ABUJA/Nigeria: In a bid to enhance youth participation in governance and politics across Africa, Ambassador Aliyu Bin Abbas, President of the National Youth Alliance (NYA), engaged in a strategic meeting with His Excellency Ousmane Yara, a prominent figure in Africa’s political landscape. The meeting, held at Yara’s Dakar residence in Senegal on Monday, April 22, 2024, focused on strategies to involve youth in Nigeria’s upcoming 2027 elections.
A statement from the NYA President’s Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Okpani Jacob Onjewu Dickson, disclosed the key highlights of the meeting. Ambassador Abbas emphasized the importance of collaboration for youth inclusiveness in politics and governance in Africa, stating, “HE Yara is one of the prolific political mediators and strategic negotiators in modern Pan-African political history.”
Yara, a Pan-African citizen born in Guinea Conakry, boasts a remarkable track record in political negotiations across the continent. His notable achievements include mediating between President Alpha Conde of Guinea Conakry and President Macky Sall of Senegal, as well as facilitating talks between President Macky Sall and President Abdoulaye Wade of Senegal.
The statement further highlighted Yara’s recent negotiations between Senegalese opposition figure Ousmane Sonko, who currently serves as the Prime Minister of Senegal, and Bassirou Diomaye Faye, the newly elected President of Senegal.
Yara’s vast experience and expertise in political mediation make him a valuable partner in NYA’s efforts to enhance youth involvement in politics. As part of the discussions, Yara suggested that NYA should register as a political party in Nigeria ahead of the 2027 elections, a move that could potentially transform the political landscape by amplifying youth voices and perspectives.
The strategic meeting between Ambassador Aliyu Bin Abbas and His Excellency Ousmane Yara signifies a crucial step towards empowering the youth and fostering sustainable political development in Africa.
