❝𝗔𝗳𝗿𝗶𝗰𝗮 𝗶𝘀 𝗠𝘆 𝗛𝗼𝗺𝗲, 𝗔𝗳𝗿𝗶𝗰𝗮 𝗶𝘀 𝗠𝘆 𝗙𝘂𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲!❞ – 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗴𝗿𝗮𝗺 𝗜𝗻𝘁𝗿𝗼𝗱𝘂𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗔 𝗖𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝘁𝗼 𝗔𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝗛.𝗘. (𝗘𝗻𝗴𝗶𝗻𝗲𝗲𝗿) 𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗹𝗹𝗮 𝗔𝘀𝗲𝗳𝗳𝗮 𝗮𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗦𝘁𝗮𝗿𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝗔𝗬𝗟𝗗𝗖 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟱

At the official opening of AYLDC 2025, H.E. (Engineer) Challa Aseffa, Founder and Executive Director of EYDPA, extended a warm welcome to delegates from over 40 countries, uniting under a shared mission—to lead, to transform, and to build the Africa we want.

A Defining Moment for Africa’s Future
"𝘼𝙛𝙧𝙞𝙘𝙖 𝙞𝙨 𝙢𝙤𝙧𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙣 𝙖 𝙘𝙤𝙣𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙚𝙣𝙩—𝙞𝙩 𝙞𝙨 𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙝𝙤𝙢𝙚, 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙨𝙤𝙞𝙡 𝙬𝙝𝙚𝙧𝙚 𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙥𝙖𝙨𝙩 𝙗𝙚𝙜𝙖𝙣 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙬𝙝𝙚𝙧𝙚 𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙛𝙪𝙩𝙪𝙧𝙚 𝙛𝙡𝙤𝙪𝙧𝙞𝙨𝙝𝙚𝙨." These powerful words set the tone for critical discussions ahead, focusing on:
-> Forming meaningful partnerships
-> Finding solutions to Africa’s greatest challenges
-> Advocating for policies and innovations that drive progress

𝙇𝙚𝙖𝙧𝙣𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙛𝙧𝙤𝙢 𝙊𝙪𝙧 𝙇𝙚𝙜𝙖𝙘𝙮, 𝘽𝙪𝙞𝙡𝙙𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙏𝙤𝙢𝙤𝙧𝙧𝙤𝙬

H.E. Chala Aseffa reminded us that our generation stands on the shoulders of giants, inspired by leaders like Kenyatta, Haile Selassie, Mandela, Nkrumah, Nyerere, and Machel.

𝗔𝗬𝗟𝗗𝗖 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟱 𝗢𝗽𝗲𝗻𝘀 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗣𝗼𝘄𝗲𝗿𝗳𝘂𝗹 𝗞𝗲𝘆𝗻𝗼𝘁𝗲𝘀 𝗼𝗻 𝗗𝗶𝗽𝗹𝗼𝗺𝗮𝗰𝘆, 𝗧𝗲𝗰𝗵𝗻𝗼𝗹𝗼𝗴𝘆, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗬𝗼𝘂𝘁𝗵 𝗟𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽 🔉🔉

Day One of AYLDC 2025 set the stage for impactful discussions, meaningful connections, and transformative ideas. Delegates from across Africa gathered in Addis Ababa to engage with visionary leaders who shared their expertise on diplomacy, innovation, youth empowerment, and regional cooperation.

We were honored to host distinguished keynote speakers, including:

- H.E. Eng. Wondimu Seta – Addis Ababa City General Manager, With the Rank of Deputy Mayor
- H.E. Cherinet Alem Harrifo – IGAD Permanent Observer and Head of Mission to the UN
- H.E. Dr. Yeshurun Alemayehu – Deputy Minister, Ministry of Innovation and Technology, F.D.R.E
- H.E. Kajela Merdassa – Minister of Youth and Sports Adviser to the Prime Minister, F.D.R.E

These leaders addressed key challenges and opportunities for Africa’s youth, focusing on diplomacy, innovation, economic development, and the impact of sports and culture.