Two of Pakati's Youth Advisory Board members have been selected for inclusion on the Most Influential Young Africans list for 2018 compiled by Africa Youth Awards. The two board members are Wadi Victoria Ben-Hiriki, founder of the Wadi Ben-Hiriki Foundation, and Raphael Obonyo, an award-winning Kenyan youth advocate and founder of Youth Congress Kenya.

The Youth Awards list from which the one hundred young achievers are compiled are nominees from 26 African countries.

They include politicians, activists, entrepreneurs, entertainers, digital influencers, philanthropists and athletes who are promoting a positive image of Africa across the globe. The prestigious list was first launched in 2016 and is in it's third year. Speaking about the publication of the list, Prince Akpah, the founding President of Africa Youth Awards, noted that the current list features a record 90 new entrants and 43 females. He said that this year’s honorees were listed for their individual and collective contributions towards positioning the image of Africa as frontrunners in their respective fields.

The Project Pakati Youth Advisory Board is a board of young, dedicated influencers who provide overall strategic direction vis-à-vis the processes and the platform designed to harness the collective influence of African youth as they network, exchange ideas, develop, and collaborate on shared agendas and, in so doing, contribute to the success of national and regional agendas.

It is said that young people are the present and the future of Africa. Africa needs a pool young people in leadership positions across all segments of society. Through the words of Dr Akinwuna Adesi, President, Africa Development Bank: “The future of Africa’s youth lies in an Africa that is growing well economically and expanding economic, social and political space for its young people”

These two youth leaders are proving that their contribution is vital, significant and meaningful to the development of the continent.