On Friday, October 2, Mali's Minister of Youth, Sports, Civic Education, and Citizenship Construction, Abdoul Ibrahim Kassim Fomba, paid a courtesy visit to the UNICEF offices in Bamako. This meeting aimed to strengthen the partnership between his department and the UN agency. During the visit, Minister Fomba engaged with a child journalist, Mamadou Sanogo, and discussed measures to support young people in their education, employment, and civic participation.
Minister Fomba emphasized the importance of youth in the country's development, as stressed by the President of the Transition. He highlighted that all efforts are geared towards youth engagement, citing the development of sports and socio-educational infrastructure, revitalization of existing programs, and creation of new initiatives. These initiatives include the revitalization of the national youth service and the establishment of a "citizenship school" program to promote civic values and national consciousness among young people.
The Minister discussed programs aimed at promoting youth formation and professional insertion, including training initiatives and the role of the national service in instilling ethics and necessary skills for new civil servants. He also mentioned the creation of citizen brigades for community actions, such as cleaning and reforestation, and the restructuring of the National Youth Council, which brings together various associative groups to serve their communities.
Minister Fomba highlighted the government's commitment to education, with 2026-2027 declared the "Year of Education and Culture" by the President of the Transition. He mentioned ongoing programs to renovate and construct excellence schools, equipped to enable Malian youth to reach competitive levels nationally and internationally.
The Minister expressed gratitude to UNICEF for its collaboration, while UNICEF's resident representative in Mali, Mohamed Fayazi, reaffirmed the organization's commitment to supporting youth participation and adolescents' rights. Fayazi stated that youth participation in decision-making processes concerning their lives is a fundamental right, and UNICEF supports the Malian government's efforts to realize this right.
The visit demonstrates the Malian government's focus on youth empowerment and development, with Minister Fomba stressing that if he fails, "it's the entire Malian youth that will have failed." This underscores the significance of youth engagement in shaping the country's future.
The partnership between the Ministry of Youth and UNICEF aims to create opportunities for young people to contribute actively to the country's development. By working together, the two institutions can support the realization of youth potential and promote a brighter future for Mali.
Key points
- Minister Fomba emphasizes youth empowerment and engagement in Mali's development.
- UNICEF reaffirms commitment to supporting youth participation and adolescents' rights in Mali.
- The Malian government launches initiatives to promote youth education, employment, and civic participation.
