No one is too young to lead or too old to learn

Dr Obijiofor Aginam, director of Unesco Mahatma Gandhi Institute of Education for Peace and Sustainable Development (MGIEP), has appealed to the youth to assume the leadership mantle, noting that no one is too young to lead, or too old to learn.

He advised the youth to see themselves as the leaders of today rather than leaders of tomorrow, and be willing to learn from any opportunities and challenges.

“No one is too young to lead, and no one is too old to learn. As youth, you are the current leaders, not the future leaders. You ought to be with conviction that you can be a leader wherever you are; no one should feel marginalized or exhibit an inferiority complex and lack of self-confidence,” he counselled.

Aginam was delivering the keynote address at the opening of a two-day convention titled, ‘International Day of Non-violence: Pathways to peace: African Youth Convention on AfCFTA, Peace and Security’, held at the National ICT hub, Nakawa, Kampala on October 2-3, 2024.

The convention was officially opened by Vice President Jessica Alupo, being represented by Betty Amongi, the minister of Gender, Labour and Social Development.

INTERNATIONAL DAY OF NON-VIOLENCE

The UN International Day of Non-Violence is observed every October 2, coinciding with the birthday of Mahatma Gandhi, to commemorate the strength and relevance of non-violent resistance which Gandhi championed and practised.

Recalling Gandhi’s experiences, Aginam talked ill of violence, saying even the oppressors become victims of their violence. Youth from different countries in Africa discussed how to secure a culture of peace, tolerance, understanding and non-violence. They also stressed the centrality of ICTs and trade in peacebuilding and economic empowerment.

They noted that peace doesn’t mean the mere absence of war; rather, it includes aspects such as stability, harmony, inclusivity, justice, rule of law, cohesion, protection from disease and hunger, access to health care and education and availability of opportunities, among others.

They argued that they should be involved in conflict resolution negotiations and other decision-making engagements. They also noted that the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) is an ambitious project that requires a lot of patience of maybe decades. They appreciated that since youth will be the main beneficiaries of AfCFTA, it is crucial that they be immersed in its activities and progress.

It was further observed that intra-Africa trade and integration still have big challenges such as the strict borders that require visas, security barriers, armed conflicts and more external trade than intra-continental trade.

The convention was sponsored by the Independent Continental Youth Advisory Council on AfCFTA, Unesco MGIEP, Government of Uganda, Konrad Adenaeur Stiftung, Otic Foundation and Julius Nyerere Leadership Centre.

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