6th EAC University Students Debate on Regional Integration begins in Dar es Salaam
East African Community Secretariat, Arusha, Tanzania, 4th December14, 2018: The 6th East African Community University Students debate on regional integration kicked off today at the Nkrumah Hall, Julius Nyerere Campus of the University of Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.
Speaking when he officially opened the debate, the EAC Deputy Secretary General in charge of Political Federation, Mr Charles Njoroge, cautioned young people within the EAC against falling victim to migrant smuggling as they look for greener pastures across national borders.
Mr Njoroge said that crafty persons and cartels had taken advantage of young people seeking better opportunities out of their countries.
Mr Njoroge said that the problem of migrant smuggling had been compounded by insufficient systems and corruption, which hinder national and international efforts to combat transnational and cross-border crimes.
The DSG said that as the integration deepens, there was an overwhelming movement of people across the borders, adding that this free movement comes with various challenges including trafficking of persons, migrant smuggling, drug trafficking and terrorism.
He said that the EAC was undertaking various initiatives to promote continuous dialogue among the youth and enhance their participation in moving the regional integration process forward.
A total of 30 students from Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania and Uganda are participating in the debate that is aimed at picking a Youth Ambassador and Deputy Youth Ambassador from each EAC Partner State. There were no participants from South Sudan.
The theme of this year’s debate is: Border management to address migrant smuggling and corruption at borders for stability and social economic development in the East African Community – Role and Implications of the youth.
“Our Youth Ambassadors are a tested group of young leaders. The selection process is highly competitive and subsequent capacity building programme ensures that the youth leaders are well nurtured and groomed for furthering personal and regional development of EAC,” said Mr Njoroge.
Speaking at the event, Prof. Cuthbert Kimambo, the Deputy Vice Chancellor-Research, at the University of Dar es Salaam, said the debate was a noble initiative that could be used to bring young people to discuss pertinent issued concerning the EAC.
“The University of Dar es Salaam firmly believes that the youth are a key stakeholder in the entire EAC integration process and we need to engage them in matters of East African integration at each step of the way,” said Prof. Kimambo.
Prof. Kimambo said the debate was a perfect venue for identifying young people who were passionate about the integration process and who would in turn sensitize their peers on the EAC integration process.
In his remarks, Mr. Esayas Abebe, the Head of Programme, GIZ Support to the African Union Border Programme, said the debate was a smart endeavour by the EAC to inclusively involve its citizens in order to strengthen the sense of “East African-ness” of its young citizens who are both the present and future of the region.
Mr Abebe said the debate would also inspire policies about tackling cross-border crimes when building an integrated region.
Mr Abebe said that 27 million young people leave their countries of birth to seek employment abroad as international migrants.
In his remarks, the Deputy Ambassador of Germany to Tanzania and EAC, Mr. Jörg Herrera, acknowledged the significance of border management in integration processes. He further emphasized the long standing commitment of Germany in technical and financial support towards integrated border management.
The Deputy Ambassador noted the importance of involving the youth in the effort to combat migrant smuggling and corruption through effective border management. "The youth shall raise awareness about the value of regional integration within the community and form and foster the integration process within the EAC in order to pass on this cooperative spirit to future generations," noted Ambassador Herrera.
NOTES FOR EDITORS:
The Summit of EAC Heads of State in 2008 decided on the deepening sensitization and awareness creation for greater political will as a means for realization of the East African Political Federation. University Students Debate and sensitization was adopted as one of the strategies.
The 1st EAC University Students Debate on regional integration was held in August 2012. The aim of the debates is to provide a regional platform to promote dialogue among university students and interest them in advocating for regional integration initiatives.
As an outcome of the debates, two youth are appointed to represent each country as EAC Youth Ambassador and Deputy Youth Ambassador. These Youth Ambassadors act as focal points in their respective universities, collaborate with the EAC Secretariat in sensitizing their peers on the EAC integration process, benefits and challenges. The EAC Council of Ministers declared the EAC University Students Debate an annual event.
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For more information, please contact:
Mr Owora Richard Othieno
Head, Corporate Communications and Public Affairs Department
EAC Secretariat
Arusha, Tanzania
Tel: +255 784 835021
Email: OOthieno [at] eachq.org
About the East African Community Secretariat:
The East African Community (EAC) is a regional intergovernmental organisation of five Partner States, comprising Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania and Uganda, with its headquarters in Arusha, Tanzania.
The EAC Secretariat is ISO 9001:2008 Certified