AU- sponsored 1M Next Level initiative launched
By Isaac AIDOO, Accra
The Ghana chapter of the African Union (AU) sponsored 1 Million Next Level Initiative has been launched in Accra with a call on the youth to become agents of change and take advantage of opportunities that exist across the African continent and the globe.
The initiative was launched on the sidelines of the ongoing 13th African Games at the University of Ghana.
Minister of Youth and Sports, Mr Mustapha Ussif in his address at the launch of the initiative rallied young persons to position themselves to learn from and share ideas with each other to globally champion the youth for National Development in pursuance of the AU Agenda 2063 Aspirations.
“Let us take cognisance of the fact that, the promotion of an all-inclusive and sustainable development for Africa and the African youth cannot be achieved without the involvement of our future leaders To achieve, the Africa we want, all young persons should rise to the call through collaborative and shared efforts,” the minister called out urging that “all young people should be agents of change and take advantage of the numerous opportunities that exist in the continental and global space.”
Mr Ussif noted that history had repeatedly shown the transformative power of young people, “who have been agents of change, ignited revolutions and steered nations towards progress.”
He maintained that “our responsibility as African leaders, is to provide platforms or avenues such as this Youth Pavilion to nurture you all to take ownership of the future and explode beyond your boundaries.
Speaking about the initiative and expectations towards curbing unemployment on the continent, Director of Women, Gender, and Youth Directorate at the African Union Commission, Ms. Prudence Nonkululeko Ngwenya acknowledged the enormity of the unemployment challenge in Africa and across the globe but added that the Continent’s youth were promising and ready to excel if given the capacity to do so.
On the sustainability of the initiative after its launch, Madam Ngwenya stressed the need for individual members of the Union to own it and develop it further.
“What is important for us is for the country through the government to internalise it, domesticate it, take it and say this is our project; curate the initiative in a way that it is contextualised for the Ghanaian situation,” she stated.
The 1million Next Level initiative aims at reaching 300 million young people with opportunities in health and wellbeing, education, employment, entrepreneurship, and engagement
It is a high multiplier flagship that seeks to catalyze action for youth development and empowerment in Africa, through providing young Africans with opportunities in these areas.
