By Fahim Muyingo
KAMPALA, Uganda — The Afro-Arab Youth Council (AAYC) has stepped up its engagement with Uganda’s youth leadership structures following a high-level meeting between its delegation and the State Minister for Youth and Children Affairs, Hon. Dr. Mercy Faith Lakisa.
The meeting, held as part of the Council’s ongoing efforts to strengthen strategic partnerships with governments and youth institutions, focused on expanding opportunities for young people and creating stronger platforms for youth participation in development, leadership, innovation and regional cooperation.
The AAYC delegation was led by the Council’s Secretary General, Hon. Dr. Abbas Agaba, who paid a courtesy visit to the Minister to introduce the Council’s work and explore areas of mutual interest between AAYC and Uganda’s youth affairs structures.
During the engagement which took place yesterday, Dr. Agaba provided an overview of the Afro-Arab Youth Council, outlining its mandate, programmes and broader vision of bringing young people from Africa and the Arab world together around shared aspirations and development priorities.
He highlighted the Council’s commitment to building a generation of young leaders capable of contributing meaningfully to social and economic transformation while strengthening bonds between Africa and the Arab world.
The Secretary General emphasised the importance of creating sustainable platforms through which young people can exchange ideas, access opportunities, develop leadership skills and participate in policy and decision-making processes.
“Strengthening relationships with national governments and youth institutions is central to our mission of creating networks and platforms that enable young people to move from aspirations to meaningful action,” Hon. Dr. Agaba noted.
He also underscored the role of partnerships with governments, youth institutions, civil society, the private sector and other stakeholders in translating the aspirations of young people into practical initiatives.
Minister Pledges Support for AAYC:
In a significant show of support, Hon. Dr. Mercy Faith Lakisa welcomed the engagement and pledged to work closely with the Afro-Arab Youth Council in advancing initiatives aimed at empowering young people.
The Minister expressed interest in deepening cooperation with AAYC and exploring opportunities through which the two institutions can collaborate on programmes that respond to the aspirations and needs of young people.
Hon. Dr. Lakisa also committed to visiting the AAYC Secretariat in the near future for further discussions and to explore concrete areas of partnership.
Her commitment provides an opportunity for the Council to strengthen its institutional relationship with Uganda’s youth leadership structures and identify practical areas where collaboration can deliver greater impact for young people.
The engagement comes at a time when young people across Africa and the Arab world are increasingly seeking greater participation in decisions that affect their future, including employment, entrepreneurship, education, innovation, peacebuilding and sustainable development.
The Council brings together young people across the African and Arab regions and seeks to promote cooperation, leadership, cultural understanding and shared development through youth-focused initiatives.
Uganda, as the host country of the AAYC Secretariat, occupies an important position in the Council’s efforts to strengthen its institutional partnerships and expand its programmes.
The meeting with Hon. Dr. Lakisa therefore represents more than a courtesy engagement. It signals an opportunity to develop stronger coordination between national youth structures and a regional platform working to connect young people across Africa and the Arab world.
Through continued engagement, AAYC aims to create more opportunities for young people to participate in leadership, entrepreneurship, innovation, policy dialogue and regional cooperation while strengthening the bonds that unite the two regions.
The Council said the engagement reflects its broader commitment to building strategic partnerships capable of translating the potential of young people into tangible contributions to development.
As AAYC continues to expand its partnerships with governments and youth institutions, the meeting with Hon. Dr. Mercy Faith Lakisa marks a promising step towards deeper cooperation and a stronger youth agenda centred on empowerment, leadership, innovation and Afro-Arab solidarity.
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