The Global Africa Youth Dialogue (GAYD) is an intergenerational dialogue that was initiated to advocate for diaspora African youth engagement in the continent’s development agendas, policy and decision making process.

Global Africa Youth Dialogue was founded by Humuza Gisa Roick, a Pan Africanist, Youth Activist and a Rwandan pursuing his education in Global Governance at the University of Rome Tor Vergata. The dialogue is aligned with the African Youth Charter adopted on July 02, 2006 and African Union (AU) agenda 2063.

The recent dialogue was held as an open moderated panel discussion composed of Embassies of African countries in Italy, CEOs, Professors, Researchers, African diaspora and friends of Africa, Focusing on the role of African youth in transforming Africa into a global powerhouse.

Speaking at the event, Humuza said that Africa’s greatest resource is its youthful population where its active and full participation can help Africans to surmount the difficulties that lie ahead.

“Actions count now. African youth in diaspora can play a central role in development and growth. They need to be invested in, given opportunities to be engaged and fully active in development plans across the continent. Our generation is curious and passionate to learn, explore knowledge and navigate possible solutions that can benefit our continent and the world amicably. This is why we are here now. The Africa we want is where we value the core concerns of its youth,” he stated.

The first Guest speaker, Ambassador Salah S. Hammad, touched on the continental framework AU agenda 2063 and the strategies that are being implemented to achieve it.

Specifically, Amb. Salah talked about the steps being taken by the African Union to establish youth facilitation mechanisms including AU Youth Engagement Strategy (YES), the African passport in order to ease the youth mobility across the continent.

As in regards to the engagement, the ambassador concluded his speech by inspiring the youth to actively participate in the AU agenda implementation and not stay in the corner for they have a role in building Africa.

Mrs Gwendy Omijeh, Minister of Political and Economic affairs, Embassy of the Federal Republic of Nigeria reminisced on how the strength of the youth in Africa should not only be reflected in numbers but also in the motivation they get wherever they are.

She used Nigeria as an example to explain the importance of creating an environment for young people to thrive.

Mrs Gwendy also stressed the importance of youth engagement in building Africa and the tremendous progress African countries have made in increasing youth participation.

Amb. Kombo of the United Republic of Tanzania to Italy, first addressed the challenges in the African education system. His main emphasis was on the extreme importance given to a pass mark in academic exams for African students, rather than in acquiring knowledge in their specific fields.

The possible solution for this, Amb. Kombo said, ’would be about rethinking our education system and shaping it in a proper way’. He also communicated the need of having the appropriate practical approach and closing the entrepreneurship gap for Africa to thrive and evolve.

In addition, the ambassador challenged the youth to plan actions needed to achieve the 2006 Africa Youth charter at the end of the dialogue as a step to come forward.

The CEO of Fondazione Aurora, reminded the African diaspora of their responsibility in developing their continent by using competent skills and exposure they acquired from the international environment.

The dialogue was very interactive with insightful questions from different Rome based university students and other participants. The overall closure recapped the role of African youth to make Africa a global powerhouse through acknowledging available privileges, claiming what the continent wants and being brave enough to reach out to elders for insights.

From left : Ms Maya Musenga, Mrs Marta Sachy, Amb. Mahmoud Thabit Kombo, Mr Humuza Gisa Roick, Mrs Gwendy Omijeh and Ms Ada ugo Abara in a group photo after attending the event.

Humuza Gisa Roick, Founder and President of Global Africa Youth Dialogue speaking at the event.

The recent dialogue took place in Italy.

Ambassador Salah S. Hammad, Senior Human Rights Expert in the Department of Political Affairs of African Union Commission.

Ambassador Mahmoud Thabit Kombo of the United Republic of Tanzania in Italy addressing participants of the event.

Ms Maya Musenga, the Coordinator and Spokesperson of Global Africa Youth Dialogue.

Mrs Gwendy Omijeh, Minister of political and economic affairs, Embassy of the Federal Republic of Nigeria delivering her remarks.

The CEO of Fondazione, Aurora reminded the African diaspora of their responsibility in developing their continent.