By Chidinma Iroegbu
African youths remain the continent’s greatest resource and must be empowered to drive peace, leadership and sustainable development, former Acting Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Defence, Dr. Sunday Attah, declared on Tuesday at the launch of the African Youth Peace Corps (AYPC) in Abuja.
Attah said Africa’s future depends largely on its youthful population, stressing that young people should be regarded as assets capable of transforming the continent rather than as social burdens.
He noted that challenges such as poverty, unemployment, insecurity, violent extremism, cybercrime, drug abuse, climate change and social exclusion could be addressed if the energy and potential of youths are properly harnessed.
According to him, Africa’s most valuable wealth lies in the creativity, resilience and innovative capacity of its young people. “Africa’s greatest resource is not oil, gold, gas or diamonds. Africa’s greatest resource resides within its young people,” he said.
The former Defence Ministry official also described peace as the foundation for economic growth and social progress, noting that development cannot thrive in an atmosphere of violence, instability and division.
He urged youths across the continent to become peace ambassadors, bridge-builders and advocates of reconciliation capable of promoting unity and sustainable development.
Speaking at the event, AYPC Convener and Continental Coordinator-General, Amb. Dr. Abdulwaheed Odewale, said the organisation was established to raise a new generation of Peace Ambassadors and strengthen youth participation in peacebuilding efforts across Africa.
Odewale disclosed that AYPC would implement School Peace Clubs, Community Peace Initiatives, Youth Leadership Academies, Digital Literacy Programmes, Environmental Sustainability Campaigns, Interfaith Dialogue Platforms and Volunteer Service Schemes.
He called on young Africans to reject terrorism, violent extremism, cybercrime, hate speech, ethnic intolerance and other threats to peace, stressing that “sustainable peace can only be achieved through dialogue, justice, inclusion and equal opportunities for all.”
Also speaking, Member of the AYPC Governing Council and Founder of World Family Initiative, Amb. Queen Hadassah Ibinyingi Allaputa, urged youths to embrace unity, collaboration and peaceful coexistence.
The event, held to mark the International Day of the African Child, attracted government officials, diplomats, development partners, civil society organisations and youth groups from across Africa.