Kenya’s President, Williams Ruto, officially inaugurated the YouthConnekt Africa Summit 2023, an event that brought together African leaders, government officials, Ministers, Partners, and over 20,000 youth delegates from across the continent and other parts of the world.
In his stirring opening address, President Ruto not only called upon young Africans to lead in the continent’s transformation but also expressed gratitude to President Paul Kagame and Rwanda for conceiving the YouthConnekt platform.
The roots of this transformative platform lie in the visionary leadership of President Kagame of Rwanda, as acknowledged by President Ruto.
Ruto acknowledged Rwanda’s pivotal role, having hosted four of the five previous editions. “I join President Kagame in affirming the game-changing capacity of African youth,” he declared.
Ahunna Eziakonwa, Assistant Secretary-General and Director of UNDP’s Regional Bureau for Africa, added her influential voice, urging leaders to prioritize youth in key investments.
She commended President Ruto for his visionary approach and action-oriented initiatives, and also gave credit to President Kagame as the visionary who planted the seed for this transformative platform in 2012.
Representing President Kagame, Rwanda’s ICT Minister, Paula Musoni, expressed appreciation for President Ruto’s announcement of a ‘visa-free policy.’
This groundbreaking initiative empowers young entrepreneurs to scale their businesses across Africa without restrictions.
Musoni also extended gratitude to UNDP and other partners, emphasizing their role in making the annual YouthConnekt Africa Summit a powerful reality.
The summit unfolds against the backdrop of President Kagame’s leadership, highlighting Rwanda’s commitment to empowering youth, fostering cross-border collaboration.
Over a dozens Rwandan youth in various fields are also attending the summit.
