Youth are our leaders for tomorrow – USPSA president

The University of the South Pacific today hosted the 2022 Pacific Youth Summit for corruption resilience.

The focus of this year’s Summit is Youth-Led Anti-Corruption measures.

USP Students Association President, Bate Tiaketi Tioti says youths are leaders for tomorrow, and teaching youths the consequences of corruption and how to prevent corruption equips them with experience to tackle it in the future.

Tioti says hosting the 12 Pacific countries at the Summit is important for regionalism and that youth attending the summit will go back to their countries and become future leaders.

Deputy Secretary General of the Pacific Islands Forum Doctor Fillimon Manoni says we must move forward together and work together on these challenges.

His comments on a youth-led anti-corruption movement were echoed by other leaders, including USP Vice Chancellor Professor Pal Ahluwalia, who says we need all Pacific leaders to show leadership from the front and to show that it is possible to develop a corruption free environment.

USP Students Association Chair Mani Mate says corruption hinders sustainable development and threatens peace and security and harnessing the power of youth and students is key to solving these problems.

The event attracted an array of esteemed guest speakers and panellists, including the British and New Zealand High Commissioners, the USP Vice Chancellor and the President of Kiribati, His Excellency Taneti Maamau.