By Mark Kawalya
Shamim Nabuuma Kaliisa, a Ugandan techprenuer was recently sworn in as the representative for Africa on the Commonwealth Youth Council (CYC) Executive Committee. Shamim, the founder and Chief Executive Officer of the CHIL Artificial Intelligence Lab Group, who also doubles as a co-founder of Solerchil Technologies, took her oath as a new member of the new executive that will serve until 2024.
“I grew up in Africa, went to school in Africa and started my business in Africa before I scaled to the rest of the world. I know each problem every entrepreneur faces in their journey and it why I accepted the Commonwealth appointment,” says Ms. Nabuuma on her new role.
The swearing-in was held during the Commonwealth Youth Forum that took place ahead of the 2022 Commonwealth Heads of Governments Meeting (CHOGM) that is premised on the theme “Taking Charge of Our Future.”
Ms. Nabuuma’s will be charged with supporting the overall governance of the council in the different regions as the African Regional Representative. She will work as the official link between the CYC and Africa as a continent and is accountable to the General Assembly.
Shamim will also advocate for the youth in the Commonwealth as an ambassador for the African council. Coordinating and promoting the activities of the council at the African regional level will also be a key role for Ms. Nabuuma.
“I am here to look out for ways to help tech entrepreneurs get training, scale their innovations, and get linked to the investors willing to invest in the African tech ecosystem. Every young entrepreneur is my priority because I am one of them. ” She said.
Led by an executive team of nine members, the Commonwealth Youth Council works as a coalition of national youth councils, and private sector bodies from the 54-member countries of the Commonwealth along with other youth led civil societies.
Key roles of the Council include mobilizing, amplifying and actioning the voices of the youth through advocacy for governments to meaningfully engage the develop the youth. The council also strategically partners and collaborate with the Commonwealth Secretariat and other organizations through focusing on global change and youth development.
