My Agenda 2063 Youth Summit Diary

My recent trip to Addis Ababa, Africa’s diplomatic capital in Ethiopia, for the Africa youth day celebration on November 1 was a mesmerizing experience. Originally not part of my strategic plan for the year 2015, when preparations for the trip came on board in late August due to motivation from my boss, Mr David Allu, the reverie of my last trip to East Africa in 2009 for the Zain Africa Challenge inter University Quiz competition where I first set foot on Kenya and Uganda drooled my voyaging appetite.

My Arrival at Addis reminded me of the Zain Africa Challenge in Kampala of 2009

 Setting out from my abode at Uyo, Akwa Ibom State in far Southern Nigeria in the early hours of 25th October, I journeyed Northwards to Abuja in a bid to catch a 

flight to Nairobi en route Addis Ababa. I was joined in Abuja by James Allu and 

fellow delegates Chiagozie Udeh and Ngozi Emmanuel; together, we set out for 

Addis Ababa.

Our trip to Addis was eventful, top of which was the cancellation of our 

connecting flight from Nairobi to Addis Ababa. Of  course, we got a five star treat at Nairobi’s Panari Hotel (just for a night though), and thenceforth continued our

 journey to Addis. Landing Addis Ababa on 28th October at Noon, we were warmly received at the Bole Airport after immigration formalities by the YALDA-AAU team (Youth Alliance for Leadership and Development in Africa—Addis Ababa 
University Chapter) who were the conference organizers, and conveyed to our lodging at Afarensis Hotel.

Joyful Arrival short with South African Delegate Tshepo Morabane and James Allu(below)

Peacefully lodged at Afarensis Hotel, we were treated to an Ethiopian welcome 

luncheon after registration on 29th October, and then we had a delegates training session to acquaint us with the conference formalities. As such, delegates were 

divided into three committees with each one assigned an African Country. The

 committees were

- Gender Equality, Women in Business and Entrepreneurship

- Right to Health and Right to Education

- Youth Civic Space and Diaspora in Youth 

I was assigned to the ‘Youth Civic Space and Diaspora in Youth’ Committee as the Eritrean delegate, with delegate partners in Musinguzi Wilfred and 

Bit Maher Saad.

On 30th October, the summit began with a prelude of a Model African Union General Assembly at the Main Conference Hall of the Old African Union Building. After a short session there, we dispersed for the committee sessions.

Setting for the inaugural MAU General Assembly

The Eritrean Delegation at my committee.. Bit Maher Saad to my right and Musinguzi Wilfred to my left

Representing Eritrea to talk on Youth issues was no mean task especially with the troubles the country is alleged to have with Military Service conscription, mass

 abscondment of Eritrean delegates at sport competitions as asylum seekers not 

to talk of countless Eritrean youths who risk their lives fleeing their country to 

undertake dangerous crossings across the Sahara and Meditteranean. Yet, I was 

determined not to be a passive committee member, ensuring my voice was heard whilst trying to realistically model an Eritrean representation.

Members of the Dias at my Committee

 Exploring the parliamentary naivety of most delegates in my committee, I 

seemed to be cruising my satisfaction until when a certain Lesotho delegate 

moved a motion that Nation states such as Eritrea who having not yet ratified the ‘African Youth Charter’ be disenfranchised from the committee debate sessions and subsequent voting on any resolution drawn at the sitting. There and then, I 

championed the Eritrean cause by calling for an open worded apology to the 

Eritrean delegation from the Lesotho delegation as their statement seemed 

vindictive. Yet, I vindicated my government as still studying the document of 

which ratification action on the charter will be taken in due cause in the future. I 

intended to stage a walk out, but not wanting to cause a parliamentary crisis, 

stayed action whilst the Chairperson urged progress as the Lesotho delegation 

only stated facts. The Lesotho delegation pressed on to chide my delegation 

saying...

‘It is deeply saddening that reality worries you’.

That statement held me in infamy, dealing a death blow to all my intended 

parliamentary wit. Not willing to drag the matter further, I let things rest.

