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 organisations also participated, making it a dynamic, intergenerational event that emphasised collaboration and progress.
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 organisations also participated, making it a dynamic, intergenerational event that emphasised 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.
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.
