Madaba, August 12 (Petra) - "Youth are a driving force for national development and a key source of pressure for Jordan's advancement," Jordan News Agency (Petra) Board Chairman Nabeel Ghishan said on Wednesday.

Ghishan, speaking at an International Youth Day panel discussion, stated that youth empowerment is "central" to the vision of His Majesty King Abdullah II and HRH Crown Prince Hussein.

He said education must move beyond "rote memorization" to foster critical thinking and practical skills aligned with market demands.

Urging Jordan's universities to connect curricula directly to national economic needs, he called for leveraging youth tech skills in AI and digital services to modernize government operations.

"Success relies on competence and skill," Ghishan said, stressing the need to transition from passive youth welfare to real empowerment by giving young people tangible tools to lead within institutions.

Meanwhile, youth officials pointed to ongoing national initiatives, including the National Youth Strategy 2026–2030, to integrate young Jordanians into political, economic, and administrative modernization efforts.

The event, organized by the Madaba Youth Directorate at Prince Hashim bin Abdullah II Youth City, concluded with a Q&A session and an awards ceremony honoring outstanding local youth innovators.

//Petra// HA

12/08/2026 17:34:25