Accra, Sept. 12, GNA – Mr Mohammed Saani Adams, Director of Youth Development and Empowerment at Ministry of Youth Development, has urged young people to lead advocacy for responsible and sustainable natural resource management in their communities.
He said the charge for responsible mining in communities should be led by the youth to ensure that resources were sustainably mined and utilised to support their community’s development and future.
“The youth should be vociferous and safeguard their environment and their future. They should show concern in terms of how natural resources are used in their country, district assemblies and their communities,” he stressed.
Mr Adams made these remarks at the African Youth Conference on Natural Resources and Environmental Governance 2025, organised by the Strategic Youth Network for Development (SYND) in partnership with the Media Platform on Environment and Climate Change in Accra.
The event, which brought together youth stakeholders and policymakers in climate and natural resource management was on the theme: “Transforming Africa’s Natural Resource Governance through Youth-Led Solutions.”
Mr Adams said it was important for young people to take active part in the decision and policy making processes of their country’s natural resource management.
He said that required that they were taking through education and sensitisation on sustainable natural resource management practices and policies.
“When you give them that proper sense of understanding what it means to sustain our environment and what it means to sustainably mine, they take key decisions and stand in ensuring that the right thing is done,” he added.
Mr Peter Kanang Gwom, Commissioner of Environment, Climate Change and Mineral Development, Plateau State, Nigeria, urged African governments to increase investments in youth development and empowerment programmes.
He said they needed to rollout policies and programmes that empower communities to be sustainable and innovative in managing their natural resources effectively to create meaningful employment and enhance livelihoods.
“Let us embrace our African Unity, creating a unified voice in climate change and sustainable natural resources management. Be part of the change, step forward and be part of the process,” he added.
Mr Gwom admonished the youth to take active roles in climate and environmental leaderships in their spaces.
Mr Chibeze Ezekiel, Executive Coordinator, SYND Ghana, said Africa youth needed to be supported to create climate resilient and sustainable environmental solutions to safeguard the continent’s future.
He said they were creating a platform to connect young entrepreneurs and innovators in the environment sector by empowering and encouraging them to lead the continent’s agenda.
“Let us create a space for the youth themselves to come up with their own ideas and their own solutions, and we just support them to grow their ideas.
“Where the youth are actually coming to the table not to demand or hold the government accountable necessarily, but beyond that they are also showcasing solutions and creating their own employment in their space,” he added.
GNA
Edited by Lydia Kukua Asamoah