Story by: Ishmael Barfi
Young people of Africa have been called upon to be the ambassadors of innovations in their quest to protect Africa’s natural resources and the environment of Africa.
According to the Africa Director of NRGI, Ms. Nafi Chinery, young people need to have a role in managing the natural resources and environment in their respective countries.
To her, “As custodians of this rich heritage, let us ensure that it benefits not just the few but the majority, without sacrificing the health of our planet, or the prosperity of future generations.”
Ms. Nafi Chinery made the call at the African Youth Conference on Natural Resources and Environmental Governance 2024 held in Accra, Ghana.
The 3-day conference on Natural Resources and Environmental Governance (NREG) hosted by the Strategic Youth Network for Development ((SYND) provided a platform for the gathering of young people and relevant stakeholders in the natural resource space in Africa.
Also, the conference was 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.
Giving her Solidarity message at the African Youth Conference on Natural Resources and Environmental Governance Conference 2024, she charged African young people to challenge the status quo about the need to be responsible and drive sustainable processes.
“Your ideas are transformative, and your actions have the potential to spark a revolution in the way we interact with our environments as well as the guardians of intergenerational equity” she reiterated.
Furthermore, “As inheritors of Africa’s national wealth, you have a vested interest to ensure that the benefits are enjoyed by races but for all races“.
To achieve this, she explained the need to advocate for transparency, governance, accountable institutions, and inclusive decision-making processes that power tie us to long-term sustainability.
“Certainly ambassadors of innovation in a world where efficiency, choice, and necessity, your ability to harness technology promotes renewable energy, and your ability to develop sustainable alternative alternatives to traditional mining processes will be instrumental in shaping the future of Africa“, she emphasized.
“It also requires us to bridge the gap between rhetoric and reality. It’s inspiration, aspirations, and actions. And it’s in the promise of the better tomorrow and the agency of the state”, she added.
Africa Director of NRGI, Ms. Nafi Chinery
“There’s one thing this team has taught us is that change is possible. When enough people come together with a shared vision, and in us, the youth of Africa, you have the power to be the change makers”, Ms. Nafi Chinery Charged.
“The trailblazers and the champions of the future for all. So rise to the challenge. It is your call to action. Let’s seize this moment to safeguard the precious resources entrusted to our care. Let us be the generation that’s not only talking about change”.
“Together we can build a future by protecting the natural resources of national wealth and are a source of pride, prosperity, and progress for all its people. Its future and future when the promise of deniability is not just a dream, but a reality”, she echoed.
Source: www.thenewindepndentonline.com
