From Bamako To Accra: Drumming Support for Africa’s Youth
by ‘Gbenga Sesan, www.gbengasesan.com, me@gbengasesan.com
December 23, 2004

Africa held the first Regional Meeting Preparatory to the World Summit on the
Information Society (“WSIS”) at the Palais des Congrès in Bamako, Republic of
Mali from 28 to 30 May 2002 and the conference had representatives from 51
African countries, delegates from many other countries and representatives of
African and global entities, the private sector and civil society.

The meeting had five young people (among others) sponsored by the
Telecommunications Development Bureau (TDB) of the International
Telecommunications Union (ITU) for the purpose of driving youth input into the
process. These young people lobbied and recorded major success as the
roundtable discussion threw a lot of support behind the clamour for youth
empowerment and inclusion. Eventually, one of the major outcomes of the
conference, the Bamako 2002 Declaration, requested, “that African States should
actively involve the youth in national and regional ICT activities”[1] .

Building on this momentum and other fortunate networks, Africa was duly
represented when eight (8) young people from 5 continents met in Geneva in July
2002 to kickstart the process of global youth involvement in the WSIS. They
started the Youth Caucus and made clear its objectives even at the first
preparatory committee meeting of the WSIS. The WSIS Youth Caucus, then led by
Nick Moraitis of TakingITGlobal, is now anchored by a team of three young
people – with Titilayo Akinsanmi (Nigerian – and obviously African – working in
Johannesburg) as the Global Facilitator.

From the Bamako meting, through the preparatory committee meetings, December
2003 summit, side events, and to local, national, regional and international
WSIS-related meetings (including the recently concluded United Nations ICT Task
Force meeting in Berlin), young Africans have remained active in the process.
At the times when visa and funding problems would not allow us attend the
meetings physically, we took to the World Wide Web for help. The African Youth
eConference on the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) held online
at www.yahoogrups.com/group/wsisyouthafrica between the 20th and 30th of
November 2002. It was coordinated by Paradigm Initiative Nigeria and ninety-six
(96) young Africans from over 13 countries (from Western, Eastern, Central,
Northern and Southern Africa) participated in the eConference which sought to
strengthen the role of African Youths in the WSIS processes, and the eventual
action plans that will be drawn[2].

Sincerely, Youth is not a thematic issue within the WSIS process, and the need
to involve and empower Africa’s youth is not just another conference statement
bullet point. It is imperative that young Africans participate in the process,
and are empowered to translate words and thoughts into action. We are the proof
of sustainability, and the bridge between today and tomorrow. With this fact
accepted, Africa’s development process utilizing Information and Communication
Technologies (ICTs) can be accelerated. You just need to see the passion in the
blood of the empowered African youth within the WSIS process and the action
they have been able to place on the discussion table to appreciate the song
this piece seeks to sing!

One very obvious outcome of African youth involvement in the WSIS process is
the
National Information Society Youth Campaign. The official website of the WSIS
Youth Caucus [3] reports that, “During the second half of 2003, young people in
21 countries worldwide mobilized around Information Society issues through
"National Information Society Youth Campaigns"… young people implemented a
vibrant series of workshops, prime-time radio programs, media outreach, video
conferences, websites and more. They held meetings in community halls, visited
schools, published newsletters, trained other youth in technology skills at
internet cafes, talked with decision-makers, and implemented concrete local
projects” [4]. Nigeria, Ghana, Egypt and Sierra Leone were the 4 African
countries that led National Information Society Youth Campaigns (NISYC).

Nigeria’s NISYC, tagged “Policy Train” stopped in three representative cities
in
the northern, eastern and western regions of the country. On the 11th of
October 2003, young Nigerians met in Port Harcourt to discuss youth involvement
in the WSIS process, and the role of youth in acting out the outcome of the
summit. The train proceeded to Kano on the 18th of October and the final phase
of the consultation held in Lagos on the 22nd of the same month [5]. With the
commencement of the second phase of the WSIS, Policy Train II has taken off
with a decentralized system coordinated by Paradigm Initiative Nigeria and
seeking more active participation from Nigeria’s youth.

