Pakistani Nobel laureate and human rights activist Malala Yousafzai will become the youngest speaker to deliver the 21st Nelson Mandela Annual Lecture in Johannesburg, South Africa.Verne Harris, Chief Executive of the Nelson Mandela Foundation (NMF) made the announcement on X, formerly Twitter.“Scheduled for 5 December 2023, this lecture holds special significance as it coincides with the tenth anniversary of Madiba’s passing,” he said.

 Mandela became South Africa's first black president in 1994. He won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1993 for his efforts to promote racial reconciliation in his racially scarred nation. “Malala embodies the type of leadership we believe the world needs across all levels of society. In the face of current global challenges, which can seem daunting, she stands as an inspiring symbol of hope for a just and equitable future,” said Harris. Malala was shot in the head by the Taliban gunmen in October 2012 as she was returning from her school in Swat valley. She became the youngest recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize at the age of 17 in recognition of her efforts for children's rights and girls’ education.

Credit: Independent News Pakistan (INP)