Muslim Youth United urges youth towards participation in national development

* Let’s not always point fingers at the government to develop the nation—Dr. Haffiz Hussein Twabi

* We, the youth, make up the majority of this nation, so we must strive to transform it

* He also urged Muslim youth and young people from various religious backgrounds to pursue leadership positions in the upcoming elections when opportunities arise

By Agatha Kadzinje, MANA

In the mission to achieve sustainable development guided by the goals of MW2063 national vision, Muslim Youth United (MYU) organised a gathering in Blantyre yesterday to encourage Muslim youth to participate in the country’s development initiatives.

The theme of the event was; ‘Unity in Action: Muslim Youth in National Progress and Development Towards MW2063’ and one of the MYU co-founders, Dr. Haffiz Hussein Twabi, emphasised the need for the youth to take the responsibility to change Malawi in order to move away from a dependency mindset.

“Let’s not always point fingers at the government to develop the nation,” he said. “We, the youth, make up the majority of this nation, so we must strive to transform it.”

Twabi further urged Muslim youth and young people from various religious backgrounds to pursue leadership positions in the upcoming elections when opportunities arise.

National Youth Council of Malawi (NYCOM) attended the gathering to gain insights on how MYU can effectively contribute to its objectives and Malawis broader goals and NYCOM director of finance & administration, Ernest Mangani emphasised the significance of youth participation in the countrys development.

Mangani encouraged youth nationwide not to lose hope in their efforts to bring about change in Malawi, saying: “No matter where you are as a young person in this country, there is hope for the youth of this nation because resources are available.

“Therefore, the youth must maximise opportunities from NYCOM and the government,” he said, while reiterating that the youth constitute 80% of Malawis population, with ages ranging from 10-35 years.

“This composition of the population in Malawi means that opportunities must be made available for young people for the country to progress in various avenues — because Malawis greatest resource is its young people.”

He added that MYUs initiatives should align with the National Youth Policy 2023 and “must adhere to the councils mandate by including at least 30% youth representation in leadership positions to prepare youth for leadership roles”.

Mangani urged the youth not to be merely used by political parties as supporters, but must be involved in meaningful participation and further encouraged Muslim youth, even those from other denominations, to actively participate in national development efforts and not leave it to a specific religious youth group.

“For the nation to develop, it is essential for youth from all religious groups to be involved. The country needs you now as we strive to achieve the three main pillars of MW2063.”

Blantyre City Council’s youth officer, Martha Chilewani advised the youth to focus on empowering themselves first, emphasising that when individuals are empowered, the country as a whole is strengthened.

She encouraged them to be innovative and avoid linear thinking to make progress: “As youth, you should be open to alternative ways of achieving your goals. Always be willing to research and find new ways to succeed,” Chilewani said.

She commended MYU’s mission to support youth in Malawi, noting that many young people are engaged in harmful activities. She also stressed the importance of including youth with disabilities in every youth organisations activity across Malawi.

Founded in 2014, MYU organised gathering in collaboration with NYCOM and and attracted other organisations such as Ashraful Aid International Humanitarian Organisation, Uniting Malawi Muslims Activity Hub (UMMAH), and representatives from various Muslim groups and clubs in Malawi.

Meanwhile, at the MYU get together at Malawi Sun Hotel yesterday, renowned Islamic scholar, Sheikh Mustahab Ayami, who was guest of honour, urged the youths to embrace unity, uphold justice and seek knowledge that should serve as foundation for a brighter future.

Ayami emphasised that unity is a divine command from Allah, not just a concept, and that the youth serve as the foundation of society and the promise of a brighter future.

“Islam encourages our youth to work towards positive change because they have the power to transform society, uphold justice, and seek the truth. Prophet Muhammad united the youth with purpose, teaching them honor, discipline, and the pursuit of knowledge.”

Sheikh Ayami also stressed that seeking knowledge is an obligation for every Muslim and that knowledge should be used wisely to benefit the community and the country at large.

“Knowledge shapes our souls, empowers our communities, and serves humanity. Through knowledge, we draw closer to Allah, and through education, we can uplift our society,” he said.

Education is central in Islam and Ayami pointed out that it should be used to advance human knowledge to build a just, prosperous, and peaceful society.

“Education is an act of worship when done with the right intention to please Allah and benefit His creation,” he added, while encouraging the youth to pursue various professions while remaining deeply rooted in Islam and upholding integrity and passion for knowledge.

The scholar further urged Muslim youths to reflect on the roles they wish to play in the Ummah (community) and to strive to help each other, building strong bonds of unity.

Also present was Regional Manager for Technical, Entrepreneurial, Vocational, and Educational Training (TEVETA), Malingose Kafuwa Banda, who said it was important for youths in Malawi to be innovative.

“You must have the spirit to continuously seek ways to develop yourselves so that this country can progress,” she said, while also encouraged young women to embrace technical, vocational and entrepreneurship other than leaving young men to advance in the three areas.

“Females, you must also be at the forefront in matters of both education and development; your involvement does not undermine the role of males but instead represents a partnership for change.”

She, therefore, urged the youths to consider technical and vocational training as means of acquiring skills that should help them to reduce unemployment rates in the country.

At the gathering, the youth were informed about various technical, vocational and entrepreneurship opportunities offered by TEVETA and how the authority track their students’ progress to ensure they remain relevant with skills they have gained from various training institutions.—Edited by Maravi Express