YouthConnekt Africa Summit has dignified Kenya – Gachagua

Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has lauded the YouthConnekt Africa Summit saying it has dignified the country.

The Pan-African platform seeks to empower young people by enhancing their knowledge, experiences and skills while investing in their ideas, innovations and initiatives.

This is to enable Africa to make progress in harnessing its demographic dividends by 2030.

Kenya played host to the 6th Edition of the summit dubbed Youth Innovating Borderless African Renaissance from December 8-12 at the Kenyatta International Convention Centre, KICC.

"The showcased innovations confirm that our youth are taking Africa to the next level of socio-economic transformation. The Heads of State and Government and Partners now have an understanding of the gaps and opportunities of propelling and delivering the Africa We Want and the Africa We Deserve," Gachagua said.

"With the zeal, vigour and valour witnessed, we are surely marching to a Borderless Africa, where youth-led technology unites the Continent in socio-economic prosperity. This event has dignified our Nation," the DP said.

The YouthConnekt Africa Hub operates on the policy of bridging the gaps between nations.

This is by bringing together government leaders and policy influencers to share knowledge, exchange strategic ideas and implement policies to advance the achievement of goals for youth in alignment with the African Youth Charter and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

The initiative works by identifying existing programmes aligned with the YouthConnekt Africa goals and facilitating a platform to work together to achieve the continent’s common goals.

The programmes also assist in measuring, monitoring and maintaining successful initiatives aligned with the YouthConnekt objectives.

These include jobs and entrepreneurship, Gender, education and skills, technology and innovation, civic partnership and leadership.

To achieve this, the programme leverages partnering with the private sector, government institutions, civic society, development partners, and academia to innovate and provide solutions for implementation.

"We thank our partners for supporting the very successful event. We are partnering in working with our youth to realise their dreams," Gachagua said.

Congratulations to the organisers led by Cabinet Secretary for Youth Affairs, Sports and the Creatives Ababu Namwamba and his Principal Secretaries for ensuring a successful Summit," he added.