Published: June 3, 2026
MONROVIA – Two hundred emerging political and civic leaders from 13 African countries will converge on Margibi County next week for the 13th Cohort of the Young Political Leadership School Africa, as the Pan-African leadership initiative founded in Liberia a decade ago marks its 10th anniversary with its largest and most geographically diverse gathering yet.
The six-day program, organized by Naymote Partners for Democratic Development under the theme “Empowering the Future: From Learning to Leadership for Africa’s Agenda 2063,” runs June 8-13 at the Royal Ambassador Hotel along the Robertsfield Highway. The cohort, billed as a Decade of Impact Edition, brings together young leaders for intensive training in democratic governance, ethics, political communication, policy influence and civic leadership.
The opening ceremony on June 8 is expected to draw senior government officials, diplomats, development partners and governance experts. Aliou Mamadou Dia, Resident Representative of the United Nations Development Programme in Liberia, will serve as guest speaker. South African Member of Parliament and Build One South Africa leader Mmusi Maimane will deliver the keynote address. Representatives of the Embassy of Sweden to Liberia and Sierra Leone are also expected.
Naymote Executive Director Eddie D. Jarwolo Sr. described the cohort as a defining moment for an institution that began modestly and has grown into a continent-wide movement.
“Established in Liberia in 2016 with only 30 young leaders, YPLS Africa has grown into a respected Pan-African leadership movement that has trained more than 1,200 young political and civic leaders across the continent,” Jarwolo said. “Many alumni are now serving in political parties, government institutions, civil society organizations, advocacy spaces, electoral reform initiatives and public leadership roles.”
Organizers said the timing of the anniversary cohort is deliberate. Young people remain significantly underrepresented in political decision-making across Africa despite comprising the majority of the continent’s population. YPLS Africa was built on the premise that closing that gap requires more than encouraging youth participation. It requires equipping young people with the skills, ethical grounding and practical knowledge to lead responsibly once they get there.
The six-day curriculum covers democratic governance, elections and technology, strategic political communication, political ideologies and party systems, digital governance and civic technology, women in politics, youth peace and security, political tolerance and pathways to political leadership, among other topics.
YPLS Africa Program Manager Alphia Faith Kemokai said the anniversary cohort is designed to do more than produce future candidates for elected office.
“The real question is whether we are also building the capacity for ethical leadership, political accountability and principled decision-making,” Kemokai said. “This is where YPLS Africa comes in — by providing the training, mentorship and civic tools needed to turn ambition into responsible, accountable leadership.”
She described the gathering as a renewed investment in Africa’s democratic future at a moment when the continent’s governance challenges demand a new generation of leaders capable of navigating political systems effectively, inclusively and with integrity.
Organizers said the program directly supports the aspirations of Africa’s Agenda 2063, particularly the vision of a continent grounded in good governance, democracy, human rights, justice and the rule of law, as well as the African Union’s broader goal of promoting people-driven development powered by the potential of women and youth.
The event is open to media institutions, development partners, government agencies and the public.
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