The West African Regional Leadership Centre of the Young African Leaders Initiative organised the homecoming in-person event for 2022 in Lomé, Togo.
The event was themed: ‘Building a more resilient Africa, the role of the young leader’, and had in attendance the United States Ambassador to Togo, Her Excellency, Elizabeth Fitzsimmons and her spouse, Richard; International Communications Executive, Wofai Samuel; the Project Director, YALI RLC West Africa, Dr. Esi Sey; YALI Regional Coordinator United States Agency for International Development, David Kamau; DOCs Specialist USAID, Oswald Kyi; US Embassy Lome Exchange Programmes Specialist, Josita Ekowevi; Corporate Affairs and Institutional Advancement Manager YALI West Africa, James Anquandah; Participant Affairs & Alumni Officer YALI West Africa, Patricia Hasford; Presidents of YALI RLC across West Africa, amongst other officials.
The moderator, Wofai Samuel, stated that “Africa continues to make positive headlines relating to economic growth, improved attractiveness for investment, governance, and leadership.”
At the gathering were over 100 fellows, all of them drawn from nine countries in the sub-region, spread across the world and impacting business, communities, and countries, including Togo, Ghana, Liberia, Sierra Leone, The Gambia, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Ivory Coast, and Nigeria.
The US Ambassador to Togo, Fitzsimmons, commended the resilience and creativity that young Africans had displayed in solving challenges across their communities and restated her commitment to supporting them.
She emphasised the importance of young Africans taking ownership of their narratives and using the training and skills that YALI empowers them with to shape their communities.
Speaking further about the forum, Wofai said, “I am honoured to be selected as a moderator of this important event positioned for the next leaders who will decide the future of our great region. As a leader passionate about Africa, I stay true to showcasing the best of my people and the stories my continent and region have to offer.
“This has been such an incredible opportunity to interact in real-time with young people from nine amazing countries in West Africa. No other platform in this region could have done this better. Thank you to the American people, specifically the State Department, USAID, and the centre in Ghana, who over the years have funded and guided us to be excellent in all we do.”
Samuel and Kamau also echoed Vice President Kamala Harris’ statement during the US-African Leadership Summit in Washington D.C, where she stated, “I strongly believe that the creativity and ingenuity of Africa’s young leaders will help us shape the future of the world and that their ideas, your ideas, innovations, and initiatives will benefit the entire world.”
