KIGALI - The Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of East African Community Affairs (MINEAC), Robert Ssali has called upon students from various universities in the EAC to play a key role in transforming the bloc.

Ssali made the call, Wednesday, while opening a-three-day conference organised by the East African Community Student’s Union (EACSU)

The conference under the theme; "the role of the youth in economic transformation of EAC member states” is presently taking place at the Independent Institute of Lay Adventists of Kigali (INILAK).
 
"Every one of you should be aware that you have a responsibility of transforming the EAC into a more vibrant region socially, economically and politically,” Ssali said.

He encouraged them to strive to bring positive change in all the five EAC member states, which, he said, would enable the region to attain sustainable development.

The PS also asked the participants to fight poverty, corruption and injustice through hard work in their respective sectors.

Osborn Yogo George, the president of EACSU said that the youth constitute more than 70 percent of the total population in EAC.

"To foster the spirit of integration, we must strive to entrench that spirit in the youth, so that it’s not a dream or passion that is driven by the elders,” Yogo said.

Steven Kanyemera from Kigali Independent University (ULK), who was among the participants, said that the conference is useful because it enables them to exchange ideas on how they can facilitate regional integration.

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