By Abdullahi Salad - Reporter
MOGADISHU, Somalia (Dawan Africa) – Somalia’s Minister of Youth and Sports, Mohamed Abdulkadir, has defended the government’s decision to include social media creators in an official youth delegation to Morocco, saying they enjoy the same constitutional rights as all other citizens and should not be excluded because of their profession.
Speaking on Miizaan Podcast, of Dawan Media, Abdulkadir rejected suggestions that the government was encouraging young people to pursue careers as influencers, stressing that participation in youth programmes is not determined by occupation.
“Being a social media creator is a personal choice,” the minister said. “Whether someone becomes a professor, a politician, a waiter or a social media creator is a constitutional right.”
He said the government’s responsibility is not to promote a particular career path but to engage constructively with the growing influence of digital platforms while helping young people understand both the opportunities and the risks associated with social media.
Responding to questions about how participants for the Morocco programme were selected, Abdulkadir said the ministry follows a transparent process and noted that Somalia has previously sent youth delegations to international forums, including an event in Tunisia.
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The minister said financing overseas travel remains one of the ministry’s biggest constraints, explaining that host countries typically cover accommodation and conference expenses, while participating governments are responsible for international airfares.
He said the ministry has at times considered whether funds allocated for travel could instead be invested in youth training or employment initiatives, but added that Somalia continues to participate in international youth forums whenever resources permit.
Abdulkadir stressed that opportunities to represent Somalia abroad are not reserved for social media personalities and said any young Somali who meets the programme’s eligibility requirements could be considered for future international events if sufficient funding is available.
He added that the ministry’s role is to facilitate documentation and participation arrangements, while the high cost of international airfare remains the principal obstacle to sending larger youth delegations overseas.