Your Excellency Evariste Ndayishimiye, President of the Republic of Burundi and Chair of the EAC Heads of State.

Your Excellency Moussa Faki Mahamat, Chairperson of the African Union Commission

Your Excellency Wamkele Mene, Secretary General, AfCFTA Secretariat

Representatives from AU Member States, Diplomatic Corps, AU Staff, My Distinguished Constituents of whom I’m privileged to serve “African Youth”, Ladies and Gentlemen,

Whilst preparing for today, I was reminded of the significance of this year, which marks 60 years since the predecessor to the African Union, the Organisation of African Unity was formed. However, what sometimes gets glossed over history is not only the vibrancy of individuals such as the late Patrice Emery Lumumba a founding member of the OAU but also the fact that many of the revolutionaries who agitated and fought for African Renaissance were Youth.

• With this in mind, I am delighted to be with you all here to convene the first ever youth town hall meeting on the margins of the key event in the calendar of the AU, the “African Union Summit of Heads of State and Government”. This initiative was born through a clarion call I made during the 35th African Union Heads of State & Government Summit in 2022, where I called on our Leaders to provide a platform for meaningful engagement of Young people as part of activities during the summit.
• As your Youth Envoy, a key part of my mandate is to provide meaningful opportunities for young people especially in marginalised communities and this mandate includes YOU seated here to bridge the access gap for youths across the continent.
• I am also specially touched by the gesture of the President of Burundi, who has honoured us not only with his presence and his time, but has made us a priority.
• I would also like to recognize and appreciate the Chairperson of our African Union Commission. He has not only shown a keen interest in the lives of young people on our continent but is an advocate and friend of the youth.

As I end my remarks i want to use this opportunity to call on the African Union Heads of State to:

• Consider the appointment of a Youth Champion. Someone who will make the success and wellbeing of youths a priority and work tirelessly to ensure that the continent’s young people have the tools and resources they need to succeed.
•  Institutionalize the AU Youth Summit
• Continue the Specialized Technical Committee on Youth, Culture and Sports