Botswana: Dr Mokgweetsi Eric Keabetswe Masisi, President of Botswana, yesterday officially launched the ‘National Commitment for Adolescent and young people’s wellbeing in Botswana’ in Gaborone.
The campaign is the world’s biggest ever gathering for the health and wellbeing of adolescents and young people through the establishment of Sustainable Development goals.
President Masisi expounded that this commitment resonates with the goals of the Global Forum for Adolescents from around the world, coming together to share experiences, ideas and aspirations.
He added that it aligns with the United Nations Secretary-General’s call to Member States to Craft forward-looking national commitments to fast track implementation of the 2030 Agenda and its underlying Sustainable Development Goals.
In his remarks, the Minister for State President, Kabo Morwaeng, said that this was a holistic approach to addressing matters affecting young people in Botswana, who are a collection close to the President’s heart. He stated that the campaign aims to emplify the voice of young people and achieve sustainable development around unemployment and health issues, amongst others as paramount.
For her part, the African youth ambassador from the FIA Foundation, Olivia Nalwadda, said that 30% of Botswana’s population are youth, thus making this campaign of great significance in Botswana as it gathers youth around the world to give them a voice and platform to participate in meaningful national development as future drivers of the economy.
She reiterated that Botswana is one of the first countries to launch a national commitment for adolescents and young people as a commitment to the future and welfare of the young segment of the population.
In closing, the Acting UN Resident Coordinator and WHO representative, Dr Josephine Nyamboze, praised the President for support of this initiative, saying the act cements and the First Lady’s commitment to aligning national priorities with sustainable Development Goal to ensure Botswana capitalize on investment in the upcoming generation.