A Thirty-year-old Nigerian, Ameen Abdul has been elected as the new President of the African Youth Network of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies in Africa.
Abdul is an indigene of Ilorin, Kwara State capital, North Central Nigeria.
He succeeded June Munyogani from Zimbabwe and he is the first Nigerian to lead the prestigious body in Africa.
The election took place during the 10th PAN African Summit in Nairobi Kenya with the theme “Renewing Investment in Africa”.
Abdul emerged winner after a keenly contested election where he represented Nigeria and polled 25 votes against the candidate from Ethiopia who polled 11 votes.
The Deputy President, Djamira Zorom from Burkina Faso also defeated her closest opponent from Zimbabwe by 20 votes to 15.
Addressing the conference, the new Youth President in Africa promised to prioritize gender and linguistic inclusion.
According to him, “he would embark on both Gender and linguistic inclusion where he emphasized the need to ensure the use of English, Arabic, French, and Portuguese as their major working languages, saying that these are the languages spoken by the different national societies.”
Abdul also spoke about Resource mobilization and capacity development among other things.
He said, “My mission and vision include; ensuring inclusion including gender, linguistic, and physical challenges.
“We shall create a network where we will ensure that English, French, Portuguese, and Arabic are the major working languages within our network as well as seriously ensure that the women within our network are allowed to thrive and succeed.
“We will also commit to ensuring that our physically challenged members are not left alone. We shall ensure that they are carried along in all our activities.”
“We will also ensure proper resource mobilization mechanisms to ensure that we are fueled enough to be agents of relief to the distressed through our engagements,” he said.
Abdul pledged that his administration would focus on capacity building for young people in Africa by creating several fora where they can be provided mentorship, guidance, and the necessary support they require to be agents of behavioural and developmental change in their respective communities.
At the conference which 53 African countries participated, were the President of Kenya, William Ruto; Deputy President of the Republic of Kenya, Geoffrey Rigathi Gachagua; Prime Cabinet Secretary, Musalia Mudavadi; Minister of Youth and Sports, Republic of Kenya, Ababu Namwamba; and Minister of Defence, Aden Bare Duale.
Others were the President of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, Francesco Rocca; Vice President of Africa of the IFRC, Elder Bolaji Anani; IFRC Regional Director, Mohammed Omer Mukhier-Abuzein; and Global Youth Chair of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, Bas Van Rossum among others.
Mercy Chukwudiebere
