Gbenga Sesan - was appointed Nigeria's first Information Technology Youth Ambassador in October 2001. His interest and work is built around the use of ICTs in socio-economic transformation focusing on underserved groups.

“Make youth involvement as mandatory for policy process."

K Y Amoak - Founder and President of the African Center for Economic Transformation and former Executive Secretary of the Economic Commission for Africa.

“When our children are assured of survival and health, provided with a good education, protected from war and violence, and when youth participate in the democracy and development of their countries, then Africa will be set to claim the 21st century."

George Ndungu - Community and Youth Development Specialist Organization of African Youth

“By our sheer numbers, young people do deserve ‘a seat’ at the negotiating table for the next set of goals. Youth participation is a right. It serves as a developmental guarantee and a means to enable young people negotiate their aspired functional futures."

Oliver R Tambo - was a South African anti-apartheid politician and a central figure in the African National Congress (ANC).

“A nation that does not take care of its youth has no future and does not deserve one."

Ban Ki-moon - Eighth and current Secretary-General of the United Nations

“The energy of youth can spark economies … The future belongs to them and they have a clear vision of the world we need to build together: peace, the preservation of our beautiful planet, the opportunity to make a better life."

Kofi Annan - Ghanaian diplomat who served as the seventh Secretary-General of the United Nations from January 1997 to December 2006.

“No one is born a good citizen; no nation is born a democracy. Rather, both are processes that continue to evolve over a lifetime. Young people must be included from birth. A society that cuts itself off from its youth severs its lifeline; it is condemned to bleed to death."

Owen 'Alik Shahadah - Director, writer, and Pan-Africanist scholar.

"The methodologies of the 60's should be evolved to function in our globalized world. It can no longer be acceptable for another generation to have to come and re-invent the wheel of failure via antiquated models of working."

Hillary Rodham Clinton - Former United States Secretary of State, U.S. Senator and First Lady of the United States.

"[T]here are underlying dynamics that are affecting young people everywhere – changes in demographics and technology, economics and politics that are bringing together this unique moment in history. Young people are at the heart of today’s great strategic opportunities and challenges, from rebuilding the global economy to combating violent extremism to building sustainable democracies."

Maureen A. Sedonaen - Founder, President and CEO of the Youth Leadership Institute.

“Youth involvement has moved forward. It is no longer seen as a rebellious act, the way it was a few decades ago."

Alvin Toffle - Writer and futurist, known for his works discussing the digital revolution, communication revolution and technological singularity.

“The secret message communicated to most young people today by the society around them is that they are not needed, that the society will run itself quite nicely until they - at some distant point in the future - will take over the reigns. Yet the fact is that the society is not running itself nicely... because the rest of us need all the energy, brains, imagination and talent that young people can bring to bear down on our difficulties. For society to attempt to solve its desperate problems without the full participation of even very young people is imbecile."

(cited in Mtshali; 1988:1)

“Young people are in the process of building, but for that very reason they are the incomplete. They are unknown quantities fraught with limitless possibilities. Young people bring with them the winds of change and reform, and they are the possessors of an enormous and irrepressible vitality. There is little that can equal the greatness of youth. We must realise that every young person that lives is to some extent fired by the youthful passions coursing through his veins. If only firm direction and purpose can be given to these passions, then there is absolutely no doubt that the young can learn to contribute to the welfare of society and live lives that are meaningful. "