Lady Obareki Describes Confab Delegates As Future Professionals, Strategists, Co-Authors Of Africa’s Unfolding Story

UYO
The coordinator, Office of the First Lady of Akwa Ibom State, has tasked delegates to the 2025 National Conference of the African High School Model United Nations held in Uyo, to leave the programme as highly sought-after solution providers who would contribute their voices to ensure that decisions made by African leaders are sustainable, equitable and truly visionary.
Lady Helen Eno Obareki, who gave the charge while delivering a keynote address, recently, at day two of the conference, which brought together participants from secondary schools in Akwa Ibom and other States of the Federation, described the participants as future professionals, strategists and co-authors of Africa’s unfolding story.
Lady Obareki commended the organisers of the conference for choosing the theme, “Youth’s Contribution in the Decision Making of African Leaders,” which she noted was a “profound call to action.
“Over 60 per cent of the Nigerian and African population are youths, providing a compelling reason why we should be having this conversation today. You are generally full of energy and more digitally savvy, bringing fresh, innovative, and tech-driven perspectives essential for addressing modern challenges. You have to be the Digital Detectives – experts in the digital world who see the gaps in technology, and perspective as the early warning system that Africa needs,” she said.
   Lady Obareki urged the delegates to “Challenge the norm with a pure moral clarity and an impatience for change. Refuse to accept injustice and uphold your unwavering moral conviction as the loud alarm clock that keeps leaders moving faster. Also, challenge the comfortable status quo, and reject laziness. Ensure you don’t lose your fierce urgency, never complain about difficulties, but fix them. This conference – the discussions, debates, and negotiations – is your learning ground to move from critique to construction.”
The coordinator of the Office of the First Lady of Akwa Ibom, who thanked the State governor, Pastor Umo Eno, for providing empowerment facilities for young minds to thrive, challenged the delegates to apply knowledge gained to research and draft policy briefs to guide public office holders on interventions that would improve the infrastructure in their various communities.
  Accompanied to the conference by the commissioner for women affairs and social welfare, Mrs. Inibehe Etukudo, Mrs Uwem Monday and Dr Goodness Ekanem, she was received by the coordinator of ASHMUN, Mr Asinya Divine and the principal of one of the participating schools, Mr B. U. Akang.