By Perdita Agyarko
When global leaders gather to discuss the future of a continent where over 60% of the population is young, the next generation cannot simply be the topic of conversation; they must be at the table. At the 15th African Leadership Magazine (ALM) Persons of the Year Awards, Curtis Akapini Apegwine embodied this truth, bridging the gap between high-level diplomacy and the representation of Africa’s youth.
Akapini, a youth leader and award-winning scientist at the University of Ghana, stepped out of the laboratory and into the complex machinery of international event execution. Assisting the ALM event manager, Mr. Wallace Zimunya, Akapini played a vital complementary hands-on role in ensuring the historic gathering in Accra ran with excellence.
Ahead of the main gala, taking the seat of an interviewer, Akapini hosted an exclusive, youth-focused dialogue with two of Africa’s most respected statespersons: Former Tanzanian President H.E. Dr. Jakaya Kikwete and Former Liberian Vice President H.E. Dr. Jewel Howard-Taylor.
The conversation sought to establish the ALO’s strategic stance on youth empowerment. Navigating the dialogue with the precision of a scientist, Akapini engaged the leaders on matters that bordered on enhancing the capacities of Africa’s teeming youth. The result was a powerful exchange, with the leaders stressing that empowering the youth dividend requires a holistic approach—one that combines character building and practical training with actual capital and entrepreneurial support.
Behind his presence on the global stage, Akapini points to a strong foundation of mentorship and faith. He attributes his rapid professional development to mentors at the University of Ghana, the pivotal trust of Dr. Wallace Zimunya, and, ultimately, the divine guidance of God over his life’s trajectory.
As the summit concluded, his dual role as an assistant logistical anchor to Wallace Zimunya and a thought leader left a lasting impression. He stood as a living testament to the week’s ultimate conclusion: The new Africa is not just a political concept, but an actionable reality that is African-led, data-informed, and youth-driven.
