in the political governance and decision-making process, aimed at ensuring economic independence by promoting intra-African trade. “May I urge all African youths, here in Liberia and beyond, to seize the opportunity presented by this intergenerational leadership development cohort and cultivate a sense of responsibility towards achieving the Africa we all hope for,” the VP stated. Speaking during the opening session of the Young Political Leadership School Africa (YPLSA) Cohort 11 in Monrovia on August 12, Koung stated that African youth must rise to the occasion, understanding that they symbolize the strength and hope of the African continent. According to him, any society that neglects to harness the strength and emerging potential of its youth is doomed to fail, adding that his mission is to change the narrative that young people are only needed for political rallies. “I firmly believe that the numerical strength of our youth is an asset. We must initiate a paradigm shift in how our youth participate in politics and democratic processes for a transformed Africa,” the VP noted. “They must be included at the decision-making table, offering ideas on governance, sustainable development, accountability, peace, and security,” he said. However, VP Koung indicated that such transformation requires equipping the youth with the necessary knowledge, skills, and attitudes to maximize their greatest potentials as emerging leaders. He also said it is the essence of the leadership training cohort, citing that Liberians are proud of the work being done to prepare a generation of leaders, and a community of patriots in Liberia. The VP noted that to empower African youth as leaders for sustainable development, peace, justice and security, Africans must have a collective responsibility to nurture the young people with the right attitude and mindset for transformative leadership. He lamented that it is well-known that many of the young people have lost hope in Africa’s future. Many continue to risk their lives in dangerous journeys to seek greener pastures in Europe and other places. “Some have turned to violence as a means of survival, while others believe that Africa is a place where dreams and potentials are suppressed,” the Liberian Vice President bemoaned. According to him, this unfortunate reality has taken root due to the prolonged failure of successive political leaderships across the continent and our inability to address the socio-economic challenges faced by the young people. “My message to you all is clear: While it is true that governments must create a conducive environment for everyone to thrive, the youth must also have the courage to prepare themselves and offer solutions to the challenges ahead,” Koung encouraged the participants. Meanwhile, VP Koung indicated that the training program provides youth with the opportunity to interact with their leaders and share their perspectives on enhancing democratic governance, sustainable development, peace, and security. The Vice President lauded Naymote Partners for Democratic Development for its unwavering commitment to training and preparing young people across Africa for leadership and democratic governance.
“A few months ago, I had the honor of addressing NAYMOTE’s Summit for Democracy and Political Accountability. At that summit, I called for the refinement of our politics and emphasized the need for leaders to be accountable to the people,” VP Koung revealed. Among other things, the VP cited that Africa is the world’s youngest continent, with 60 percent of its 1.3 billion population under the age of 25, citing, “We recognize our demographic advantage, but it is the caliber of our young people that will shape the future development of our continent and its people,” he indicated. LINA
Comments are closed.