First ever youth summit and expo hosted in Port Moresby for NCD Youths
First ever youth summit and expo hosted in Port Moresby for NCD Youths
10:08:2024: Port Moresby: Papua New Guinea is at a crossroad where the voice of youth must be heard and there is no better time to begin this journey but at the first ever NCD Youth Summit and Expo 2024.
The five-day event scheduled from August 10 to 14, 2024, commenced today at the Sir Hubert Murray Stadium, an initiative of our visionary leader and Governor for Port Moresby, Hon. Powes Parkop, to provide a platform for youth to connect with people and opportunities that can inspire, empower, and engage them.
Governor Parkop stated in a press conference earlier this week that reaching out to our young people is not a provincial but a national issue.
Since being elected into office as the Governor of the capital city of Papua New Guinea, 15 years ago, he came up with a lot of innovative ideas and platforms to support the development of youth but observed that it is not a challenge for the city alone but is a national challenge.
Governor Parkop stressed that PNG is at a time where youths must be taken into consideration and that the time for prescribing solutions for them is over.
He said we must listen to young people and they must be a part of the solution for the development and progress of this country.
“They must also be supported so they define their own life now and also into the future.”
The governor hoped that staging such a summit and expo would give the youths in NCD the opportunity to come out and showcase their talents and skills so that they can be recognized and supported.
About 200 youths from NCD electorates, 50 national and international speakers, 10 political leaders, including the Prime Minister, Hon. James Marape will be a guest of honour at this event.
Representatives from the development partners and diplomatic corps have come on board joining the host, Governor Parkop, to observe and participate at this inaugural youth summit and expo in the city.
According to the program, day one (August 10) was the expo and music festival, Walk for Life, Walk for Youth at 5am to 8am from Ela Beach to Sir Hubert Murray Stadium (August 11), and the summit from August 12 to 14, 2024 at the APEC Haus.
NCDC Youth Desk coordinator Rex Buka thanked the governor for hosting this important event, adding the number of youths in the city has increased.
Reiterating Governor Parkop’s remarks he said: “We have challenges but we have to come up with solutions and platforms to address these challenges so I’d like to thank Governor Parkop for taking the lead in providing this opportunity for our young people.”
He said young people who have ventured into small businesses have not been identified, so this is time to bring them together, see what they are doing, and the challenges they are facing.
They will then use this this avenue to come up with solutions and know how to address their challenges at the end of this summit and expo.
Governor Parkop hopes that, from the success of this inaugural event, they can plan for a national youth summit in the future where provincial leaders can have the opportunity to have dialogues with their young people as this is currently lacking.