Egyptian Young Leader Selected “Person of The Year” by African Youth

Working in silence and seeking no fame, the Egyptian young leader Hassan Ali Ghazaly just got selected as “Young Person of The Year” after getting the majority of African youth’s votes at the Young African Leaders Summit (YALS) in Accra, Ghana.

Ghazaly, who won the hearts of African youth for helping them reach their full potential through numerous activitie, is the founder of the African Youth Bureau, which is affiliated to the Egyptian Ministry of Youth and Sports. He is also the Vice President of the Sudan-based Pan African Youth Union.

Throughout his career journey as an African activist, his main goal was to empower young people at both local and continental levels which goes in tandem with the African Union Agenda 2063, based on inclusive growth and sustainable development.

Bearing the slogan “Egypt is My Village, Africa is My Country”, Ghazaly managed to win the title after strong competition against many active young leaders, including the African Union Youth Envoy Aya Chebbi.

Due to his unreleting efforts to support African Youth, he was also selected by the Pan African Youth Leadership Foundation among the most effective young leaders in the continent. The young Egyptian figure was honored in Gambia in September.

“I always say that youths are today’s leaders not just future leaders. Therefore, I believe that African youth has strong potential to change the contours of the whole continent, ensuring brighter future for the upcoming generations. This is what inspires me. I am not looking for awards or titles,” Ghazaly told Egyptian Streets.

The Nubian Ghazaly has always been passionate about leaving a mark in the African continent – driving force for his achievements.

He developed leadership habits and followed the steps of his role model, former Egyptian president Nasser.

“The idea of Pan-Africanism started to sparkle in my mind when I read the history of late President Gamal Abdel Nasser, who embraced this concept. Since that time, I decided to dedicate my whole life to bring African youth closer in diverse domains,” said Ghazaly.

Ghazaly’s childhood’s environment prepared him for his journey as pan-Africanist. His secondary school was overlooking the African Society in Zamalek district which helped him spontaneously meet his African peers, sharing their dreams and visions for the continent.

It is worth mentioning that the African Society was established in 1956, and it was called “Africa’s House” by the African diplomats and students in Egypt.

In 2014, Ghazaly submitted a proposal to the Ministry of Youths and Sports to establish an office for African youths in Egypt with the key aim of making their voices heard. In line with his vision, the ministry agreed to host the office.

Through his position at the African Youth Bureau, Ghazaly organized numerous exchange programmes, fellowships and initiatives, offering a helping hand to young people in Africa.

With Egypt’s presidency of the African Union, the African Youth Bureau, chaired by Ghazaly, stepped up its efforts with the aim of bringing African youth closer to the Africa that multiple countries and African heads of states envision.

The involvement was also meant at renewing interest and commitment to Egypt’s 2030 vision at the national level, the Agenda of Africa 2063 at the continental level and the SDGs 2030 at the global level.

Among the Bureau’s recent activities was creating ‘The Nasser Fellowship for African Leadership under the auspices of the Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouli, and the Pan African Summer School 2063 along with the participation of young people from Sudan, South Sudan, Rwanda, Zambia, Gambia, Kenya, Algeria, Somalia and more.

Now, the African Youth Bureau is to host the largest volunteer programme in Egypt, organized by the African Union Commission under the auspices of the Egyptian President, Abdel Fattah Al Sisi.