By:Abdullahi Inuwa
In a powerful display of youth diplomacy and continental solidarity, the Nasser International Forum took center stage at the 2025 Pan-African Youth Forum held in Djibouti from November 4 to 6. Organized by the African Union Commission under the theme “From Ambition to Action: Youth as Catalysts for Sustainable Development,” the gathering brought together some of Africa’s brightest minds committed to shaping the continent’s future.
For Nasser International, the forum was more than just another conference—it was a reaffirmation of its mission to drive Africa’s Agenda 2063 and deepen integration across development, innovation, and leadership.
Anthropologist Hassan Ghazaly, the founder of the Nasser International Forum, described Egypt’s participation as a “strategic step toward stronger youth integration,” noting that host nation Djibouti holds a “symbolic position as a bridge between the Arab and African worlds.”
Ghazaly highlighted that the forum’s delegation reflected its core values of pluralism and cross-border cooperation. The team featured a rich blend of talented young professionals representing Egypt, Sudan, The Gambia, and Djibouti—each bringing unique expertise to the continental dialogue.
The Egyptian delegation included Dr. Mohamed Ezz and Engineer Rowan Al-Omda; from Sudan came Engineer Hudhaifa Al-Hassan; The Gambia was represented by legal expert Bubba Fatty; and Djibouti by UN activist Malika Elias. According to Ghazaly, this mix showcased the forum’s unwavering commitment to empowering youth across regions and expanding platforms for exchange on leadership, entrepreneurship, and sustainable development.
Engineer Hudhaifa Al-Hassan—Secretary-General of the Arab-African Youth Council and a graduate of the Nasser International Leadership Fellowship—added further momentum to the delegation’s presence. He revealed that the Arab-African Youth Council hosted a well-attended panel titled “The Role of Inclusive Markets and Inclusive Business in Achieving Regional Integration.”
The session underscored how Arab and African youth can shape the continent’s future by driving inclusive economic systems that open doors for sustainable growth, job creation, and social empowerment.
Throughout the forum, the Nasser International team hammered home a recurring message: Africa must transition from isolated efforts to strong regional cooperation networks capable of delivering long-term impact. Delegates shared practical success stories from initiatives under both the Nasser International Forum and the Arab-African Youth Council—ranging from entrepreneurship support to capacity-building projects aimed at empowering young people economically and socially.
Their contributions drew attention to both the opportunities and the complex challenges confronting inclusive markets on the continent. By offering real-world models, the delegation emphasized the critical role youth-led initiatives play in accelerating Africa’s development agenda.
Beyond its activities at the forum, the Nasser International Forum itself continues to stand as one of the continent’s leading platforms for youth-focused public diplomacy. Established through a gradually evolving vision since 2019, the forum operates a broad network of programs designed to strengthen cultural exchange and enhance leadership capacity among young people.
Signature initiatives include the prestigious Nasser International Leadership Fellowship, the Nasser Youth Movement for Bilateral Relations Development, the National Vanguard School, the experimental Nasser Social Platform, and its official digital knowledge hub. Together, they form an innovative ecosystem that blends theory with practice to prepare a new generation of leaders capable of driving development and fostering international cooperation.
As the 2025 Pan-African Youth Forum concluded, one message was unmistakable: Nasser International is not just participating in Africa’s journey—it is helping shape it.
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