Full speech of Amb. Dewan Gabriel Kudangbena at the ongoing youth summit organized by the youth Assembly at the United Nations Regional Representative Conferences at the Majestic Hotel Kuala Lumpur Malaysia on 15th November 2017.

PROTOCOLS

Today I feel highly delighted and honored to stand before you all and deliver a speech that can contribute to building a better future for the youths worldwide. Permit me to register my heartfelt thanks to the United Nations for always embracing the voices of youths across the world and doing something extraordinary to give meaning to those voices. The world today has become such a complex place that the struggle for a United and prosperous future for the youths is taking a new turn and dimension. Almost everybody has his/her own definition of a youth but in general terms, a youth is a youth and an old person is an old person. A youth in my view is someone who is smart, vibrant and energetic. Those categories of people are found in all the nooks and crannies of the world. From Malaysia to Ukraine. From the United States to the United Kingdom. From the Democratic Republic of Congo to the United Arab Emirates. From Malawi to New Zealand. From The Federal Republic of Nigeria to the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus. The numerical strength of the youths can’t be contested. I’m proud to be one. Having underscored the dynamism and potential embedded in the youths, it is fair to say that on the one hand, those potentials must be harnessed and maximized for the greatest possible good of the world. On the other hand, youths must be challenged and supported to assume leadership positions at all levels so they can project their voices and make a difference where ever they are. Permit me at this juncture to pay glowing tributes to the United Nations. The UN’s short and long term plans for the youths through the United Nations Youth Assembly are amazing and exceptional. All the youths seated here today are direct beneficiaries of this huge gesture. Personally, I feel highly honored and thrilled. My life has transformed beyond measure having tapped from this golden opportunity. The sharing and exchange of ideas, opinions, views, experiences and information in this great summit is absolutely important and educative. I earnestly hope that we will all use this opportunity to further push for a world that is peaceful, just and fair for all humanity. I’m not unmindful of all the challenges confronting the youths worldwide, they’re numerous to mention. But that does not mean that all hope is lost. The United Nations and other world leaders can continue to work on the front lines of addressing these obvious and critical challenges so the world could be a better place. I come from a continent where opportunities are everywhere but I regret to announce that those opportunities are largely underutilized. Many Africans are suffering a great deal. The future of youths in Africa is almost in jeopardy. This can’t continue to happen. We must be resolute to affirm and respond to patriotic calls in order to define a greater future and build a world that everybody can be happy and achieve his/her dreams. This is the work that we must be seen to be doing no matter whose ox is gored. Partnership must be built across frontiers to achieve this. Network must be created throughout the world to make these plans come to pass. We must be determined and invest our time, energy and resources to make these goals actualized. The problems of corruption, poverty, youth restiveness, abuse of power, religious and political upheavals in Africa and the world must be confronted headlong. These are Africa’s greatest challenges and setbacks. Interestingly however, the presence of United Nations in almost all African countries is making a huge differences. The work in my view shouldn’t rest on the shoulders of the United Nations. We the young people must seize this opportunity and make our voices, efforts and life count. We must develop an incredible passion to create positive change and contribute to making the world a better place. For the youths to take over in the nearest future, we must shun unhealthy practices and avoid things that do not pay. We must behave ourselves and stick to good ethics. We must be civilised and completely shun societal vices. We must support our governments and at the same time, challenge them to do what is right before the eye of the law. On this basis, they will be moved to address some of our challenges and deliver the dividends of democracy for the benefit of all and sundry. Vision 2030 YOUTH TAKE OVER THE WORLD is an inspiring and compelling vision. The ball is in our court to make it happen. How can it be possible? The answer is not far-fetched. I humbly suggest that everyday, we should do something that moves us closer to this vision. This we can do by building more leadership skills, maximizing leadership opportunities and justifying the confidence placed in us by our senior leaders. When we take over, I do believe that the difference would be clear and we will help move the world in a direction of hope, dignity and prosperity. We count on the continuous support of the United Nations in this regard and we promise to be true ambassadors of change worldwide. I am sincerely thankful for this opportunity. I am happy that this summit has given us all the opportunity to project our voices. This is one joy too many. Our support and loyalty to the cause of the United Nations can’t be compromised. Thank you sincerely.

Amb. Dewan Gabriel Kudangbena

President United Nations Youth Assembly representing North Central Region Federal Republic of Nigeria.

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Full speech of Amb. Dewan at the ongoing global youth summit in the Republic of Malaysia