Abayomi Rotimi Mighty

Abayomi Rotimi Mighty born in Ijebu Ode March 29, 1985 is one of the foremost youth activists and advocates from Africa who pushed the advocacy for youth participation in Africa. He gave an historic speech at the tender age of 16 when he spoke at the OAU Summit on HIV/AIDS, TB and other Infectious Related Diseases held in April 2001 in Abuja. speech.[1]

He was the Leader of the African Youth Delegation to the African Leaders Summit on HIV/AIDS, TB and other Infectious Related Diseases. His speech as the UN Chosen African Youth Spokesperson became globally recognised as one of the best youth speeches ever made by an African youth to the point that UN.ORG talked about the power of the speech.[2]

International Recognition Of His Speech

Though young, Abayomi Mighty got a global cheer for his bravery in speech making at the Summit.

His speech was described by an article on Harvard University's website as speech the speech with fire in it.[3]

Impacts Of His Speech

The OAU Summit held in Nigeria from April 24 to 27, 2001 was a major factor in the fight against HIV/AIDS and Youth Development in Africa because of the significance of the Abuja Declaration and the The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria.

On Thursday, April 26 at the International Conference Centre, Abuja; Abayomi Mighty addressed world leaders in the conference.

Notable people who spoke also that day includes Kofi Annan, Bill Clinton,[4]Jeffery Sachs and the then Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo.

Like the famous "I have a dream" Speech of Martin Luther King, Jr., Abayomi Mighty's speech played a major role in the establishment and success of Youth Involvements in decision making process in Africa which is contained in the Abuja Declaration (2001) document made by the African Union. He made a bold call for Youth-adult partnership in Africa.

In his speech, he said,

"You, the leaders of our nations, must make a commitment today to work with us. You are the people who tell us to go to fight when there is war; you are the people that ask us to join rallies in election campaigns. Now we need you to fight with us against HIV/AIDS. We are the ones dying and wasting."[5]

References

  1. ↑ UnitedNations (1 May 2001). "ACTIVITIES OF SECRETARY-GENERAL IN NIGERIA 21-28 APRIL". www.un.org. Retrieved 12 July 2015.
  2. ↑ UnitedNations (1 May 2001). "ACTIVITIES OF SECRETARY-GENERAL IN NIGERIA 21-28 APRIL". www.un.org. Retrieved 12 July 2015.
  3. ↑ John Donnelly (April 27, 2001). "UN CHIEF SEEKS BILLIONS FOR AIDS". The Boston Globe. Retrieved 12 July 2015.
  4. ↑ Victor Nwamma (1 May 2001). "Africa puts fight against AIDS at forefront". www.un.org. Retrieved 12 July 2015.
  5. ↑ John Donnelly (April 27, 2001). "UN CHIEF SEEKS BILLIONS FOR AIDS". The Boston Globe. Retrieved 12 July 2015.
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