A former acting permanent secretary of the Federal Ministry of Defence, Sunday Attah, says African youths must no longer be viewed as problems to be managed but as promises to be fulfilled.

Mr Attah made the call in his remarks as the chairman at the inauguration of the African Youth Peace Corps in Abuja.

He also said that the future of Africa rested largely on its youthful population, stressing that young people should be seen as the continent’s greatest asset.

“Africa’s greatest resource is not oil, gold, gas or diamonds. Africa’s greatest resource resides within its young people: their minds, creativity, resilience and dreams,” Mr Attah said.

According to him, despite the numerous challenges confronting the continent, Africa possessed an enormous demographic advantage that could drive peace, development and prosperity if properly harnessed.

He challenged young Africans to become peace ambassadors, bridge-builders, defenders of human dignity and agents of reconciliation capable of fostering unity and progress across the continent.

Mr Attah’s remarks came as the AYPC was formally inaugurated as a continental movement dedicated to raising a new generation of Peace Ambassadors across Africa.

In his address, the convener and continental coordinator-general of AYPC, Abdulwaheed Odewale, outlined the organisation’s vision and strategic programmes.

Mr Odewale disclosed that the organisation would promote school peace clubs, community peace initiatives, youth leadership academies, and digital literacy programmes.

He said the programme would also intervene in environmental sustainability campaigns, interfaith dialogue platforms and volunteer service schemes across the continent.

He stressed that the initiatives were designed to equip young Africans with the knowledge, leadership skills and civic values required to address emerging challenges.

The AYPC convener also said that sustainable peace could only be achieved through dialogue, justice, inclusion, respect for diversity and equal opportunities for all members of society.

Mr Odewale called on African youths to reject terrorism, violent extremism, criminality, cybercrime, drug abuse and all forms of violence that threaten peace and human dignity.

He expressed confidence that Africa’s future would not be determined by the challenges confronting it but by the willingness of its people, particularly its youth, to create solutions.

The launch of the AYPC marked the beginning of what organisers described as a continental movement of hope, service, leadership and peace.

In her goodwill message, Hadassah Allaputa, a member of the AYPC governing council, said that peaceful hearts produce peaceful communities.

(NAN)