Meet the Chairperson

Happy New Year 2024

Dear Esteemed Partners, Colleagues, and African Youth in Trade,

As we stand on the cusp of a new year, I am filled with gratitude and excitement for the journey we have undertaken together in 2023. Today, as we mark not only the beginning of a promising year but also the celebration of my birthday, I find immense joy in expressing my heartfelt appreciation to each one of you who has been an integral part of our collective mission.

In my role as the Chairperson of the AfCFTA Youth Advisory Council, steering the ship toward a future of economic empowerment for the African youth, I am humbled by the unwavering support we have received from incredible entities. To the AfCFTA Secretariat, Youlead Africa, African Union Office of the Youth Envoy and African Union Youth Commission. Our esteemed development partners, including the International Trade Centre, United Nations Economic Commission for Africa, UNDP Africa, GIZ, Mastercard Foundation, and others, your commitment has been the cornerstone of our success.

The year 2023 was a testament to the power of dedication and shared vision. Despite resource constraints and being understaffed, our team of passionate individuals achieved remarkable milestones. Together, we impacted over 50,000 African youth in the continent and diaspora, equipping them with AfCFTA knowledge through various initiatives such as Masterclass trainings on Export Readiness, the AfCFTA Youth Engage Series, AfCFTA Youth Day, International Day Commemoration webinars, AfCFTA Youth Symposiums, and active participation in the AfCFTA Business Forum, the Intra-Africa Trade Fair and hundreds of speaking engagements.

With the support of the AfCFTA Secretariat and partners, we proudly ideated and launched the AfCFTA Moot Court Competition, a significant stride toward our goal of fostering meaningful youth participation in all AfCFTA implementation processes. As we enter the promising year of 2024, our commitment remains resolute. Building on the successes of the past year, we are launching new projects aimed at transitioning from advocacy to directly enabling African Youth to trade. Our vision encompasses increasing the numbers of African youth engaged in intra-African trade, ultimately contributing to their economic liberation from the shackles of poverty through the AfCFTA.

On a personal note, as I celebrate another year on this beautiful planet with a few more to go before joining the third tier of life, I extend a heartfelt call to action. To our African Youth, development partners, and all those who have championed our cause, I implore you to continue supporting us in this noble endeavor. Together, let us ensure that African youth become architects of their own development, starting with the profound impact of the AfCFTA.

Here's to a year of continued collaboration, growth, and unprecedented success. May 2024 be a testament to the collective power of our shared vision and unwavering commitment.

With deepest gratitude,

Mr. Emolot Allan David
Chairperson- chairperson@icoyacaafrica.org