Addis ababa: Africa must involve its productive youth towards driving the continent’s contemporary media and ensure sustainable peace and growth, winners of the 2025 Tana Forum essay competition said.
Addis ababa: Africa must involve its productive youth towards driving the continent’s contemporary media and ensure sustainable peace and growth, winners of the 2025 Tana Forum essay competition said.
According to Ethiopian News Agency, the 2025 Tana Forum essay competition winner, Sabelo Skenjana from South Africa, emphasized the importance of youth involvement in the continent’s peace and security forums. He highlighted that platforms like the Tana Forum must resonate across Africa and be well covered by African media outlets to engage the next generation. Skenjana advocated for Africa’s media to include youth in key discussions on peace and security challenges, stressing the need to invest in youth, especially in this digital era, to benefit the continent.
He further pointed out the necessity for youth to be curious and participate in significant matters affecting the continent. African leaders must actively incorporate young people into decision-making processes. Skenjana underscored the spirit of Ubuntu, calling for Africa’s youth, over half of whom are under 35, to unite and participate in decision-making platforms and organizations that are vital to Africa’s development.
Immanuel Kiilu from Kenya, another winner of the essay competition, highlighted the significant role of young people in peace and security matters. He noted that youth involvement on national and continental platforms is fruitful with appropriate support. Kiilu emphasized that young people can express themselves as writers, researchers, and leaders, ensuring that community voices are heard. He added that promoting peace and coexistence among various cultural and social groups leads to a thriving society.
The Nigerian winner, Peter Inalegwu Awodi, stressed the importance of creating communication between Africa’s younger and older generations. He advocated for involving technologically and innovatively equipped youth in decision-making processes to achieve sustainable peace and development in Africa. Awodi also emphasized that organizations like the African Union should lead efforts to enhance youth inclusivity in governance, economics, politics, and culture.
The theme for the 2025 Tana Forum essay writing competition was “Africa in an Evolving Global Order.” The Tana Forum Annual Essay Competition seeks to gather youth perspectives on various peace and security challenges across the continent. The competition is open to African nationals enrolled in higher education institutions both in Africa and the diaspora.