Muscat: Under the auspices of HH Sayyid Theyazin bin Haitham al-Said, the Minister of Culture, Sports and Youth, the Sultanate, represented by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Youth, today [October 26] celebrated the Oman Youth Day (OYD).

At the celebration, aired via videoconferencing, HH Sayyid Theyazin said: “We are delighted today to express our greetings to the noble Omani youth on the occasion of Oman Youth Day, which falls on 26 November every year.

“The event is being marked through solid conviction in the vital role of youth in carrying forward the banner of Oman’s renewed renaissance march. Through their hopes and aspirations, the Omani youth set standards for a brighter future to which they will contribute by promoting the Sultanate’s prosperity.”

HH Sayyid Theyazin added: “The Sultanate’s government has accorded great attention to youth since the outset of the Blessed Renaissance, which provided them with all means that enable them to shoulder their responsibilities of elevating the edifice of development, which, in turn, accomplishes their goals and realizes their dreams.

“The Omani youth proved worthy of this immense national duty, armed with full awareness about the issues of the age. Their pragmatism stems from undertaking the right methods of progress, with a clear vision and steadfast resolve to participate in building a renewed renaissance that is open towards the culture of other, with the prime aim of coexisting in love, peace, and harmony.”

HH Sayyid Theyazin explained that, in pursuance of this wise tradition, the speeches and directives of His Majesty Sultan Haitham Bin Tarik have laid emphasis on the significance of promoting youth and according them proper care, since they are the wealth and everlasting resource of this nation. This attention culminated in the establishment of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Youth to serve as an overarching premise for youth ambitions, innovations, and aspirations.”

HH Sayyid Theyazin added that testimony to their vital role, the youth participated in formulating Oman Vision 2040.

“The government relies on youth for achieving progress and prosperity, as Vision 2040 focused on the importance of developing sources of knowledge and supporting youth national projects and initiatives, which, he explained “will contribute to upgrading the pace of growth by replicating the progress being witnessed by the world in the fields of Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR), sciences and emerging economic activities.”

“The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Youth is pressing ahead with its programmes addressing the cause of youth, working in full integration with other government and private sector departments concerned in accordance with the farsighted vision of His Majesty Sultan Haitham Bin Tarik for grooming a generation capable of thinking, analyzing and innovation,” HH Sayyid Theyazin reaffirmed, adding that the Ministry will devise appropriate mechanisms to explore the opinions of youth with a view to engaging them as true partners in future plans and programmes that earn them expertise and optimize the capabilities.”

Twenty-one young people were honoured during the ceremony for a variety of achievements, including the Award of Excellence for Youth, a contest drafted by the Ministry to promote excellence among individuals and institutions across 9 sectors: business, education, the media, culture, science, sports, heritage, environment, and labour.

The prize celebrates excellence in three categories: individuals, youth initiatives, and youth establishments.

The celebration of Oman Youth Day is reminiscent of the attention accorded to youth by the late His Majesty Sultan Qaboos. It was with his blessings that the OYD was launched in 2014. It remains as an anniversary that felicitates youthful achievements, bridges the common space among various departments, and highlights youth contribution to nation-building.