Your Excellency Dr. Walknel, the Senator Crystal Lassigi, the Deputy Ambassador of Japan, the Secretariat, all members of the  IGAD Leadership Academy and this alumni network that is here. Ladies and gentlemen,

Let me say again, it is both an honor and a joy to be together with you today at this moment as we officially launch this alumni network.

Celebrating a New Generation of Leaders

Today we celebrate not only the academy’s first three cohorts, but also the promise of a generation that will shape the destiny of our region and our continent now and into the future.

As I have looked at you today, I am reminded of the many young, charismatic men and women who were not afraid to dream and act on their dreams in the early years of Kenya’s independence as well as Africa’s independence.

People like Tom Mboya, who were ministers of government for planning at the ages of 28 or 29—sure, many of you here are older than that. Others like Kenneth Matiba, who were around 27 and they were permanent secretaries. They were shaping the country; they were shaping the continent at those ages.

So when somebody tells you, you young people, tell them no—you are leaders of today, because that is what you are. All these others were called young, but yet their vision has helped shape not only Kenya, our region, but undoubtedly the entire continent.

I hope this encourages you never to stop dreaming and, most of all, to believe in yourselves, to pursue your dreams, because change only happens when one courageous person takes a step—just one—choosing to become the change that they want to see, not waiting for change.

That one person who is probably sitting in this room who decides: Yes, I want to be the change. I don’t want to wait for somebody to tell me what to do.

I want to be the change that I want to see.

And that is the first step in leadership.

What True Leadership Means

Leadership, my friends, is not leadership for power. Leadership is responsibility. Leadership is about responsibility, not the power and the trappings that are associated with it.

All of us here—myself, Dr. Walknel—have held leadership roles, and we aspired to them. We didn’t wait for them to be given to us. We went out to get them.

One lesson I have learned in my journey is this: If you truly want to get to the top of the ladder, the first thing you have to realize is that leadership is not about what title you hold. It is not about the title.

Leadership that is going to be trusted is leadership that knows and bears responsibility for its actions—not by the power that you hold, but by the trust that is bestowed upon you by the people who you wish to lead.

Power may look glamorous, but the true impact of your leadership qualities will be measured by the impact that you leave behind.

My own journey through governance and diplomacy has taught me that legacy is built in moments of service:

• When you choose dialogue over division,
• When we prioritize the common good over personal gain,
• And when we plant the seeds of peace that future generations can harvest.

True legacy is not about moments or accolades. It is about people. It is about the lives that are transformed because we dared to lead with integrity, with humility, and with vision.

Africa Today and the Role of Youth

The Africa we see today is not the same Africa of yesterday. Across our continent:

• Demands for transparency, accountability, and citizen participation are increasing.
• Technology is reshaping how governments interact with their people.
• Most importantly, young voices are rising—energetic, innovative, and determined to break barriers.

Your own presence here is evidence that the future of governance will be defined by you.

We have always been told that when the word “young” is used, you are leaders of tomorrow. The truth of the matter is: If you continue believing you are the leaders of tomorrow, that tomorrow will never come.

You are leaders of today.

Your ideas, your courage, your personal commitment will shape policies, will shape communities, will reshape institutions.

Embracing Failure and Growing Together

As you go about it, do not fear failure. There is no one perfect except God. We are all human. Do not fear failure because you will stumble.

In Swahili we have a saying: To slip does not mean you have fallen or failed. You will stand up again—so long as you have the humility and the ability to accept your mistakes and to correct yourself as you move forward.

Every single setback is a lesson, and every challenge is an opportunity to grow.

Always remember that to grow, you need each other. You may grow rapidly alone, but by leaving everybody behind, you will have achieved nothing.

If you grow and carry others with you in your leadership process, you will be amazed by what you will be able to achieve. There is no point in being at the pinnacle and having left everybody else behind.

You must grow together.

One of the principles I truly appreciate about this organization—EAGLE—is that you come from many different parts of our region. Remember that you need one another.

• The problems of Ethiopia are not far from the doorstep of Kenya—they are the problems of Kenya.
• The problem of Sudan is not far from Ethiopia, from Somalia, from Djibouti, from Kenya—so it is your problem.
• The problems of Kenya are the problems of Uganda, of Eritrea.

You cannot think that you are a little island.

The challenges are the same across borders. People are concerned about:

• Health
• Lack of opportunity
• Good infrastructure
• Education
• Poverty
• War

These things belong to all of us. We will not resolve them unless we hold each other’s hands and walk together.

Collaboration—not just your personal ambition but collaboration—is and will be your greatest strength.

The Power of Dialogue and Regional Integration

In my years of mediation and diplomacy, I have witnessed the power of dialogue to heal wounds and the strength of unity to overcome crisis.

Crisis resolution has never been resolved through the power of a gun. It may result in victory, but the deep wounds you leave behind—if not in your generation, in the next generation—will resurface.

The power of diplomacy, the ability to dialogue, to understand your brothers and sisters, to appreciate the diversity that exists amongst us—our different cultures, our different religions.

God put us here for a reason. He didn’t put us here to kill each other. He put us here to work together and to take advantage of the bounty that He has given us.

Yet we stand amazed as the richest continent in the world is mired in poverty as we fight over borders, communities, or religions—and at home we starve.

Let us enjoy and benefit from our diversity. Let us see the beauty in our respective origins and use that as strength, not as a weapon of weakness and destruction.

Regional integration must not be a dream. It must be seen as a necessity—for our economies, for our societies, and for our futures. Whether in trade, climate resilience, or security, no nation can stand alone.

We must walk together hand in hand, not in fear of each other, but with courage, trust, and confidence in each other.

Our region, with its diversity and dynamism, has the potential to be a beacon of cooperation for the entire continent.

A Movement for Change

This gathering is more than just a gathering—I believe it is a movement.

I was very happy to hear the young man who said that when they saw what was happening in Sudan, they called upon you, and you got together and decided you must do something. Well done!

You should see yourselves as a movement of young leaders committed to collaboration and practical initiatives that will shape the governance of our continent for generations to come.

As you build your careers—be it in government, diplomatic service, civil society, development programs, or the private sector—remember always that leadership is not about what position you shall hold. It is about purpose.

Let your purpose always be:

• To uplift your brothers and sisters,
• To unite your brothers and sisters,
• And to transform this great continent and region of ours.

Closing Words

From this vantage point, I am indeed confident that the future of governance in Africa is not a distant horizon. It is in this room. It is in each and every one of you.

I have no doubt that when history looks back, it will say that this was a generation that dared to lead and, in doing so, changed the destiny of this continent.

If you are waiting to be given leadership positions, you will wait until you have gray, thinning hair like me—and you will have done nothing.

Leadership is now. Take it with both hands and feet, with vigor and with confidence—because that is the only way you will change this continent for the better.

May God bless you. I look forward, so long as the heavyweight boxer invites me, to continue having an opportunity to engage with you at any time, any day.

God bless you all.

Asante.