Photos by Maria Wamala 

Youth leaders across Africa have been advised to unite and work together in efforts towards social transformation and prosperity of people on the continent.

The call has been made by the former Gambia vice-president Fatoumata Jallow-Tambajang, who says young people should not only serve through institutions in their respective countries but go beyond the borders to seek likeminded individuals to promote the agenda of pan-Africanism.

Former VP of Gambia HE Fatoumata Jallow-Tambajang delivers her keynote address during the Julius Nyerere Leadership Center annual presidential lecture series themed: Celebrating women, Pan-Africanism and community. This was at Makerere university on June 8, 2023. PHOTO BY MARIA WAMALA

Jallow-Tambajang says the agenda of African unity cannot be achieved with the sole contributions of the elder generation that is occupying the available leadership positions.

According to her, the continuity of the pan-African spirit requires the full involvement and unity of young people across the continent, encouraging the youth to embark on a continuous journey of learning.

Former VP of Gambia HE Fatoumata Jallow-Tambajang delivers her keynote address during the Julius Nyerere Leadership Center annual presidential lecture series themed: Celebrating women, Pan-Africanism and community. This was at Makerere university on June 8, 2023.

Jallow-Tambajang made the call while delivering a keynote address at the Julius Nyerere Annual Presidential Lecture Series at Makerere University on Thursday. The event was organised by the Julius Nyerere Leadership Centre (JNLC) which was opened in 2018 by President Yoweri Museveni to foster ethical, pan-African leadership.

Jallow-Tambajang said besides university education, youth should learn skills to enable them to tap into the opportunities provided by continent efforts should as the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCTA) Agreement.

Former VP of Gambia HE Fatoumata Jallow-Tambajang interacts with Akatukunda Maureen VP UMI Guild Union and Charlene Chelagat Ruto during the Julius Nyerere Leadership Center annual presidential lecture series themed: Celebrating women, Pan-Africanism and community. This was at Makerere university on June 8, 2023. PHOTO BY MARIA WAMALA

Panelist: Akatukunda Maureen VP UMI Guild Union during the Julius Nyerere Leadership Center annual presidential lecture series themed: Celebrating women, Pan-Africanism and community. This was at Makerere university on June 8, 2023. PHOTO BY MARIA WAMALA

African governments should build young people’s capacities and provide an enabling environment that allows them to access resources and take on leadership at different levels. “We cannot talk about Pan-Africanism without talking about leadership. At the different levels, we need leaders who have a vision, as well as commitment, goals and strategies to achieve the visions,” Jallow-Tambajang said, calling for peace and security as prerequisite to development.

Former VP of Gambia HE Fatoumata Jallow-Tambajang, Lorna Magara Chairperson Makerere University Council and Dr Zahara Nampewo during the Julius Nyerere Leadership Center annual presidential lecture series themed: Celebrating women, Pan-Africanism and community. This was at Makerere university on June 8, 2023.

First Daughter of Kenya Charlene Chelagat Ruto was the Panel Discussant during the Julius Nyerere Leadership Center annual presidential lecture series themed: Celebrating women, Pan-Africanism and community. This was at Makerere university on June 8, 2023. PHOTO BY MARIA WAMALA

Economic emancipation

Her call was reiterated by Charlene Chalagat Ruto, a youth champion and Kenya's First Daughter. Chelangat said African youth should use the available fora of leadership to promote efforts towards economic emancipation of the African society.

According to her, besides business engagements between the young people towards their economic liberation, there is a need for action on policies targeting youth and utilisation of avenues created for their empowerment. 

“We are a generation that has so much access to knowledge, so we need to take advantage and improve our lives. There are so many bodies and organisations, such as the East African Youth Parliament, where we can share across. The problem is, we always want to start new ones to feed our individual interests. If we continue like that, we will not be able to unite as Africans,” she said.

The lecture was a culmination of the three-day annual presidential lecture series, where the Tambajang, who served as West African Country Vice President between 2017-2018, had several engagements to inspire young female leaders on transformative leadership.

Makerere University Guild President Robert Maseruka was one of the panelists during the Julius Nyerere Leadership Center annual presidential lecture series themed: Celebrating women, Pan-Africanism and community. This was at Makerere university on June 8, 2023.

Dr Zahara Nampewo was the moderator during the Julius Nyerere Leadership Center annual presidential lecture series themed: Celebrating women, Pan-Africanism and community. This was at Makerere university on June 8, 2023. PHOTO BY MARIA WAMALA

A cross section of the audience listen during the Julius Nyerere Leadership Center annual presidential lecture series themed: Celebrating women, Pan-Africanism and community. This was at Makerere university on June 8, 2023.

The event, which ran under the theme: Celebrating Women, Pan-Africanism and Community, had various speakers who examined the role of women in transforming African society. A youth panel moderated by Chalagath Ruto had Makerere University guild president Robert Maseruka, women activist Marion Kirabo and lawyer and journalist Moreen Akatukunda.

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A cross section of the audience listen during the Julius Nyerere Leadership Center annual presidential lecture series themed: Celebrating women, Pan-Africanism and community. This was at Makerere university on June 8, 2023.

Makerere University Music Dance and Drama group entertain guests during the Julius Nyerere Leadership Center annual presidential lecture series themed: Celebrating women, Pan-Africanism and community. This was at Makerere university on June 8, 2023.

Uganda Management Institute (UMI) director general Dr James Nkata encouraged JNLC to mount research on how Africa can restructure its society, develop a new conscience of pan-Africanism and create an environment where everybody can exercise their abilities.

The Director General, Uganda Management Institute Dr James Luyonga Nkata during the Julius Nyerere Leadership Center annual presidential lecture series themed: Celebrating women, Pan-Africanism and community. This was at Makerere university on June 8, 2023.

“The suffering we have in Africa is because of the Academia. It is through academia that knowledge is developed and values are created. If people in the academia cannot create new knowledge, new process, then you cannot talk about Pan-Africanism,” he said.