Albert Sitwala Mwiinga’s Post

🌟 What an incredible privilege to speak alongside such inspiring personalities at the recent United Nations Nigeria "Celebrating UN@79 #PactForTheFuture"; Dialogue with the Future Generation! Engaging with visionary leaders like Mr. Tayo Olusunde, CEO of MindThe_GapNg; Titilope Adeyemi, Special Assistant to the President on Youth Initiatives; Babatunde Adelekan; Lailah Sanusi Gumbi; Babatunde Adelekan; Adigun Ibrahim; Rafiat Atanda; Dr. Joy Rademene Asonye; and Austin Erameh was truly enlightening. 💡 Their insights into youth development, innovation, and social impact sparked conversations with the potential to shape the future. During the session, I engaged in a discussion on how the UN can further promote and support youth-led initiatives in Nigeria—particularly in the areas of social entrepreneurship and innovation. We explored the critical areas where young people can expect support to turn their ideas into sustainable ventures, aligning with the broader vision for youth empowerment in Nigeria. We also appreciate the United Nations, IOM - UN Migration for empowering youth to have a voice in policymaking, both in Nigeria and on the global stage. This vital inclusion enables young leaders to actively shape policies that impact their futures and communities. Special thanks to the United Nations for setting up the #PACTfortheFuture and for its dedication to fostering youth involvement at every level. Such initiatives are more than programs; they are lifelines for innovation and economic resilience for the next generation. Looking forward to seeing the impact of this platform as it continues to support and inspire young leaders across Nigeria and Africa. 🌍✨ #YouthEmpowerment #SocialEntrepreneurship #Innovation #Nigeria #UNYouth #PACTForTheFuture #SustainableDevelopment #FutureLeaders #PolicyMaking #Inspiration #AfricanYouth

"I am not African because I was born in Africa, but because Africa was born in me."– Dr. Kwame Nkrumah. This powerful sentiment resonates deeply with this year’s theme of the Africa Entrepreneurship Accelerator Summit, "From Aspiration to Action: African Youth at the Helm of Agenda 2063." It reminds us that the journey to a prosperous, sustainable Africa begins within each of us—through bold action, shared purpose, and the relentless pursuit of progress. I was delighted to have the opportunity to speak at the Summit in Accra, Ghana. With Africa’s youth making up nearly 60% of the continent’s population, it’s clear that our greatest resource lies in the potential of our young people. Representing The Mentorship Class in Uganda, a transformative six-month journey that has shaped over 400 young leaders since 2017, I shared how dialogue, mentorship, and skill-building are essential to turning youth potential into sustainable progress for Africa. Through our focus on Self-Awareness, Personal Development, Career Growth, Leadership, Entrepreneurship, and Life Skills, we empower young minds to thrive as individuals and contribute meaningfully to their communities and beyond. As I addressed leaders and changemakers in the room, my call was simple yet profound: let’s amplify the voices of Africa’s youth. When we listen, invest, and collaborate intergenerationally, we unlock the power to lead globally. Once again, special thanks to WestlionCo for providing this platform to celebrate and elevate youth-driven solutions. Together, we can Make It Happen for an Africa where every voice is valued and every action matters. #AfricaEntrepreneurshipAcceleratorSummit #Agenda2063 #TheMentorshipClass

Join us online on 18th June as we invite Vice-Chancellor Francis Petersen from the University of the Free State (UFS) and Dr. François Bonnici from the Schwab Foundation for Social Entrepreneurship to delve into the stories of South Africa’s past, present and future and discuss what it means for social innovation in South Africa and the continent. Whether in mega cities or rural communities, people all over the world have demonstrated their power to make lasting change. Globally, people are coming together to address societal challenges and innovate together to advance the needs of their own communities. It is the resilience, strength and collective power of citizens, who best understand their communities, that make places thrive. Nowhere is this more true than in South Africa. Throughout its complex history, people have come together to make change happen. With elections looming and a growing population of young people against the backdrop of 30 years of democracy this year, this is a pivotal moment, especially for the next generation. Register here: https://lnkd.in/eFySRscT This conversation is being hosted in the lead up to our global social innovation indaba in South Africa in partnership with UFS in fall 2024. For more information about the event, please visit www.si-indaba.com

