The head of the steering committee of the Upper Nile State Youth Union has revealed plans to conduct a three-day general convention of the body in Malakal town in October this year.

Awat Butrus Leka said his committee is already done with the planning of activities, selection of members of the steering committee, setting up regulations and drafting of the union’s constitution, and designing a stamp and letterhead.

“We have finished phase one and now we are in phase two which is the mobilization of financial resources to conduct the general youth convention in Upper Nile State,” he explained. “We had planned for May but due to lack of funding, we could not make it and so it (convention) has been extended to October.”

He said the three-day convention will deliberate on and find solutions to the challenges the youth are facing.

“The first day will be the opening of the convention by state government officials and hearing of the problems of the youth. The second day of the convention will be the reading of the general regulations and the constitution,” Buturs said. “The third day of the convention will be the election of the chairperson by the delegates who shall come from the counties, followed by the election of the speaker of the union.”

He said the youth in Upper Nile State are facing a lot of challenges including unemployment.

Upper Nile State has 13 counties whose representatives will elect a substantive executive body for the youth union.