You are our hope for the future, Oulanyah tells youth

Aug 18, 2016

He said that participation of the youth in shaping the future must help build a better world

Deputy Speaker of Parliament, Jacob Oulanyah, has urged youth to behave themselves because they are the hope of the future and are looked at to find solutions to global challenges.

He was addressing the International Young Leaders Assembly (IYLA) at the United Nations headquarters in New York.

"People are in search of new hope, we are that hope, and we must behave like we are that hope. The realisation of this hope lies in us setting clear and focused goals, working together to shape our shared future," Oulanyah told the youth.

The meeting was held under the theme: "Moral and Innovative Leadership: Vision, Service and Entrepreneurship."

Uganda's five youth MPs Mpaka Mwine (NRM, Western), Ishma Mafabi (Independent, Eastern), Oscar Omony (NRM, Northern), Anna Adeke Ebaju (Independent, National Female Youth) and Sarah Babirye Kityo (NRM, Central) joined other young leaders for the event.

Oulanyah said that the world is facing great challenges and tensions are brewing every day and threatening world peace.

He cited the world economic crisis, climate change threatening island states and the entire planet, political instability and violent armed conflicts.

"These issues are real and urgent. They demand from us action that resonates with the aspirations of our people," he said.

He stressed: "Actions that bring our challenges within our means of dealing with them. It is our shared responsibility."

Oulanyah, who received a standing ovation, appealed to the assembled young leaders to take up the opportunity to offer solutions for sharing what and how they think, the choices made, what to invest in and how to create relationships.

 

He said that participation of the youth in shaping the future must help build a better world and must support the resolve of civilisation to preserve, perfect and perpetuate progress to prosperity.

UN secretary general Ban Ki-Moon, the President of UN Economic and Social Council, Frederick Musiiwa, the International President of Global Peace Foundation, James Flynn, as well as other business leaders addressed the youth.

They urged young people to obtain an education, train and take up leadership positions to develop themselves, their communities and their countries.

Meanwhile, in an earlier separate meeting held at Uganda House, New York, Oulanyah asked Flynn to consider holding the 2018 IYLA in Kampala.

Youth MPs said that Uganda hosting the IYLA would greatly help build capacity of the country's youth in both leadership and entrepreneurship. 

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