BUJUMBURA, December 16th (ABP) – The Vice-President of the Republic of Burundi, Prosper Bazombaza, on December 13, 2024 proceeded to the closure of the activities marking the 3rd edition of the continental dialogue on youth, peace and security, under the theme: ” Empowering African Youth for Peace: Education and Enhanced Coordination as a Catalyst for the Implementation of the YPS Agenda”.
In his speech, Mr. Bazombanza congratulated the attendees and all those who shared experiences under different themes, the progress made, the mechanisms and strategies put in place to accelerate the implementation of the youth, peace and security agenda. He hoped that the results from the meeting would have added value in relation to the roles of African youth and would serve as a benchmark and compass for the next path in actions.
In light of the presentations chosen in reference to the theme of the year 2024 of educating and training Africa for the 21st century, the participants present or online felt the need to integrate peace education into school curricula.
They understood the need to invest more in capacity building and development initiatives to enable young people to unleash their potential. It is on the basis of this peace education and this unleashed potential that an Africa with a better and certain tomorrow will be built.
According to Mr. Bazombaza, the education and skills development of youth are the responsibility of governments. Parents are also the first to sow in the hearts of their children the seeds of peace, patriotism, love of labor and human values. Concretely, in terms of peace and security education, parents and governments are very complementary.
With a view to strengthening the contribution of young Africans to the consolidation of peace and security, the annual organization of a dialogue for exchanges is essential to identify ways and means for building a peaceful and prosperous Africa.
The Vice-President of the Republic of Burundi promised that he had taken note of all the challenges faced by those who want to participate in the peace and security consolidation process as well as the proposed solutions and wishes that will inspire them in the process of conflict prevention and management across the African continent as the African Union champion for the youth, peace and security agenda.
He called on African leaders to take into consideration the contributions that were made during the development of the action plan for the implementation of the continental youth, peace and security agenda.
Young people are called upon to contribute and continue to be actors and fervent advocates for the implementation of the agenda.
Regarding the Youth Innovation Competition, Mr. Bazombaza congratulated the winners. According to him, “in Africa there is everything, elsewhere there is too much, but also too little”. He asked those winners to turn their backs on the sellers of illusions, to stop counting on others or elsewhere, but to sit down to think, act, create and work, because, he said, by working, the lessons of peace and security will be assimilated better.
A man busy making his capital grow, does not have time to compromise his society. This is why it is said that “idleness is the mother of all evils”, he underscored. As for the Burundian Minister in charge of youth Gervais Abayeho, the themes that were discussed were structured around the concepts essential to the success of the mission assigned to the Head of State of Burundi as champion of the African Union for the youth, peace and security agenda in Africa.
The moment of exchanges and interaction with the champion of youth, peace and security as well as the young attendees, will have an effect on the determination and involvement of African youth in the development of their continent while consolidating peace and security.
The organization of the dialogue was also a good time for young people to be aware that they are the builders of the future of Africa and that the bet of the economic development of the continent rests on their shoulders, specifying that youth is a safe capital. It is the secret of the growth and economic competitiveness of nations.
He also praised the talents of young Africans and Burundians who never cease to surprise them with their innovations by providing solutions to the great challenge of the community. The authorities are convinced that youth have a major role to play in the innovation of sustainable development on the scale of the continent but also in Burundi in achieving the vision of Burundi as an emerging country by 2040 and developed country in 2060, through entrepreneurship and innovation.
In turn, the UNDP Resident Representative to Burundi, Mathieu Ciowela, recalled the five Ps on which the participants focused their discussions during the four days of reflections regardless of the level of innovation week, continental dialogue and security. These are the People, Prosperity, the Planet, Peace and Partnership.
He confirmed that the United Nations programme will be alongside Burundi just as it is alongside other governments across Africa and around the world, to support Burundi in its agenda and also support young Burundians.
In his speech, the chairperson of the National Youth Council, Thierry Ingabire, advised his colleagues to invest in continuous learning in this changing world, to cultivate an unquenchable thirst for knowledge, to be pioneers in their respective fields, and to be artisans of peace. He also reminded them that peace must begin with each of them, to commit to promoting dialogue, tolerance and solidarity in their community.
He also asked them to remain united and collaborative as young people because, he said; their strength lies in their unity, “being together we can contribute to change in our respective countries and communities”.
“May the discussions held not remain in words, but be translated into concrete action for the well-being of the continent, an excellent return and a renewed commitment for a peaceful, resilient and inclusive Africa,” Mr. Ingabire expressed his wish.
Note that among 1100 young people who had applied for the Innovation Week competition, only 10 winners were awarded. The first winner received BIF 11,000,000, six received BIF 10,000,000 and the last three received BIF 8,500,000.