The fiery Lesotho delegation led by Celma Costa were hot on my nerves

Aligning to blocs during the unmoderated caucus was another issue. Acquainted with the apparent uncooperative stance of Eritrea with her regional bloc, IGAD

(Inter Governmental Authority on Development), and not wanting to sit side by 

side with the Ethiopian delegation, I let my delegation play lone wolf choosing 

instead to independently align with the nearby delegation of Zambia, Congo and 

Benin, and together we worked to a draft resolution. As the committee 

reconvened for a final moderated caucus, time constraint could only allow for the resolution put forward by the Algerian delegation be debated upon and adopted 

as the committee’s final working paper to be presented at the General Assembly.

A shot with the Head of the Algerian delegation of my Committee, Kassahun Niguse

As an interlude betwixt the committee sessions, delegates were given a pep talk 

on Agenda 2063 by an AU volunteer, Jerry Laurence Lemogo.

Jerry Laurence Lemogo giving delegates a pep talk about Agenda 2063

Getting the resolutions passed on the floor of the final General Assembly was no mean task. Whilst others had a near easy passage, that of my committee was 
faulted but in the end, allowed to pass.

Having concluded the sessions of the Model African Union, all was set for the 

Africa Youth Day slated for 1st November. The session was held at one of the 

committee rooms in the new African Union Headquarters building. The day

 themed on  "Agenda 2063" with a special focus on the theme of the African Union declaration of the year 2016 as "African Year of Human Rights –The Africa we want with particular focus on the Rights of Women".

Arrival at the AU headquarters on November 1 for the Africa Youth Day celebration

There were opening addresses notably by the President of the Pan African Youth Union, Francine Muyumba and the Africa Union Commissioner for Human 

Resources, Science and Technology, Dr. Martial De-Paul Ikounga. The message of

 the Head of the African Union commission, Dr Nkosanza Dlamini Zuma was 

relayed in absentia in a short video clip, conveying her best wishes for the African Youth.

President of the Pan African Youth Union, Francine Muyumba addressing delegates

Aside the reading of the resolution from the Model African Union Sessions, there was a presentation of works from African Youths who were deemed outstanding 

in their private endeavours. In all, we were thrilled by the presentation of ten of 
them as ‘Youth Heroes’ for their humanitarian endeavours in
 HIV/AIDS education, girl child empowerment, Sex education etc.

In rounding off the session, there was a hearing on the endeavours of the African Union Youth clubs and other associated youth clubs from their representatives. In the end, there was an urge for more collaborative work amongst these various 
groups, and the Pan African Youth Union which was officially recognized for
 correspondence with the African Union Youth division. More incorporative 
initiatives were suggested to bring on board youths who are not in higher 
institutions of  learning.

YALDA-AAU Executive Director, Bitania Lulu giving a report of the endeavours of her group

The day ended with a photo session as everyone dispersed with a message of
 hope and additional impetus to engage in actualization of Agenda 2063.

Group Photo Session ending the Conference proceedings

Just before my departure, I found time to tour Addis Ababa on 2nd November, 

thanks to my Ethiopian friend Asefa Lintso who in his absence mandated his

 bosom friend, Deneke Desalegn to be my tour guide. Though pained that I 

couldn’t get on the famed Addis metro train, I visited the Museum, Emperor Haile Selassie’s Palace at the Addis Ababa University and of cause the Nigerian 

Embassy.

With my tour guide, Deneke Desalegn at the Nigerian Embassy, Addis Ababa

At late Emperor Selassie's Palace on the grounds of Addis Ababa University

 We were just in time to catch the ambassador, His Excellency, Usman Baraya who just flew in from New Delhi from the just concluded India-Africa summit and of 

course; he treated us to a much long for Nigerian Jollof Rice cooked amazingly by 

an Ethiopian Chef I learnt had been at work at the embassy for 32years!

A shot with the Nigerian Ambassador to Ethiopia and the AUFrom left.. James Allu, Ngozi Emmanuel, his Excellency Usman Baraya, Chiagozie Udeh and 

Samson Faboye

And then we busied ourselves to the 'Nigerian Jollof' courtesy of the Ambassador

Bole Airport was my next port of call for departure from Addis Ababa and 

coincidentally though we booked our flights separately without prior knowledge of one another, I travelled aboard the same flight with delegates I met enroute

 Addis Ababa!

My trip to Addis Ababa was a great experience as I got inducted to Pan African diplomacy.  I met with over 250 delegates from about 30 African Countries and 

surely, my journey into Pan Africanism has just begun!

Agenda 2063, On Y Va