The United Arab Emirates on Wednesday named Shamma AlMazrui, a 22-year-old Oxford graduate, as the minister of state for youth affairs.
“After discussion with my brother Mohammed bin Zayed and the approval of the President, we hereby announce the new UAE cabinet,” Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum said on Twitter.
“The new cabinet focuses on the future, youth, happiness, developing education, and combating climate change.”
UAE appointed ministers for tolerance and happiness, adding that happiness is not just a wish, it is a process that must be planned and worked out. “We have appointed Lubna bint Khaled al Qasimi as minister of state for tolerance. We hope she will play both a local and regional role.
“Thani Al-Zeyoudi as minister of climate change and environment. At 32, with a PhD in renewable energy. Ohood Al Roumi as minister of state for happiness. She remains responsible as DG of the Prime Minister’s Office.
“National happiness isn’t a wish. Plans, projects, programs, indices will inform the work of our ministries to achieve happiness”.
In Nigeria, the average age of the country’s ministers is 53, the youngest being 48-year-old minister of finance, Kemi Adeosun. Worse still, the country’s minister for youth and sports, Solomon Dalung, is about 29 years older than his UAE counterpart.
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