Ntando Makhubu
PRETORIA: Unisa will be the regional hub for US President Barack Obama’s Young African Leaders Initiative (Yali); joining Ghana, Kenya and Senegal as a host.
The four-year agreement was signed yesterday by Professor Mandla Makhanya, Unisa’s vice-chancellor, and Patrick Gaspard, the US ambassador to South Africa.
“This programme is completely aligned with Unisa’s vision for youth development, and with our commitment to the AU agenda to further the programme of the youth,” Makhanya said.
He believed Unisa was perfectly poised to host the regional centre, which would host young people from the region and provide training for up to four weeks at a time.
Obama launched Yali in 2010, and kick-started its operations last year to support young leaders to spur growth and prosperity, strengthen democratic governance and enhance peace and security across Africa.
Young people, aged 18 to 35, would get full bursaries; the core aim of the programme being all-inclusive in terms of gender, disability, religion and sexual orientation.
Speaking on behalf of the US Agency for International Development, Gaspard said Unisa would undoubtedly race ahead of the other centres.
“The development of future leaders is centrally and keenly important to Obama and he has affirmed that Yali is not a temporary initiative.”
Yali will provide training in business and entrepreneurship development, public management and governance.
“This initiative will spark a real moment of transformation,” Gaspard said, adding that this was a gift USAid would keep on giving.