The African Youth and Governance Conference has been re-branded as African Youth and Governance Convergence (AYGC). This was announced by Prof Ransford Gyampo, Head of the Youth Bridge Research Institute at the launch of the 11th AYGC held in Accra on Tuesday, 26th March, 2019.
Explaining the rationale that had necessitated the re-branding, Prof Gyampo noted that the AYGC is now expected to function as an institutionalized leadership Programme of the Youth Bridge Foundation. Rather than mere conference of young people annually, the new focus of programme would bring together young people who would be mentored by seasoned and accomplished people in society within the Africa region and across the globe. Subsequent meetings would present platforms for those mentored to showcase their achievements and to tell their success stories.
Commenting on the rebranding, Mr Seth Oteng, the Executive Director of the Youth Bridge Foundation (YBF) added that the convergence would be a four-tier transformational leadership programme for leadership grooming, cascade of mentorship, community impact, and networking for African and Diaspora youth that would run throughout the year. He said: “This is going to be more of a cycle where the alumni and new delegates will converge before the event. “Is not a one off activity but a progression where impacts will be felt in delegate’s communities and through the knowledge they have acquired?”
The AYGC is organised annually by YBF to as a conference of young people to brainstorm on critical issues affecting them and the continent and propose solutions to them through series of resolutions. This year’s convergence is slated for 11th to 18th August in Accra, Ghana at the La Palm Royal Beach Hotel under the theme: “Partnerships for Youth Development: Key to Building a Continent beyond Aid.”
The eight-day convergence will be a platform to critically consider how to pull resources of young people to transform the continent and strive towards Africa’ aspirations ‘beyond aid.’ The renewed focus of the platform will confer Fellowship status on alumni who have distinguished themselves and excel in their chosen careers.
About 100 participants, comprising 40 diasporan youth and other young people from countries across the Africa region are expected to participate in this year’s event. Key issues to be discussed would bother on Health, Education, Diaspora Youth Affairs, Governance and Leadership and Employment and Entrepreneurship Development, Social Inclusion, Sanitation and Foreign Affairs, etc.
BY YBF COMMUNICATIONS DEPARTMENT