Story by Ian Zvoma, News Editor
THE African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM) has urged African governments, institutions, and citizens to take a more active role in engaging young people in governance, innovation and sustainable development.
Speaking at a youth symposium in Midrand, South Africa on Monday, Ambassador Marie-Antoinette Rose-Quatre, APRM Continental Secretariat CEO said Africa must find ways to harness the energy and creativity of its youth, particularly Generation Z(Gen Z), to build a more inclusive and progressive continent.
“We must ask ourselves as a Union, as governments, and as citizens, are we doing enough? Why is our youth, especially Gen Z, restless? What can be done to channel the energy of African youth into constructive governance, innovation and development?
“The APRM has proposed the African governance architecture platform to focus the Africa governance report 2027 on the theme of youth in governance from promise to prosperity. This symposium, therefore, serves as the initial vital consultation in engaging African youth on the status of governance. We aim to work with all stakeholders, ministries of youth, national parliaments, and youth councils, business forums, civil society, the AU and UN institutions to mobilise young people to contribute to the Africa governance report of 2027,” she said.
The youth symposium, organised jointly by the APRM and the Pan-African Parliament (PAP), aims to explore the growing influence of Generation Z in governance and the need for more youth-responsive political systems across Africa.
Centred on governance issues, the symposium highlights the importance of sustained investment in young people as a cornerstone for promoting good governance and inclusive growth across the continent.
