KASSALA, June 8, 2026 (SUNA) — The Second National Youth Conference concluded Monday in Kassala State after three days of deliberations held under the theme: “Youth of Hope… Hands that Build, Minds that Grow.” The conference, hosted since June 6 with participation from 13 states, featured presentations of working papers, youth innovations, and discussions focused on strengthening youth engagement in national development. Federal Minister of Youth and Sports Professor Ahmed Adam Ahmed thanked the government and people of Kassala State for hosting the event. He said the first conference focused on identifying youth talents and creative capacities, while the second edition succeeded in strengthening national cohesion among Sudanese youth and shifting emphasis from theory to practical implementation. The Minister stated that the next phase aims to transform youth innovations into commercially viable projects, revealing that the third conference, scheduled to be held in Sennar State, will focus on establishing youth-led manufacturing initiatives. He directed state ministries and youth councils to coordinate with relevant sectors to sponsor youth innovations and support young entrepreneurs in presenting their projects to financing institutions to secure commercial funding. Acting Wali (governor) of Kassala Major General (Ret.) Al-Sadiq Mohamed Al-Azraq underscored the importance of addressing youth issues directly, stressing the role of young people in preserving social cohesion and supporting national stability. He noted that Sudan is facing significant external challenges, requiring unified national support from youth, particularly those standing alongside the Sudanese Armed Forces in the Battle of Dignity. The conference issued a broad package of recommendations, including sponsorship of agricultural and industrial youth projects, support for drone technology development in coordination with the Defense Industries System, adoption of youth agricultural initiatives by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), and the establishment of a national fund to finance youth enterprises. Other recommendations included launching digital platforms for cultural heritage and youth networking, integrating psychological support and mental health awareness into educational curricula, upgrading state youth councils into ministries, and establishing business incubators to transform innovative ideas into startups. Participants also called for ensuring the continuity of the National Youth Conference through rotational hosting among states and organizing regular exhibitions to showcase youth innovations.BH/BH