Youth Must Drive Africa’s Media, Peace and Security: Tana Forum Essay Competition Winners 

Addis Ababa, October 31, 2025 (ENA) – Africa must involve its productive youth towards driving the continent’s contemporary media and ensure sustainable peace and growth, winners of the 2025 Tana Forum essay competition said.

The 2025 Tana Forum essay competition winner, Sabelo Skenjana from South Africa told ENA that the involvement of the youth to the continent's peace and security forums in platforms like Tana Forum must resonate across Africa and must be well covered on the African media outlets to engage the next generation.

“Africa media should involve the youth to key platform for discussing peace and security challenges on the continent”, he said, adding that the need to invest in youth, especially in this digital era will recompence the continent.

According to him, the youth need to be curious and take part in the continent's significant matters and African leaders need to bring the young people on board as well.

In the spirit of Ubuntu, all Africa’s youth, more than half of them under 35, must unite and sit to take part in the decision-making process and platforms and organizations that are substantial to Africa’s cause, Skenjana underlined.

Immanuel Kiilu from Kenya, another winner of the essay competition, said the role of the young people is significant to peace and security matters as the young are vibrant and their involvement in the national and continental platform bears fruit with the support given.

"Young people can articulate themselves, present themselves as writers, researchers, as well as leaders to ensure that the voice of what is happening in their locality is heard. Young people can also promote peace and coexistence with other people from various faith traditions, cultures and society in their community; and that creates a society where everyone thrives when there is peace, “he underscored.

The Nigerian winner, Peter Inalegwu Awodi, said the need to create communication between the younger and older generation of Africa must be encouraged.

There is a need to involve the youth that are equipped with technology and innovation in decision-making process in order to bring sustainable peace and development in Africa, Awodi added.

He also underlined that organizations such as African Union need to be at the forefront of pushing youth inclusivity in governance, economically, politically, and culturally.

The theme for the 2025 Tana Forum essay writing competition was "Africa in an Evolving Global Order".

The Tana Forum Annual Essay Competition is aimed at obtaining views from the youth on various peace and security challenges faced across the continent.

The competition is open to African nationals enrolled in higher education institutions based in Africa and in the diaspora.