Opportunity for Politically Ambitious Youth -As Young Political Leadership Training Opens in Monrovia Today

Despite a decade and half backwardness caused by war and conflict, international spotlights have lately begun to radiate the gloom of Africa’s oldest republic. And many social and political commentators concord on the fact that youth development and the creating of the enabling environment for innovation constitutes the key answer to the country’s recovery transformation. Thanks to a few Liberians who have remained engaged with Government mainstreaming human capacity building with emphasis on scaling up youth skills and participation in the social and economic mosaic. One of such Liberian is Mr. Eddie Jarwolo whose pro-youth organization, the National Youth Movement for Transparent Elections (NAMOTE) is spearheading an international crusade to make a new generation of leaders that will be commitment to the development of Africa and its people. At his behest, Liberia will be hosting Semester IV of what is known as the Young Political Leadership School Africa. The Analyst reports.

A somewhat campaign training school for emerging African leaders, the Young Political Leadership School Africa committed to political organizing for ambitious young people on the Continent of Africa is holding its 4th Semester this week in Monrovia.

The coordinating host for this Semester, the National Youth Movement for Transparent Elections NAYMOTE has been recruiting participants—middle level professionals, college graduates, youth candidates and active youth political leaders aged 18 – 35 years—who have demonstrated a high level of interest in politics, leadership, governance, community service, and who are passionate about transforming their communities to impact lives in Africa.

Held under the auspices of the Young Political Leadership School Africa (YPLS Africa) the program is aimed at increasing the knowledge and skills of young people in planning, organizing, and implementing political events, increase in the number of young people stepping forward to seek political offices at different levels of the governance structures.

The training is also meant to increase knowledge among young people to strategize the mobilization of other young people to support their peers during political campaign processes and give young African leaders the rudimentary skills to engage in transformational leadership of the continent.

Semester VI takes place in in Monrovia, Liberia, at the Bella Casa Hotel in Monrovia, from October 14-18, 2019.

The YPLS Africa is an initiative of Naymote Partners for Democratic Development established in 2016 with the overarching goal to contribute to the formation of a new generation of leaders that would transform Africa.

According to a NAYMOTE release, Semester IV is expected to welcome 75—40 males and 35 females—who are emerging leaders from across West Africa to Monrovia.

Mr. Eddie D. Jarwolo, originator of the YPLS Africa, explained that the program is the best and innovative way of grooming middle-level professionals into politics and helping them become transformational leaders that are respected, connected and serving their community to contest and win elections.

He said the school needs to be institutionalized with evolving courses that are responsive to the needs of young Africans with interest in seeking elections for political offices.

The school will also serve as a platform where young people from across African countries can have the opportunity to share their experiences of participating in political processes and build a network of a new generation of leaders with new aspirations and political values.

A political communicator and facilitator of last semester, Semester Three, Jeff Fox, noted that young political leaders are inspirational for the future hope of Liberia.

“If you get young people like these into leadership roles in five, ten to fifteen years, you will have a better country,” Jeff is quoted to have said.

The Keynote address at the opening of this Semester will be delivered by Vice President Jewel Howard Taylor.

Speakers at the event will be Dr. Milton Nathaniel BarnesFormer Ambassador of the Republic of Liberia to the United States of America; Dr. Ophelia Inez WeeksPresident, University of Liberia, and Dr. Toga Gayewea McintoshFormer Planning and Economic Affairs Minister of Liberia;.

Others include Mr. Saah Charles N’Tow, Former Minister of Youth and Sports; Mr. Alieu F. Nyei, Former Assistant Minister, Ministry of Finance, Development and Planning, Republic of Liberia and H.E. Babatunde O. Ajesomo, the Special Representative of the President of ECOWAS, Ambassador of ECOWAS to Liberia, etc

The lead facilitator for the training is Prof. Jerry AustinFormer Adjunct Professor and Director of the International Campaign Fellows Program, Bliss Institute of Applied Politics, University of Akron, United States of America.

Prof. Jerry Austin is one of America’s most experienced and successful political strategist with over 30 years of practical experience.  He has played leading roles in managing political campaigns across 17 states in the United States including 1980 Campaign Manager Ohio, for President Jimmy Carter, 1982 Campaign Manager, Gov Richard Celeste Ohio, 1988 National Campaign Manager Jesse Jackson for President.

He has also served as a Political/ Media consultant for Senators Paul Wellstone, Carol Mosley Braun, Presidential candidate Senator Paul Tsongas and as Advisor- SDLP Northern Ireland, MSZP Hungary, etc.

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