Youth Urged to Seize Opportunities at International Youth Day Celebration in Mombasa

The Principal Secretary of the State Department for Youth Affairs and Creative Economy, Ismail Madey, has called on young people to take advantage of opportunities offered by both National and County governments for their personal growth.

Speaking during the national celebration of International Youth Day in Mombasa, Madey emphasized the importance of youth, highlighting their creativity, energy, and valuable contributions to society.

The event, which featured youth representatives from all 47 counties, began with a procession from the iconic elephant tusks to the Swahili Pot Hub which provided a platform for the youth to exchange ideas and engage in dialogue with leaders about government programs.

This year’s theme, “From Clicks to Progress: Youth Digital Pathways for Sustainable Development,” was described by PS Madey as timely, given the country’s strides in creating online job opportunities through platforms like Ajira Hub. He noted that recent collaborations with social media companies are allowing Kenyan content creators to monetize their work, with META announcing programs that benefit the youth.

Highlighting past successes, PS Madey mentioned last year’s talent search initiative that identified 2,000 young Kenyans for training at the Kenya Academy of Sports Six of them have already secured positions with international football teams in Europe and America.

Youth Urged to Seize Opportunities at International Youth Day Celebration in Mombasa

The Talanta Hela initiative will now expand to focus on creative talent, with a new program, “Who is Next,” set to launch soon. Collaborations with international partners like the Grammy Awards and Hollywood Innovation Studios are opening doors for Kenyans in global creative industries

Margaret Kiogora, Acting CEO of the National Youth Council, expressed her excitement about hosting the event in Mombasa and emphasized the importance of listening to youth challenges to shape better policies. She encouraged active youth participation in government initiatives to foster growth and development.