The Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in collaboration with the Dutch National Youth Council (NJR), has appointed Damilola Babatunde to its Youth Advisory Committee.

According to the information on the ministry’s website, the advisory committee was established to give young people a voice in its policy processes and to form an interactive platform between youth and ministry staff.

The ministry noted that, among more than 2000 applications, ten young people were selected from ten different countries to form the committee.

Other members of the committee are Wilfried Sougrinoma Sebgo, Burkina Faso; Angel Warira Mbuthia, Kenya; Shamim Wasii Nyanda, Tanzania; Abdulrahman Ahmed Ragheef, Iraq; Sinan Abderrahim Assaid, Jordan; Rawan Raad, Sudan; Daisy Kandole, Uganda; Grace Aguil Garang, South Sudan; and Khadija Amahal, Morocco.

The ministry also noted that the committee will provide a platform for ongoing dialogue and cooperation between the ministry and international youth on policies related to its Youth at Heart strategy (education, work, and youth participation).

It added that the youth will also be working with the ministry on different themes, ranging from youth entrepreneurship to sexual health education, to policies related to digitalisation.

Babatunde, a youth leader, policy advocate, and founder and Executive Director of the Young Changemakers Foundation, said he was excited and honoured to be appointed to the international committee.

On how the appointment will impact his career, he stated that as someone passionate about international policy reform, the appointment will significantly improve his ability to influence international policies and programmes.

“Furthermore, I will work with Dutch policy officers on policy and programmes of the ministry in the area of foreign trade and development cooperation,” he added. (Sunday Tribune)