Africa-Press – Eritrea. The Eritrean National Festival officially opened on August 9 this year, featuring a vibrant mix of traditional and modern cultural shows, athletic events, and culinary exchanges among different ethnic groups. Among the many attractions, one section continues to capture the public’s attention — the Creativity and Innovation Center.
Each year, Eritrean youth and students use the festival as an opportunity to showcase innovative projects, ideas, and techniques that aim to address societal challenges. These initiatives are supported by the National Union of Eritrean Youth and Students (NUEYS), which has been actively guiding and assisting young innovators to turn their ideas into practical solutions.
To gain deeper insight into the association’s approach and ongoing efforts, Men’essey magazine sat down with Mr. Saleh Ahmedhin, Chairman of the NUEYS, to discuss their strategies and achievements, and the translated version follows.
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How does the NUEYS strategically plan, and what activities have been done so far?
The National Union of Eritrean Youth and Students (NUEYS) operates with a strategic plan that typically spans four to five years. This framework is designed to help the association achieve its core missions and support students in pursuing their talents.
Beyond this strategic planning, NUEYS engages in a wide range of activities focused on developing youth both individually and as a group. A primary goal is to enhance the political and socio-economic awareness of young people, ensuring they are equipped with the knowledge and experience necessary to work together effectively.
To achieve this, NUEES offers various courses and lectures, complementing the government’s significant investment in youth education and career skills. The association’s programs also include skills-based and knowledge-based competitions, aimed at inspiring students to strive for a better future. Additionally, NUEYS organizes activities to foster a strong sense of national identity, combat harmful addictions, and promote environmental protection.
What are the advantages of creativity and innovation activities?
Creativity and innovation offer numerous benefits. They accelerate development, reduce reliance on manual labor, increase productivity, improve livelihoods, and promote social progress. In short, they are powerful drivers of improvement and advancement.
By fostering innovation as a cultural norm, societies can grow stronger and adapt more quickly, making life easier and better for their citizens. It is essential for society to encourage and support young people with innovative talents and ideas. There are no limits to the levels of advancement or technology that youth can achieve.
For this reason, the support of government institutions, local businesses, public associations, communities, and families is vital to the nation’s growth.
When did NUEYS start supporting creativity and innovation projects?
Our involvement dates back to the 1990s, beginning in schools. Recognizing the strong connection between innovation and academic learning, we worked with the Ministry of Education to encourage younger students to explore their creative potential. This included organizing exhibitions at various festivals.
In 1998, for example, President Isaias Afwerki, along with other senior government officials, attended a unique creativity and innovation showcase and competition at the Junior Club and Expo. Since then, similar events have been held at the zonal level, in school festivals, and at the national festival.
From 2004 to 2018, the Sawa National Festival regularly featured creativity and innovation competitions, with winners receiving awards from President Isaias Afwerki. Colleges have also hosted numerous such exhibitions.
In recent years, we have placed greater emphasis on turning these ideas into practical solutions. In February 2024, we organized a competition among the Maekel, Debub, and Anseba zones in Medeber. Then, in March this year, we hosted a nationwide competition where youth from across the country presented 106 projects, ranging from small-scale concepts to significant innovations.
NUEYS plans an invention ideas competition. Can you tell us more about it?
This competition builds on the long-standing activities and contests organized by the association. It is designed to provide aspiring youth with a platform to explore their hidden talents, encourage collaboration, and promote innovation as a tool for socio-economic development and progress.
The event will also serve as a space where ideas can be enriched through exchange before being implemented. Entries will be judged on originality and value addition, with a focus on their potential to address societal challenges and improve livelihoods.
All submissions must be research-based, practical, and applicable. The competition will feature innovations in fields such as agriculture, energy, transportation, communication, information technology, health, and more.
Anything else you’d like to add?
This is only the beginning. The youth and students of Eritrea have immense potential and can go far. Our main goal is to create the right platform for extraordinary ideas to thrive.
Eritrean society needs to keep an open mind toward innovative and creative work, as such initiatives can make livelihoods easier and improve the quality of life.
Thank you.
Source: Eritrea Ministry Of Information
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