Report by: Ishmael Barfi
To advance and provide opportunities and platforms for young people to develop and contribute towards the fight against climate change and its related issues, a renowned, vibrant youth-led organization in Africa, Strategic Youth Network for Development (SYND) is set to hold this year African Youth Conference (AYC) on Natural Resources and Environmental Governance (NREG), in Accra, Ghana.
The African Youth Conference slated for 2-4 May 2024 is set to follow the resounding success of the 2023 National Youth Conference.
And aims to leverage the skills, knowledge, and abilities of young people in their quest to tackle the numerous challenges facing the world, especially the African continent.
Officially launching the 2024 African Youth Conference (AYC) on Natural Resources and Environmental Governance (NREG) at its office in Accra on 29th February 2024, the Focal Person for the Natural Resources and Environmental Governance Platform, Justina Amoah explained that the Conference would provide a platform for the gathering of young people and relevant stakeholders in the natural resource space in Africa.
Focal Person for Natural Resources and Environmental Governance Platform, Justina Amoah, (middle) Deputy Executive Coordinator Solomon Yamoah and Executive Coordinator Chibeze Ezekiel
Secondly, the conference would bring young people and relevant stakeholders together to brainstorm on NREG issues and how collectively they can contribute to the management and protection of natural resources.
“We are looking at bringing young people together where they are going to unveil and bring together concrete useful solutions”, she noted.
“The conference is important because we know that climate change is happening and we are facing the adverse effects of climate change, but what can we do as young people as we are the future generations therefore, we need solutions adapted, adaptation solutions to help fight the issues of climate change”, she reiterated.
Group picture of SYND team
Justina Amoah was optimistic that, the gathering of young people across Africa, and sharing their respective contributions in their respective countries is of importance to rally other young people to join the cause of safeguarding Africa’s natural resources and ensuring proper environmental governance.
She therefore called on the government, young people, and other key stakeholders to participate in the forthcoming African Youth Conference on Natural Resources and Environmental Governance.
On his part, the Executive Coordinator of the Strategic Youth Network for Development (SYND) Chibeze Ezekiel explained that countries in Africa especially in West Africa have common issues in terms of what they depend on for their national development.
Some of these issues he noted are how natural resources such as Gold, Oil, Manganese, bauxite, and others are managed to benefit ordinary Africans, especially young people.
The above he noted is the reason for the hosting of the African Youth Conference on Natural Resources and Environmental Governance in Accra.
SYND To host African Youth Conference on Natural Resources and Environmental Governance in Accra
This year’s Conference Chibeze Ezekiel indicated is to build on last year’s conference revealing that, this year’s Conference would be unique in that, young people from African countries who are on their own and demonstrating climate and governmental solutions would be featured.
“This time, we are cautiously bringing young people from African countries who are on their own and demonstrating climate and governmental solutions. Some of them are doing wonderful work in their small way”, he emphasized.
“If we create the right environment for young people, they can become champions against climate change and other related issues”, he acknowledged.
“We’re going to have a new breed of young people in the continent who are prepared and willing to find solutions to our numerous challenges facing natural resources and environmental Governance”, he admonished.
This year’s Conference would pave the way for discussion as to how Information, Communication, and Technology (ICT) can be used to address all these elements.
Mr. Chibeze Ezekiel was of the view that the platform would provide an avenue for young Africans to come together to showcase what they can contribute to the achievement of Africa’s agenda as well as the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
This year African Youth Conference on Natural Resources and Environmental Governance slated for 2-4th May 2024 with the theme of “Empowering Youth Leadership for Sustainable Development”, is sponsored by the Ford Foundation and two hundred and fifty young Africans are expected to participate.
To grace the occasion were the Deputy Executive Coordinator, Mr. Solomon Yamoah, and other team members of the Natural Resources and Environmental Governance platform.
Source: www.thenewindependentonline.com
