Commonwealth Deputy Secretary-General Ms. Masire-Mwamba visits CYP Africa Centre

The morning of September 2^nd 2008 marked a very exciting and memorable day for the CYP Africa Centre. It was the day her Excellency Ms. Mmasekgoa Masire-Mwamba, Commonwealth Deputy Secretary-General, visited the centre. She was accompanied by Ambassador Ayo Oke; the Head of Africa Section, Political Affairs Division.

Ms. Masire-Mwamba met with senior staff where the Regional Director, Mr. James Odit lead her through the various programme and conference operations of the centre. In contributing to the already existing programmes at the centre, Ms. Masire-Mwamba emphasised the need for CYP to mainstream Gender issues

in it’s programming to enhance effective youth and national development. “It is important that issues of Gender and how they affect the young people are looked into and mainstreamed in our programmes,” she stated. She was pleased with the level of programme implementation and successes achieved.

The Deputy Secretary-General then toured the centre facility that included a tour of the Technology Empowerment Centre, among others. She later met with all the CYP centre staff.

Addressing Staff, her Excellency congratulated staff for a job well done in ensuring that the organisation’s goals were achieved. She indicated that challenges should not draw us back instead they should be learning opportunities.

In conclusion, Ms. Masire-Mwamba thanked staff for the good reception; ‘the commonwealth is one family; we have different agencies which deal with various issues but at the end of the day we one and the same; therefore, it is good to co operate and support each other regardless of the areas of specialisation,’ she said.