WINDHOEK, Aug. 4 (Xinhua) -- Namibia on Monday officially opened the inaugural Commonwealth Youth Council Consultative Dialogue, with delegates, policymakers, and leaders from all 56 members.

The 4-day event, running from Monday in the Namibian capital of Windhoek, aims to shape a future centered on youth voices, leadership, and aspirations.

In her opening speech, Namibia's Minister of Education, Innovation, Youth, Sports, Arts and Culture Sanet Steenkamp emphasized the country's role as a Commonwealth member and a nation committed to youth empowerment.

"This dialogue represents the Commonwealth's commitment to investing in its greatest resource: its young people ... we are united by a singular purpose: to shape a future that centers youth, their voices, their leadership, and their dreams," she said.

According to Steenkamp, Namibia is a youthful nation, and over 60 percent of its population is under the age of 35. "In our context, this is not merely a demographic statistic; it is a powerful call to action. Our young people represent strength, talent, creativity, and resilience," she added.

Steenkamp said through the country's National Youth Policy III (2020-2030) and the newly launched Sixth National Development Plan, Namibia is laying the groundwork for real, measurable change in the lives of the youth.

"We are also deepening our investment in regional and international cooperation, supporting platforms where Namibian youth can exchange ideas, co-create solutions, and lead confidently on the continental and global stage," she added.

Meanwhile, Steenkamp acknowledged that global challenges facing youth, such as unemployment, mental health, access to finance, digital exclusion, and the climate crisis, are shared, necessitating collective and collaborative responses. ■