Who We Are

About AAYC

The African and Arab Youth Council was founded in 2004 at the conclusion of the International Youth Festivals of the African and Arab Youth held in Khartoum auspices of the National Federation of Sudanese Youth, with support from the Government of Sudan. In 2005, an Executive Committee was formed for the African and Arab Youth Council, to follow up the legal mandate of the organization, vision, mission and objectives of the AAYC, and entire membership with the Africa Union and Arab League. With the sponsorship of the Government of Sudan, the Secretariat was established in Khartoum, while Libya Uganda, and other Governments provided other support.

AAYC has since widened its membership and grown to cover more African Countries especially through the National Youth Councils, Youth Non-Governmental Organisations and Political Party Youth Leagues, and Arab Countries through National Youth Organisations, Youth Non-Governmental Organisations, and Diaspora Youths Organisations.

In 2008, the AAYC Secretariat shifted from Khartoum to Uganda after the unanimous decision to construct the AAYC International Headquarters in Kampala, at the conclusion of the historic 2nd Afro-Arab Youth Festival, 2006, held at Munyonyo, Kampala. H.E. Y. K. Museveni also took over as Patron of the AAYC from Col. Maummar Al Qadaffi, and offered land for the International Headquarters, and the other member country Presidents have pledged to financially support the construction of the project

AAYC Purpose

Mission

Promote and strengthen linkages between Youth of African and Arab World to achieve Peace and Development.

Vision

Youth, Peace and Development

Values

Diversity, Teamwork, Excellence, Integrity, Partnership, Open Communication

Executive Committee

H.E. Yoweri Kaguta Museveni

H.E. Yoweri Kaguta Museveni

Patron
H.E. Abdul Haddi Elhwegi – Libya

H.E. Abdul Haddi Elhwegi – Libya

President
Hon. Dr. Abbas Agaba – Uganda

Hon. Dr. Abbas Agaba – Uganda

Secretary General
Mr. Ebenezer Oyetakin – Nigeria

Mr. Ebenezer Oyetakin – Nigeria

Chairman Supervisory Audit Committee

H.E. Yoweri Kaguta Museveni

Patron

H:E YK Museveni is the patron of AAYC and He presides over the team of fellow presidents of AAYC member countries. He guides the AAYC in its execution of duties and generously supports the AAYC Secretariat through rent, salaries of staff, and other necessities. The duties of the Patron are laid out in the Statutes of AAYC.

H.E. Abdul Haddi Elhwegi – Libya

President

Dr. Abdul Hadi Ibrahim Mohammed Alhweij is the President of the Afro - Arab Youth Council from 9th March 2004 to date. He is the Minister for Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of the Libyan Government, the President of Libyan Future Movement and ‘For New Africa Organization’ and the President of the World Council of Youth for ALQODS (Jerusalem)-Rabat-since 2005 and also Chief Editor of News ‘Arab youth’ (2001-2005).Formerly, Dr. Abdul Alhweij was the Secretary General of the National Organization of Libyan Youth (Responsible for Libyan’s Youth) and Minister of Migration in Libya. He was the Ex-Member of the UNESCO General Conference-Youth Section and Ex-Member of the General Conference of Arab Labor Organization. He has a P.H.D in International Relations-Faculty of Law, Economics and Social Sciences- Mohamed V University –Sale-Morocco (2013), accredited International Trainer (American Canadian Board for Professional Training), Honorary Doctorate in International Relations Russia. He also has a min MBA- Center for Development and Development (Egypt) awarded by the British University (Warnborough College)-September 2012. He also has an honorary Doctorate in International Relations-Russia. Dr. Abdul Alhweij has very many publications, book ‘Drugs: treatment and motives;’ and ‘Internationalization of armed conflicts in Africa: Vision to manage the crisis in Darfur Sudan (model). He also published the ‘Youth Caravan for Peace in Somalia, African Network for Youth Employment and lastly the, Civil Society Alliance in Africa.

Hon. Dr. Abbas Agaba – Uganda

Secretary General

Hon. Dr. Abbas Agaba is the Secretary General at the Afro-Arab Youth Council. He has doctorate of Business Administration and Leadership (honoraris causa) from Swiss School of Business and Management; a lawyer with meticulous interest in business law, constitutional law and governance; a fervent debater, political analyst, pan Africanist, social entrepreneur and strategic lobby-expert. He holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Law (IUIU), a Masters of leadership and international Relations (Mak), and a master of Business administration (KIU), a bachelor of science in education (Mak).  Prior to becoming the Secretary General of AAYC, he has been one of the founder-international executive committee members of AAYC   as vice president.  He has a proven track record in youth leadership and policy engagement, having worked as the chairman National Resistance Movement (NRM) Youth league in Uganda. In 2008, Abbas was the host chairman of the Kampala festivals that attracted over 5000 youth from the Arab and African regions.   He has also been a member of parliament for Kitagwenda County Kamwenge district, and while in the Parliament, he was the vice chairperson of the committee on rules, privileges, and discipline and member of the legal and parliamentary affairs committee. He also worked as a resident district commissioner in the office of the president of Uganda; member of the national council of higher education, member of the African peer review mechanism governing council, and assistant vice chancellor of Kampala International University. He is a renowned regional integration crusader, a pan Africanist, patriot, and academician. He brings on board a wealth of experience and AAYC secretariat leverages on his wide strategic network both in the Arab and African region. He is a passionate diplomat, and supports the organisation with institutional memory of the founding principles and aspirations of the AAYC.  

Mr. Ebenezer Oyetakin – Nigeria

Chairman Supervisory Audit Committee

Hon. Ebenezer Olaolu Mechizedek Oyetakin is the Deputy President and the Chairman Supervisory Audit Committee of the Afro Arab Youth Council (AAYC). Hon. Ebenezer was the National President Nigeria Youth Organization from 1999 to 2008. He was the Initiator and Founder “Popular Front for Democratic Excellence and member of Inter-Ministerial Committee on Africa- American Sullivan Summit in 2001. He was the National President Nigeria Youth Organization from 1999 to 2008 and he had very popular like a Giant in Search of Her Density, in Nigeria. He is an author of a book about challenges and prospects on African Politics, Economy and Leadership, about to be published.Hon. Ebenezer is a patriot, an aspiring statesman and a revolutionary student who is deeply concerned about the state of the Nigerian Nation. He has a vast professional experience as the Director Research and Documentation in the Anti-Corruption Network. Hon. Ebenezer is a great thinker, social political analyst, international affairs expert and prolific writer.

We promote peace, development and solve unemployment challenges amongst the youth