ECOWAS Congratulates West African Youth On World Youth Day

12 August 2011
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Economic Community of West African States (Abuja)
press release

Abuja — The President of the ECOWAS Commission, His Excellency James Victor Gbeho, has congratulated the youth of West Africa for their contribution to the development of the region.

President Gbeho sent the congratulatory message in a statement issued on Friday, 12th August 2011 to mark the World Youth Day. Below is the statement: On the occasion of the World Youth Day, it is my pleasure, on behalf of all the ECOWAS Institutions, to address this congratulatory message to the youth of our Community, and to also express the solidarity of ECOWAS in your various endeavours. ECOWAS wishes, again, to recognise the laudable contribution of the youth over the years to the promotion and consolidation of democracy, good governance, human rights and the rule of law in West Africa. ECOWAS also greatly appreciates your significant role, as the most vibrant segment of the Community, in the efforts to improve the social and economic outlook of the region.

I wish to affirm, on this important occasion, the premium that the ECOWAS leadership places on the youth in West Africa, because they are priceless in the effort to develop and integrate Member States. In this regard, it must all remember that whereas the youth constitute only about 20 percent of the world's total population, yet, those in West Africa make up more than 60 percent of the region's population and are, therefore, critical to our future as a region. ECOWAS therefore calls respectfully on Member States to factor the concerns of their youth into their respective national plans, especially in the provision of employment opportunities and of guidance and support in achieving self- employment. It is also hoped that national leaders will give the youth increased voice in the determination of our common future.

As we intensify our efforts aimed at realising the Vision to transform the Region into an ECOWAS of Peoples, ECOWAS counts on the youth to serve as the motor for the Region's transformation. To this end, ECOWAS urges the youth to strive for continuous self-improvement in the educational, economic, social and cultural spheres, while eschewing the temptation to engage in illegal activities, including extremism, banditry, drug trafficking and use, and other forms of international organised crime. Finally, ECOWAS calls on all Member States to prioritise initiatives aimed at ensuring access to education and empowerment for the youth, particularly girls and the marginalised rural and urban youth.

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