President Adama Barrow of Republic of The Gambia, has tasked African youths to work towards delivering a new Africa.

Barrow also charged the African youths to look at the urgency of the challenges confronting the continent especially the youth constituency and find ways at addressing it.

The President who was represented by the Minister of Youth and Sports, Mr. Hadrammeh Sidibeh stated this while declaring the 3rd Pan African Youth Conference on African Unity and Development and the General Assembly of African Youth Commission (AYC) open in Banjul, The Gambia.

“Pan africanism and African integration, governance and employment, irregular migration, peace and security, health and well being and climate change remains a concern of all from politicians, experts, activists to citizens particularly Africans.

“Young African leaders like you must continue to initiate, innovate and inspire to address these concerns”, he said.

Sidibeh also lamented the increasing rate of poverty in Africa stressing on the need to confront this heads on.

He states; “The paradox of Africa is the other of civilization. Africa is the cradle of humanity, Africa is the richest continent on earth but yet her sons and daughter continue to languish in poverty and other human conditions which must be confronted heads on.”

He further charged the youths to rise to the challenges and take ownership and make the best use of every existing opportunities.

“It is time, without further delay, to harness these potentials into economic, political and civic leadership spaces in the continent. ”

In her welcome address, the acting Executive Chairperson of the African Youth Commission (AYC), Ms. Natalie Makundane said the conference is to work towards the unification and development of Africa through youth power and leadership.

She stated that a lot is expected from the youths in Africa urging them To Help deliver the Africa that is needed.

“The Africa we want to see is in our hands and we have to be the change we need. I am convinced that there is abundant energy in the youths and other young Africans to deliver the Africa we want.”

Over 300 youth delegates and leaders from African countries were in attendance at which is scheduled for three days and will be concluded with the annual General Assembly meeting of the African Youth Commission.

The youths are expected to deliberate on a number of issues and come up with solutions to address the challenges facing the continent.