By Foday Moriba Conteh
The African Youth Business Council (AfYBC), under the African Union Commission, has announced the selection of Engineer Mohamed Osama, an alumnus of the Nasser Fellowship for International Leadership, as a founding member of its Executive Board. Osama, who also serves as the Technical and Technological Support Officer for the Global Solidarity Network, will represent the North Africa region on the newly formed Board.
The AfYBC Executive Board consists of twelve entrepreneurs under the age of forty from across Africa, representing the five regions and the African diaspora. The Council is the highest youth-led authority in the private sector at the continental level aiming to advocate for young entrepreneurs and promote a business-friendly environment within the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
Engineer Osama emphasized the critical role the Council plays in connecting young African entrepreneurs with opportunities in national and intra-African trade. He noted the Council’s commitment to addressing challenges such as insufficient financing, market dominance and regulatory hurdles that hinder youth-led entrepreneurship across the continent.
Osama’s career began with the Global Solidarity Network in 2021, where he gained experience in various leadership roles, including leading the technical support team for the Nasser Youth Movement and contributing to the Nasser International Leadership Scholarship program under the patronage of President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi. His expertise in information technology and entrepreneurship, highlighted by his founding of VOOG Network, a digital solutions company, earned him recognition at the continental level.
Hassan Ghazaly, founder of the Global Solidarity Network, praised Osama’s selection, noting that it reflects the capabilities of Egyptian youth in contributing to Africa’s economic future. He also commended the AfYBC’s efforts to integrate young entrepreneurs into the AfCFTA, emphasizing the importance of youth participation in shaping trade policies across the continent.
The new AfYBC Executive Office members will serve a two-year term from 2024 to 2026 and include prominent entrepreneurs from across Africa, such as Souleymane Nissaï Tourébour and Banny Jani Baki Fouziatou from West Africa and Hasnaa Farid from Morocco, representing North Africa alongside Mohamed Osama.
