In a strategic engagement aimed at advancing youth participation and continental integration, Augustine Igweshi, Executive Director of the Center for Peace Advocacy and Sustainable Development (CEPASD), DG African Transformer Institute ATI and Convener of the Youth Model African Union (YMAU) Summit, has called on the African Union (AU) to accelerate the ratification of key youth-centered and mobility frameworks across Member States.
Igweshi made this appeal during a high-level meeting with the Chairperson of the African Union Commission (AUC), where he formally presented the African Transformer Magazine a publication showcasing African youths’ leadership, innovation, and development contributions.
During the meeting, Igweshi highlighted three critical areas requiring urgent political action:
- Ratification and implementation of the African Youth Charter,
- Ratification of the Protocol on Free Movement of Persons in Africa, and
- Domestication of the AU Continental Framework on Youth, Peace, and Security (YPS).
He stressed that despite the AU’s strong policy frameworks aimed at empowering young people, implementation gaps at the Member State level remain a major barrier to youth inclusion, mobility, and socio-economic development.
Africa can not achieve the Africa We Want while young people remain on the margins of decision-making,” Igweshi told the Chairperson. “Ratifying the African Youth Charter and the Free Movement Protocol will not only unlock opportunities for millions of young Africans but also strengthen continental unity, economic integration, and peacebuilding efforts.”
He further emphasized that the Free Movement Protocol is central to building a borderless and interconnected Africa, allowing young innovators, entrepreneurs, and peacebuilders to collaborate beyond national boundaries. Igweshi described free movement as “a catalyst for cultural exchange, trade, knowledge transfer, and Pan-African solidarity.”
Regarding the Youth, Peace and Security (YPS) Framework, Igweshi urged Member States to domesticate and operationalize national action plans, noting that young people continue to play leading roles in preventing violence, mediating community disputes, countering hate speech, and driving peace education.
He added that young people are not just beneficiaries of peace they are creators of it. With the right legal and policy environment, Africa’s youth can build resilient, peaceful, and prosperous communities.”
The AU Chairperson added that the AU is pushing for the ratification of Youth Charter, and Free Movement of People protocol and commended Igweshi for his dedication to youth empowerment and his leadership through the YMAU Summit, describing the initiative as “a powerful continental platform for preparing the next generation of African diplomats, policymakers, and transformative leaders.”
The meeting also explored deeper collaboration between CEPASD, African Transformer Institute ATI, and the AU on youth leadership development, peacebuilding, and continental integration initiatives.
Igweshi reaffirmed his commitment to supporting the AU’s Agenda 2063 and strengthening youth inclusion at all levels of governance. He assured the Chairperson that African youth stand ready to contribute meaningfully to continental development.
We are not waiting for the future we are building it,” he said. “And we need an Africa that gives its young people the freedom, voice, and tools to lead.”
The engagement forms part of Igweshi’s broader advocacy to ensure that African youths are recognized as essential partners in governance, diplomacy, and development processes across the continent.
