How can we shape the youth voice in global governance?
This was the question that set the stage for discussions at the Youth & Global Governance Summit held at the University of Nairobi on 30 September 2026.
The summit was organized by the Africa Centre for Multilateral Dialogue and Global Governance (Africa CMDG) in collaboration with the University of Nairobi Global Governance Club (UGGC). The event bringing together over 100 young people to explore how they can move from being observers of global affairs to active contributors to the decisions shaping their future.
While opening the ceremony, Mr John Orindi, the Director Corporate affairs at the University of Nairobi reaffirmed the importance of the summit while calling on students to take advantage of such opportunities to advance their career prospects. He lauded efforts by Africa CMDG for creating such spaces to involve students in global policy analysis and expressed the University’s support to this initiative.
The Founder of Africa CMDG, My Peter Nguka on his part started by noting that Africa is expected to account for about 40% of youth globally by 2030 according to Global youth participation index yet their participation in policy remains dismal. He further noted that if Sub- Saharan Africa were treated as a country would rank 103 with 52 points way lower than the global mean of 61in youth policy participation. He called on young people to embrace this initiative and assist in closing this gap while noting that it was for this reason that Africa CMDG was created.
The summit featured a panel comprising Mr. Boniface Harrison, Executive Director of Muema Action Post; Mr. Felix Kimuyu, Head of Programmes at Africa CMDG; Mr. Arnold Gekonge, Founder of Champions for SDGs Youth; and Mr. Patrice Ajwang, an Infrastructure Policy Analyst.
Mr. Gekonge highlighted the importance of youth participation in advancing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), noting that progress towards many of the goals remains off track and requires stronger youth-led action. Through its monthly dialogues, Africa CMDG seeks to create spaces where young people can engage with these challenges and contribute to practical solutions as noted by Patrice Ajwang.
Responding to a question on sustainability, Mr. Harrison emphasized that social enterprises must develop sustainable models that enable them to maintain their social impact over the long term. Mr. Kimuyu, meanwhile, called on young people to take a more active role in advocating for reforms to the international financial architecture, particularly in shaping systems that affect Africa’s development.
The President of the University of Nairobi Global Governance Club, Mr. Lesly Dennis, reaffirmed the club’s commitment to creating spaces for students to dialogue, debate and engage with global governance issues. He encouraged students to actively participate in the club’s activities and discussions.
