By: Franklin ASARE-DONKOH
About ten thousand youth leaders drawn from across Africa congregated in Kampala and Jinja to deliberate on Africa’s nuclear energy potentials among many other pressing issues affecting the continent.
The congregation dubbed International Youth Festival 2024 was on the theme; “Empowering Global Youth”
The festival highlighted some of the most critical global challenges, with a special focus on topics particularly relevant to Africa.
The agenda covered issues such as nuclear energy for Africa, ecology, healthcare, education, and culture – areas where young people can drive innovation and lead the way toward positive change.
The two-day event was designed to empower youth from diverse fields including business, media, international cooperation, science, education, healthcare, and culture. Representatives from the largest African companies, young innovators, entrepreneurs, government officials, volunteers, influencers, and representatives of children’s organizations also participated, making it a dynamic, intergenerational event that emphasized collaboration and progress.
Representatives from the largest African companies, young innovators, entrepreneurs, government officials, volunteers, influencers, and representatives of children’s organizations also participated, making it a dynamic, intergenerational event that emphasized collaboration and progress.
The festival highlighted some of the most critical global challenges, with a special focus on topics particularly relevant to Africa. The agenda covered issues such as nuclear energy for Africa, ecology, healthcare, education, and culture – areas where young people can drive innovation and lead the way toward positive change.
The first day of the event, held in Rwanda’s capital Kampala, commenced with a special session titled “Nuclear Energy for Africa and Opportunities for Employment,” aimed at exploring how nuclear technology could be harnessed for sustainable development across the continent. A special part of the programme featured a “science stand-up” where young scientists presented their inventions.
On the second day of the festival, held in the city of Jinja, participants engaged in in-depth discussions on healthcare, ecological issues, and the future of culture and education.
Speaking in an interview on the sidelines of the event, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Rosatom Central and Southern Africa, Ryan Collyer, said the Russian State Atomic Energy Corporation Rosatom, which is the general partner of the festival, is committed to empowering youth through such events that focus on education and skills development.
“The International Youth Festival unites young people from diverse backgrounds, giving them a platform to collaborate and shape the future they envision. At Rosatom, we are deeply committed to engaging with youth.
We continuously offer a wide range of educational opportunities for foreign students and young professionals, empowering them with knowledge in various scientific fields. We support the aspirations of talented young individuals, as their success is important to us.
Rosatom’s mission extends beyond constructing nuclear power plants; we are a multifaceted organization, just like the young people we work with. Our goal is to help them learn, grow, and make meaningful contributions to society,” the CEO of Rosatom Central and Southern Africa emphasized.
The event concluded with a grand musical show featuring popular African and Russian performers. More than 25,000 spectators gathered at the venue, which annually attracts young people from all over Africa.
