As we celebrate International Youth Day, our primary focus should be on helping young people realize their true potential and enabling them to manage the resources available in their immediate environment. This is the only way we can achieve genuine youth development for today and the future. I have also come to realize that no one can explain the needs of young people better than young people themselves. My dear, respected youth, we are an invaluable asset to any society.

When you talk about youth, you talk about today; when you talk about children, you talk about tomorrow; and when you talk about elders, you talk about yesterday. Despite our vital importance in society, we still face challenges, such as older generations who do not trust us and are reluctant to give us a chance, as well as social challenges and economic hardships. The resilient among us see these challenges as stepping stones, while others may use them as excuses for not participating in societal development. Is it time for us to rise to the occasion?

The time is now. If we want to achieve meaningful development, we must harness the idealism of youth through co-management and place youth at the heart of progress.

Abdulrahman Bashir Haske is a philanthropist and businessman