Speech by Aeneas Chuma

Aeneas Chuma is the resident coordinator of the United Nations office in Nairobi. This is the speech he delivered on the occasion of the inaugural Africa International Model United Nations conference in Nairobi on April 27th 2010.

Distinguished Presidents and Ambassadors in the making,
Invited guest, ladies and gentlemen,
All protocol observed:
The inaugural Africa International Model United Nations conference, whose theme is ‘Promoting Global, Economic, Social and Political Security’ could not have come at a more opportune moment.

Some people say that the world that we live in today is one in which violence, hatred, intolerance and lack of security. You have a great opportunity to prove these people wrong. Just like the world leaders envisioned in 1945 when the United Nations was created, this conference reflects the idolism of bringing together nations with different backgrounds, different problems, different aspirations and setting aside mutual strife to achieve greater goals.

The AIMUN 2010, first in its kind, brings together a new generation of youth, from 34 different countries across the globe. You are quite special. Not only is the first African Model United Nations in the world, but it is also a rotational one. There are only 3 MUNs in the world which begin in the real United Nations headquarters and this indicates the seriousness of the issues that are being discussed, as well as of those who are discussing them.

The deliberations from this conference will go a long way in informing the policy makers at the United Nations about the views of the youth on critical issues like cultural, religious, ethnic, gender and economic divides that define our existence. I challenge you to take up the challenges with the utmost seriousness that it deserves.
I wish you all greatest of success in your endeavours here in Kenya, as well as in your future careers, should you chose to link it to the international organization known as the United Nations. Thank you for your attention! Live long and prosper!