The Guardian (Nigeria)

AFPC leads conversati­on on policy reform, infrastruc­ture, trade in Africa

- By Adelowo Adebumiti

Anon- profit organisati­on, Africa Policy Conversati­ons ( AFPC), has taken the lead to facilitate conversati­ons across African countries to drive viable and significan­t policy reforms, infrastruc­ture improvemen­ts, and trade facilitati­on measures for the continent to realise its full potential.

The programme served as a platform for constructi­ve engagement between African youth across the continent, leading African decision- makers, and corporate executives, among others. AFPC hosted the event on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly, at the Nigerian Mission in New York, United States.

Speaking at the event with the theme of “Leveraging the Power of the African Youth ( As a viable solution for realising the potential of the continent)”, Minister of Youths and Sports, Sunday Akin Dare, addressing the topic "The future of African youth and globalisat­ion", emphasised a number of initiative­s that were launched under his administra­tion to support the socioecono­mic developmen­t of African youth.

He also mentioned several cutting- edge initiative­s that are being put in place for the youth in Nigeria. They include an immediate empowermen­t scheme for Nigerian university graduates who can provide a good and convincing business model, the establishm­ent of a Youth Bank where any successful applicant can make a pitch and get a loan to support his business.

The Convener and Cofounder of AFPC, Barr.

Chinenye Uwanaka, emphasised the need for Africans in the diaspora, to collaborat­e with those on the continent to strengthen the policy making and governance process.

She said: "Change is hard and no one can do it alone. We need to ensure that the diaspora remittance­s that flow into the continent are used judiciousl­y to boost infrastruc­ture, innovation, trade and wealth creation in Africa. We don’t need to rely on foreign aid. Rather, we need to find local solutions to local problems facing us.

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