Theme: Interrogating the role of young leaders in Pan-Africanism and regional integration
Date: 10th May 2019
Venture: Baxter Theater Centre University of Cape Town, South Africa
Time: 09:00 – 15:15
The African Union African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM), in collaboration with the University of Cape Town (UCT) and the Nelson Mandela School of Public Governance (NMS) will host a Public Symposium on the role of young African leaders in Pan-Africanism and Regional Integration on the 10th May 2019 in Cape Town, South Africa. The symposium will focus on the challenges and opportunities for transformation in Africa, including topical issues relating to the idea of one-ness and working towards African Shared Values. Discussions will focus on themes relating to Nationalism and PanAfrican Citizenry, African Integration and the Free Movement of People, as well as Youth and Business Innovation in the Fourth Industrial Revolution.
The theme of the symposium is aligned to the African Union (AU) #Agenda2063 #TheAfricaWeWant which was inspired by and has been translated into the aspirations of most countries on the Continent. The realization of these aspirations in part relies on the effective cultivation and development of the continent’s demographic dividend – the continent’s young population. In this regard, the symposium will interrogate how the political, economic and social context in Africa affects and is affected by the emergence of a young and innovative leadership. It is further recognized that in this era of the Fourth Industrial Revolution, young people constitute present-day leaders in business and politics. The symposium will thus re-examine the relevance of notions and adages such as young people as future leaders in the era of the fourth industrial revolution in which young people are providing critical leadership.
The Symposium will be a commemoration of Africa Month which among others seeks to increase the appreciation and demand for arts and culture goods and services, and to stimulate competitive markets for trade among African countries.
The University of Cape Town (UCT)
One of the oldest Higher Education Institutions in South Africa, founded in 1829, is a leading Public Research University. As part of a long-standing tradition, the UCT Convocation is a statutory body which provides a platform for alumni to actively participate and critically engage in pertinent issues affecting the university community and assist in helping to find solutions. This year, the Convocation has partnered with the African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM) and the Nelson Mandela School of Public Governance (NMS), to engage members of the UCT alumni, students, as well as the wider academic, policy and public community through a platform for dialogue.
The African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM) is an autonomous entity of the African Union, whose mandate is to promote the adoption of policies, standards and best practices that lead to good governance in member states.
The Nelson Mandela School of Public Governance
Based at UCT, promotes strategic public leadership by bringing together policy makers, experts and other leaders in society around key policy issues.
Cognizant of the mandates of these institutions, the Public Symposium will discuss challenges, opportunities and solutions to the pertinent governance issues in Africa. It will also provide an opportunity to learn from the past and chart a new course towards a more Pan-African and Integrated Africa. Furthermore, the symposium will celebrate Africa Day 2019, a day to acknowledge the integration and amalgamation of African ideals and values which formed the Organization of African Unity (OAU), now the African Union (AU) in May 1963, as well as its successes.
