Pan-African media entrepreneur, Williams, joins global leaders at Gnaoua music festival, human rights forum in Essaouira

Pan-African media entrepreneur and nation builder Adebola Williams, Founder of RED Africa and the MITTA Africa Centre, joined global thought leaders at the 13th Human Rights Forum of Essaouira.

The event was held alongside the internationally acclaimed Le Festival Gnaoua et Musiques du Monde in Morocco.

Recognised as one of Africa’s foremost gatherings celebrating cultural dialogue, music and human rights, the Festival brings together artists, policymakers, activists, academics and social entrepreneurs from around the world to explore the role of culture in shaping more inclusive societies.

This year’s Forum focused on the future of youth, identity and citizenship in an era marked by uncertainty, conflict and rapid transformation.

Drawing on more than 25 years of building platforms that amplify African voices and youth leadership, Williams reflected on a career driven by a simple conviction: that when hopelessness meets helplessness, societies become vulnerable but when young people are equipped with purpose, opportunity and agency, they become the architects of national transformation.

Reflecting on pivotal civic moments in Nigeria’s recent history, including founding a critical civic engagements platform, Enough Is Enough movement, and being actively part of other pivotal movements like Occupy Nigeria in 2012, and the Bring Back Our Girls campaign in 2013, Williams highlighted a crucial truth: that people power must ultimately be channelled through institutions. “Power ultimately lies in institutions, and after protesting, young people and women must demand for a seat at the table,” he stated, urging young Africans to move beyond protests into governance, policy, and structured leadership.

Speaking on the evolution of civic engagement in Africa, Williams reflected on pivotal moments in Nigeria’s democratic journey, including founding of the Enough Is Enough (EiE) movement with his partner and some friends and his involvement in landmark civic campaigns such as Occupy Nigeria and Bring Back Our Girls. While acknowledging the power of citizen movements to inspire change, he challenged young Africans to take the next step.

“Protests can open the door, but power for systemic change ultimately lies in institutions. Young people and women must move from just demanding to getting a seat, participating fully in governance, policy formulation, and structured leadership.”

Williams also emphasised culture as a catalyst for systemic change, asserting that Africa’s musicians, creatives, and storytellers possess a soft power. “Culture is the next revolution and this soft power must be deployed with understanding of bringing systemic change”, he noted that this cultural capital should be wielded with purpose and deliberate intent.

Closing his session, Williams announced the upcoming launch of the MITTA African Centre, a youth-focused cultural initiative founded on four pillars, with storytelling at its core. The Centre aims to be pan-African in scope, with plans to establish a centre in every African country.

Williams’ participation in the Forum affirms his enduring commitment to positioning Africa’s youth not merely as subjects of global debate but as the architects of the world they will create.