Dear network, as I want to start my week, I have received many messages of congratulations for my one year of work within the Denis & Lenora Foretia Foundation. I am grateful for your signs of recognition. When I was onboarded as the #Director of #Programs and #Strategy on August 1, 2023, I joined an amazing, young and dynamic team, with the support of the Board of Directors and Co-Chairs Denis Foretia, MD.MPH.MBA and Lenora Ebule, MBA . After a year within the Foundation, we have achieved notable feats. The Nkafu Policy Institute, the Foundation's think tank, has managed to get in touch with peers to initiate the construction of a consortium of think tanks in the #ECCAS in order to carry out collaborative research to discuss the strengths and weaknesses of the environment of think tanks and CSOs, particularly in the areas of #economy, #governance, #democracy, #health, #peace and #security. Together with other think tank leaders, we are pooling our efforts to strengthen the institutional capacities of their leaders and researchers and to amplify advocacy with policy makers to generate more impact. The thematics we are putting on the table mainly concern #Informality, #Inequality, #GenderEquity, #Accountability, #IntegratedGovernance, #IntegratedTrade, #Resilience, #PrivateHealthInsurance, #TheFutureOfWork, #Free Economy, #Shrinking or #Closing of #CivicSpace, etc. The main objective is to ensure that the landscape of think tanks and #CSOs in #ECCAS raises their level of efficiency compared to those of the other 7 RECs in Africa. The process continues and we benefit from the support of Open Society Foundations, Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit GmbH, International Development Research Centre (IDRC), Templeton World Charity Foundation, Atlas Network and many others. In addition, the activities of our #Small #Business and #Entrepreneurship #Centre (SBEC) have helped to strengthen the capacities of Cameroonian SMEs to enable them to emerge from #informality, strengthen their organizational and managerial capacities, tax civic-mindedness, value creation and #profitability. We are also working to strengthen the entrepreneurial ecosystem and the business climate through advocacy. This is made possible thanks to the support of the Rising Tide Group and the John Templeton Foundation. We are organizing major events at the Djeuga Hotel in Yaoundé in August and September 2024 that will put the Think tanks and other ECCAs CSOs as well as SMEs at the forefront, namely the Emerging Leaders Program https://lnkd.in/erG3K799, the Executive And Strategic Leadership Program https://lnkd.in/eEXS6nbp , the 2024 Central Africa Think Tank Forum https://lnkd.in/ePBziYtS and the 2024 Sbec SMEs Forum https://lnkd.in/ej6AFXCZ I invite you to connect to our pages Denis & Lenora Foretia Foundation and Nkafu Policy Institute. Together we are stronger.

According to the United Nations, young people are the key to Africa's sustainable development. Following a developing economy in Africa, especially in the Sub-Saharan region, 70% of the population is under 30 years old. From this perspective, all I can see are opportunities, but these possibilities can only be realized by future generations when policies change and are fully empowered. Kenya has been a leader in technology adoption, circular economy, digital transformation, economic affairs, development, and environment over the past decades. Involving young people in policymaking can make significant moves in achieving sustainable development goals by 2030. #Club17 has been a game changer for the youth and future generations through a fundamental intergenerational approach by empowering the youth through the ACT NOW Challenge through a global north and global south approach. In the frontier for climate action, I lead #Team3 to develop a people's interest approach and infrastructure to make sure sustainable development goal 3 reaches its target by 2030. It certainly equips me with skills like design-driven entrepreneurship, project leading, and management for achieving sustainable development goals by 2030. Shout out to Omondi Peter and Kristin Bodiford, Ph.D. for enabling the youth to participate regionally and south-south to bring sustainable developments on track through the Act Now Challenge. Yohana Isack | Sherry Karithi | Brian Ngigi | Miss Esther Khadioli | Michelle K. | Dadakazini foundation | Upendo Girls Initiative | Ministry of Health, Kenya | Tunza Trust | The Smiles Impact Organisation TSI Resource: https://lnkd.in/dEwzWP7X

Together with my fellow gents at Group T471 of The Men's Book Breakfast ~ The MBB we reviewed Chapter 2 of "Why Africa is Poor and What Africans Can Do About It". Mills asserts that true development is about enhancing the quality of life rather than merely increasing GDP. “Development is about improving the quality of life, not just increasing GDP.” This perspective encourages a focus on initiatives that improve health, education, and living standards. Some African countries have taken significant steps in defining development, and many are currently prioritizing these efforts. Key Highlights from the Read: 1. Importance of Human Capital Investment in human capital is crucial for sustainable economic growth. Countries like Vietnam illustrate the benefits of prioritizing education and skill development. “Without investment in human capital, economic growth is limited and unsustainable.” Africa should prioritize education and skill-building programs to create a healthy and educated workforce. 2. Governance and Institutions Strong institutions are essential for effective development strategies. Transparent governance fosters stability and trust. “Strong institutions are the backbone of any successful development strategy.” Africa should advocate for transparent governance and engage in civic activism. 3. Economic Diversification Relying on a single resource can lead to stagnation; diversification is key to resilience and growth. “Dependency on a single resource is a recipe for stagnation.” Supporting small businesses and entrepreneurship can foster economic diversity. 4. Community Engagement Development efforts must be driven by the communities they aim to serve, ensuring relevance and effectiveness. “Development must be driven by the people it aims to serve.” We should foster community-driven projects that address local needs and empower residents. 5. Role of Technology Harnessing technology can overcome traditional barriers and enhance efficiency in various sectors. “Harnessing technology can leapfrog traditional barriers to development.” Africans should embrace technological innovations to improve services and access. Mills advocates for a proactive, locally-driven approach to development. By implementing these actionable steps, Africans can create a more sustainable and inclusive future, rooted in community engagement and empowerment. It is my pleasure to review this book with Samuel OluochGenuine A. DesirehKiarie KamauElvis WarutumoKinyanjui Karanja Looking forward to our next session on Saturday. #mensbookbreakfast #makeafricagreat #whatwecando

