Auleria Wakudumo
Youth activist Ingashipola Lucas was recently awarded for his dedication to changing lives of young people. He was awarded an Honorary Doctorate in Youth Civic Leadership and Education from Global Open Nation University in Nigeria.
The recognition, awarded earlier this year, celebrates his outstanding dedication to youth empowerment, democracy and leadership development across Africa.
For the past four years, Lucas has been at the forefront of driving initiatives that empower young people to actively participate in nation building. His leadership journey has taken him from local platforms to international stages, including the SADC Youth Empowerment Summit in Tanzania and the Global Democracy Forum in Nairobi, Kenya.
“If I ever be remembered for anything, may it be that I dedicated my time and resources to safeguarding Namibia’s future by raising a new generation of leaders,” Lucas reflected on his achievement.
In Tanzania, Lucas addressed the importance of youth participation in electoral processes through technology, while in Kenya, he delivered a keynote address on Democracy and Environmental Justice, which impressed leaders and experts across the continent.
His passion for leadership was sparked at an early age.
“When I started public speaking in Grade 7, I never imagined it would take me this far, but I knew even then that my voice could inspire change,” he recalled.
Beyond public speaking, Lucas serves as Executive Director of the Youth Alliance for Leadership and Development in Africa (YALDA) and sits on the African Youth Council board. His work has also been recognised with awards such as the YouLead Africa International Youth Award in 2019.
Driven by his philosophy that every problem requires credible leadership as its solution, Lucas continues to encourage young people to pursue skills that will enable them to thrive in today’s competitive world.
This honour is not just mine,” he said. “It belongs to every young person who dares to dream, to rise and to build the future we all want for Africa.”