One of the challenges we face globally is old men clinging to power; they are afraid of irrelevance and de@th — Former U.S. President Barack Obama
Former US President Barack Obama has called for greater opportunities for younger voices and emerging leaders, arguing that the world needs people who are more attuned to the realities of the present moment.
Obama made the remarks while discussing the importance of identifying a new generation of leaders and thinkers rather than continually relying on older figures with established experience.
According to him, while older generations possess valuable wisdom, some may no longer be sufficiently connected to the challenges and realities facing society today.
He said, “Getting younger voices out there, giving them platforms, I think is really important. Identifying this generation of leaders as opposed to past generations of leaders, this generation of thinkers, rather than those who still have a lot of wisdom, but are not as attuned to the moment.”
Obama further argued that one of the major challenges facing the world is older men holding on to political power, attributing the tendency to fears surrounding irrelevance and mortality.
“One of the challenges we face globally is old men clinging to power. And I say men very deliberately. They’re afraid of irrelevance, and de@th, and this has been a theme of humanity since its inception. And don’t encourage it,” he said.