Madaba, August 12 (Petra) – “Youth are a driving force for national
development and a key source of pressure for Jordan’s advancement,”
Jordan News Agency (Petra) Board Chairman Nabeel Ghishan said on
Wednesday.

Ghishan, speaking at an International Youth Day panel discussion,
stated that youth empowerment is “central” to the vision of His
Majesty King Abdullah II and HRH Crown Prince Hussein.

He said education must move beyond “rote memorization” to foster
critical thinking and practical skills aligned with market demands.

Urging Jordan’s universities to connect curricula directly to
national economic needs, he called for leveraging youth tech skills
in AI and digital services to modernize government operations.

“Success relies on competence and skill,” Ghishan said, stressing the
need to transition from passive youth welfare to real empowerment by
giving young people tangible tools to lead within institutions.

Meanwhile, youth officials pointed to ongoing national initiatives,
including the National Youth Strategy 2026–2030, to integrate young
Jordanians into political, economic, and administrative modernization
efforts.

The event, organized by the Madaba Youth Directorate at Prince Hashim
bin Abdullah II Youth City, concluded with a Q&A session and an
awards ceremony honoring outstanding local youth innovators.

//Petra// HA