Africa’s youths met in Mombasa, Kenya to map the future of Science Technology and Innovation in the continent through the new innovation program Traveling from East, West, South, and Francophone Africa, country representatives, steering committee members and advisors of the African Youth Forum for Science and Technology (AYFST) converged in Kenya’s port city of Mombasa to seek ways to strengthen and deepen their collective influence through the AYFST.
The forum founded in 2005, held its fourth annual Steering Committee Meeting from 13th to 14th July, 2009 and was followed by the launch of the Youth Innovation Challenge Program (Y I CAN). The Y I CAN ‘read as “Why I Can” has been developed under the auspices of the ATPS Phase VI Strategic Plan, 2008 – 2012. The program is designed to build a culture of innovation amongst young people in Africa by promoting innovation through targeted partnerships within the quadruple helix (Researchers, Private Sector Actors, Policy Makers and Civil Society) and through entrepreneurship incubation programs. The AYFST is amongst the priority programs of the African Technology Policy Studies (ATPS) Network Phase VI Strategic Plan, 2008 - 2012. The meeting took stock of AYFST progress to inform its implementation of planned youth activities under the Phase VI Plan 2008 - 2012. The meeting resolved that AYFST National Chapter Committees would work closely with the ATPS National chapter coordinators in their countries, to receive mentorship and access opportunities for funding for youth activities in their countries. It was also agreed that they shall be answerable to the ATPS Management structure and shall report to both the AYFST Steering committee and the ATPS Management.
The meeting saw the consolidation of the membership of the AYFST Steering Committee and the election of its leadership. Through an agreed democratic process the following countries were elected to be members of the steering committee: Malawi, Sierra Leone, Ghana, Nigeria, Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania, Ethiopia, Benin, Zambia, Lesotho, Cameroon and Cote d’Ivoire. Tennyson Magombo (Malawi) was elected AYFST Chairperson and Festus Amadu (Sierra Leone) its vice chair. Phina Magara from Kenya was elected as the secretary.
The meeting also called for a reliable mechanism for absorbing new members emphasizing the need to be innovative in the ways it creates and sustains young people’s interest in AYFST. At the same time the AYFST reaffirmed its dream of having ‘knowledge-based’ development in Africa, and its belief that harnessing the knowledge and ability of the youth is vital to this pursuit.
Speaking to the youths’ during an open session, Dr Kevin Urama, the Executive Director of the African Technology Policy Studies Network (ATPS) asserted that “Knowledge for development is not just in universities, libraries, and books. Knowledge exists beyond these boundaries, with youths outside formal institutions for education.” He called on the AYFST leadership in its work with formal education institutions to strive to reach youths outside the academia.
He added that the ATPS believes that development will be driven by a generation of youth that value their ideas and visions for the future. “We need ideas as the engine of development,” said Dr Urama. Furthermore he challenged the young people to think outside the box and dared them to dream big, because true innovators dare to dream. “If your dream does not scare you, then it is probably not good enough,” he added.
The meeting reaffirmed the vision of AYFST for Africa, “empowered African communities that enjoy sustainable livelihoods.” The youth further expressed their dream of living in a continent where innovation is the norm. “We dream of an AYFST which is reflective of our passion for innovation and curiosity about new ideas, said Mr. Tennyson Magombo the newly elected Chair person of AYFST during his maiden speech to participants. The meeting also called for an expansion of its website functions to include membership recruitment and e-learning activities. Additionally, plans began for the annual Youth Congress. The AYFST expressed a mission to showcase AYFST outreach and capacity building programs as well as the skills and inspiration they engender among youth.
It was noted that the AYFST’s country chapters operate in very different contexts, and the youth were drawn from various disciplines in agriculture, science and technology. Despite this eclectic range of backgrounds, the common, guiding vision of the AYFST – to participate in educational reform, policy advocacy, and youth empowerment in order to facilitate capacity building among African youths in areas of science and technology – proved that they have more in common than apart. Commitment to this vision propelled a fruitful week of dialogue and agreement.
ATPS would like to congratulate these young people for their commitment in seeing through a week of action and accomplishment and would like to assure them of its continued support
