Afro-Arab Youth Council inks partnerships to boost youth empowerment

_____________________

The Afro-Arab Youth Council (AAYC) has signed three Memoranda of Understanding with the Uganda National Students Association (UNSA), the National Youth Council (NYC), and the United Nations African Institute for the Prevention of Crime and the Treatment of Offenders (UNAFRI), in a move aimed at strengthening youth empowerment, leadership development, and regional cooperation.

The agreements with UNSA and NYC were signed on April 8, 2026, at BMK House in Kampala, while the UNAFRI partnership was formalised at the institute’s headquarters in Naguru.

Speaking during the signing with UNSA at BMK House, AAYC secretary general Abbas Agaba described the partnership as a formalisation of a long-standing relationship.

“UNSA was part of the founding team of AAYC in 2004 in Khartoum. Today we are simply strengthening and formalising that relationship,” he said.

Agaba noted that the MOU will focus on joint programmes, training, capacity building, and youth mobilisation within schools and universities.

UNSA president Shillah Ainembabazi welcomed the agreement, saying it will expand opportunities for students.

“This partnership will strengthen leadership development, expand training opportunities, and increase student participation in national and international platforms,” she said.

At the same venue, the National Youth Council also signed its MOU with AAYC, with NYC chairperson Jacob Eyeru welcoming the partnership while stressing the need for implementation.

“This partnership should not remain on paper. It must be translated into real programmes that directly benefit young people,” he said.

He called for joint initiatives focused on skills development, opportunity creation, and improved youth livelihoods.

AAYC president Abdulhadi Ibrahim Lahweej said the agreements reflect a shared commitment to empowering young people across Africa and the Arab world.

“These MOUs are not just formalities, they are a commitment to work together for youth empowerment, unity, and development,” he said.

In a separate ceremony at UNAFRI headquarters in Naguru, AAYC signed another MOU focused on cooperation in crime prevention, research, and youth rehabilitation.

UNAFRI director general Andrew Munanura said the partnership will enhance training, research, and knowledge sharing to address emerging crime challenges, especially those affecting young people.

He noted that cybercrime, terrorism, and online exploitation continue to pose major risks to youth, calling for stronger preventive action and awareness.

AAYC secretary general Abbas Agaba said the collaboration will help empower young people to contribute to solutions in addressing crime and social challenges.

Agaba said young people are part of the solution, not the problem, and should be empowered to drive positive change and development in society.

The agreements are expected to enhance youth engagement, leadership development, and cross-regional cooperation between Africa and the Arab world, with leaders expressing optimism that the MOUs will be translated into practical programmes benefiting young people.