The 4th Zonal Conference of West Africa held in Niger
The 4th Zonal Conference and the 4th Zonal Youth Forum of West Africa took place in Niamey, Niger, from the 16th to 18th February 2008, at the Village de la Francophonie.
The official opening ceremony took place at the Palais des Arts, and was presided by the Minister for Youth and Sports, who was in the company of other Government officials, Ambassadors, representatives of international and national NGOs, former Scouts, members of the National Council of Association des Scouts du Niger.
The Conference and the Youth Forum had the same theme: "Youth and good governance''. It was tackled from two different perspectives:
- a philosopher treated the topic from the angle of civic education (African youth and rational nurturing of the civic values)
- an economist (creating a system of good governance).
Two representatives of Scouts et Guides de France participated and contributed especially to the issue of the migration of the youth.
Niger broke the record of participation with 10 NSOs out of the 13 that make the West African Zone.
Countries present were: Benin, Burkina Faso, Cape Verde, Ivory Coast, Ghana, Guinea, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal. 100 participants took part in the Zonal Youth Forum and the Zonal Conference.
Nikita Adjirakor, Youth Forum Secretary for Africa, took part and set up a 6-member Zonal Youth Committee.
The event enjoyed media coverage, hence the presence of Scouts' representatives of the West African Zone was publicized. Scouts of Niger benefitted from support from several benefactors for the success of the 4th Zonal Conference and the 2nd Youth Forum.
Liberia will host, in 2009, the 5th Zonal Conference and the 5th Youth Forum.
Courtesy of Lamine Diawara
Director, Dakar Operational Centre
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