Trickle Up is proud to join the movement in supporting locally-led development. We acknowledge the urgent need to tackle systemic and funding-related challenges and are dedicated to driving transformational change to address these issues. Join the movement: https://lnkd.in/gd8HbCqy #GlobalDevelopment #SustainableDevelopment #SocialImpact #nonprofit

Today marks the first day of the AFRICA YOUTH CONSULTATIVE FORUM ON UN SUMMIT OF SUMMIT THE FUTURE in Addis Ababa, Ethopia. As l prepare my presentation for a rather impromptu panel discussion on Science, Technology, Innovation and Digital co-operation, this is one of my go to reads. Dr. McLean Sibanda ' s knowledge is gold. Protip the books are om special currently. 550 rands for two of them. Today my audience is different from the Monday one, its the enterpreneurs, innovators, scientists etc so I'm exploringamong the different topics, the "l" in STI. Quoting a good friend of mine 's words Junior Hlahla " People don't need just apps, they need incomes, products at reasonable prices and a platform to break the cycle of poverty and uplift themselves" As you are Innovating, starting up...have you stopped to ask what does my invention, intiative change, who does it speak to, what impact does it have? Its easy to be carried away by the tech craze( im seeing a lot of it as l analyse StartUp Acts in Africa). But the I in STI stands for innovation which means something new that brings value and speaks to needs of people. The whole forum is live on the YouTube channels l once shared. This side event panel l am presenting on is scheduled for 3pm. I will share any more details under comments. Here is to building the Africa we want through growing the Start Up pipeline whose foundation is STI.

From late 2023 to June 2024, I've dedicated myself to developing robust systems for two organisations—one based in Sierra Leone and the other in South Africa. In my role as their consultant, my goal is to foster their continuous growth and success. Achieving this requires a dedicated investment of substantial time and energy and a wholehearted commitment to their projects. While the direct benefits of these projects may not accrue to me personally, I'm certain that they will profoundly impact my community, my country, Sierra Leone, and the continent of Africa. Perhaps in the future, someone from my network who meets their programme's criteria could become a beneficiary. With this vision in mind, I approached the development of their systems with meticulous attention, strategic foresight, and innovative thinking. I have witnessed many brilliant project ideas in Africa meet premature ends due to the lack of a sound working policy, work plan, partnership strategy, monitoring and evaluation frameworks, as well as development and sustainability plans. While passion is a great driving force, it is essential to complement it with robust and effective systems for long-term success. Despite being occupied with managing SIPC as the COO and publisher (www.sipcbooks.org) and participating in highly competitive fellowships such as the Internet Society's Youth Ambassadors Programme (https://lnkd.in/dd6tNGCq), representing Sierra Leone for the first time in history since the programme's inception, and other significant commitments and responsibilities, I took on consulting roles with these organisations. I believe strongly in their projects' impact on youth empowerment, national development, and continental advancement. I've got hope in their vision, mission, and leadership. As I close, I encourage you, my fellow young leaders, to lend your skills and time to organisations in need. Consider the positive impacts you can have on your neighbourhood, country, continent, and the globe as a whole, in addition to financial rewards. Our collective greatness is achieved by supporting and uplifting one another. #MyConsultingStory #SystemDevelopment #Intentionality #ProjectSustainability #YouthProgrammes #DrivingChangeInAfrica #WeMustBuildTheAfricaWeWant #MyAfricaMyFuture

Congratulations to Q. Malewezi on your appointment as The special advisor to the President of Malawi on Creative Industries. Having a youthful creative like Qabaniso Malewezi as a special advisor to the president of Malawi on Creative Industries brings several important benefits: 1. Fresh Perspective: Malewezi's youthfulness and creativity bring a fresh perspective to the government, offering innovative ideas and approaches to address challenges in the creative industries. 2. Representation: Malewezi represents the voice and interests of the younger generation, ensuring that their concerns and aspirations are heard and addressed in policy-making decisions related to creative industries. 3. Promotion of Innovation: Malewezi's creative background can stimulate innovation within the government, promoting new ways of thinking and problem-solving to drive growth and development in the creative sector. 4. Cultural Preservation: Malewezi's involvement can help preserve and promote Malawi's cultural heritage through creative endeavors, contributing to national identity and pride. 5. Youth Empowerment: Malewezi's appointment serves as a symbol of youth empowerment, inspiring other young people to pursue their passions and contribute meaningfully to their country's development. By having a youthful creative like Malewezi as a special advisor, the president demonstrates a commitment to embracing innovation, inclusivity, and the potential of the younger generation in shaping Malawi's future. 60 years, since independence, what's the state of our creative industry or economy? Let's start from here and then create aspirations for the next 60 years.