On January 8, the Lagos consultation will hold. The Abuja version of the Policy
Train holds on the 12th of January and more states are being confirmed as I
write this, courtesy of the Nigerian Policy Train Coordinators – youth
volunteers who believe that action speaks louder than words. A January 17
Nigerian WSIS pre-event to be hosted by the Policy and Development Centre will
witness the initial showcasing of the multimedia presentation of Policy Train
II, which will be one of Nigeria’s youth’s contribution to the WSIS process as
proof of action within the WSIS process. Just yesterday, Ghana’s NISYC was
launched and it is coming at a very important time – when Ghana is hosting
Africa for the Second Regional Meeting Preparatory to the WSIS (Accra 2005).

Fortunately, Accra 2005 will provide an opportunity for Africa to evaluate how
we have been able to build enduring processes within the framework of the WSIS.
The conference’s official website states that “the African Regional Preparatory
Conference for the WSIS, in Accra, with the theme “Access – Africa’s key to an
inclusive Information Society” will prepare Africa for an effective
participation in the second phase of the WSIS to ensure a strategic and
interdependent digital partnership that will promote economic growth and human
development of the continent. The conference will bring together all
stakeholders, ranging from Government to civil society, the private sector and
academia, parliamentarians, local authorities, African regional institutions,
development partners and international organizations.” [6]

The United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (ECA, one of Africa’s youth’s
best friends as far as development is concerned), along with her partners in
progress will be hosting pre-conference workshops, which include a strong focus
on Multi-Stakeholder Partnerships (MSPs). During the MSP breakout sessions,
young Africans will be given the opportunity to address the all-important
theme, “Empowering Youth in the Information Society” [7]. This builds on the
brilliant participation that Africa’s youth recorded in a virtual community set
up earlier by the ECA. The online group, “African Youth in the Information
Society” [8], has been discussing relevant Information Society issues to date
and has even gone ahead to propose concrete action towards Africa’s accelerated
development. Accra 2005 is an opportunity for the group to consolidate and give
Africa a New Year gift – an African Youth ICT4D Network.

Ahead of the emergence of this all-important network, the onus lies on the
entire African community – and her friends – to support the value- and
demand-driven initiative. We accept that as told in the story of the proverbial
bird in the hand of a young child, whether the “bird” lives or dies, we decide.
But just as another African proverb says, “a child who lifts his hands will get
the support of his mother”. We lift our hands and ask for support. Support –
not for individuals or selfish interests, but for the future of our continent.


We have moved around in circles long enough, its time to join forces and weave
a
new continent we can be proud to call home. No longer shall we just tend the
gardens of others, our own flowers will blossom. It is Africa’s time to reveal
to the world that the pyramids of Egypt and mineral resources of Nigeria are
not accidents but gifts planted ahead of a day of celebration – today!
It is time for action, and support. Relay the message of the network to other
young people, publish the emerging items in your local media outlets, advise
the network’s youth, make resources available for the ambitious but necessary
work, and hold us accountable for our promises. We believe in positive peer
pressure and will enjoy a healthy competition on the track of development.

Fortunately, the fifth African Development Forum has its theme as “Youth and
Leadership in the 21st Century” and we believe that it comes at a great time
for us in order to weave these efforts into one fine matrix.
From Bamako to Accra, Africa’s youth have toiled. In the words of David Diop,
“the blood of your sweat / the sweat of your work / … / That is your Africa /
springing up anew / springing up patiently obstinately / Whose fruit bit by bit
acquire / The bitter taste of liberty” [9]. Here comes liberty, and it is time
to support these efforts and network with other stakeholders to announce the
birth of a New Africa, one riding on the wings of Information and Communication
Technologies for accelerated development. Viva Africa.

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Notes:
[1] Bamako 2002 Declaration. African Regional Meeting Preparatory to the World
Summit on the Information Society.
[2] Final eConference Statement from the African Youth eConference on the World
Summit on the Information Society. 20 – 30 November 2002.
[3] www.wsisyouth.org
[4] wsisyouth.takingitglobal.org/phase1-natcampaigns.php
[5] www.ydco.net/policy/wsis-nigeria
[6] www.wsisaccra2005.gov.gh
[7] www.wsisaccra2005.gov.gh/preconf.htm
[8] www.dgroups.org/group/aisi-youth-l
[9] AFRICA. David Diop - www.bowwave.org/AfricanWriters/David%20Diop.htm