22-year-old becomes UAE’s minister for youth

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.

Nigerians on Twitter are reiterating their discontent with the situation in Nigeria where at 51, the country’s minister for youth and sports, Solomon Dalung, is about 29 years older than his UAE counterpart.

NEW UAE CABINET IN FULL

1. Mohammed bin Rashid: Vice President and Prime Minister and Minister of Defence
2. Saif bin Zayed: Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior
3. Mansour bin Zayed: Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Presidential Affairs
4. Hamdan bin Rashid: Cabinet Member and Minister of Finance
5. Abdullah bin Zayed: Cabinet Member, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation
6. Nahyan bin Mubarak: Minister of Culture and Knowledge Development
7. Lubna Al Qasimi: Minister of State for Tolerance
8. Mohammed Al Gergawi: Cabinet Member, Minister of Cabinet Affairs and Future
9. Saeed Al Mansouri: Cabinet Member, Minister of Economy
10. Abdulrahman Al Owais: Cabinet Member, Minister of Health and Disease Prevention
11. Saqr Ghobash: Cabinet Member, Minister of Human Resources and Emiratisation
12. Anwar Gargash: Cabinet Member, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs
13. Obaid Al Tayer: Cabinet Member, Minister of State for Financial Affairs
14. Reem Al Hashimy: Cabinet Member, Minister of State for International Cooperation
15. Suhail Al Mazrouei: Cabinet Member, Minister of Energy
16. Hussain Al Hammadi: Cabinet Member, Minister of Education
17. Abdullah bin Mohammed Belheif Al Nuaimi: Cabinet Member, Minister of Infrastructural Development
18. Saeed Al Baadi: Cabinet Member, Minister of Justice
19. Najla bint Mohammed Al Awar: Cabinet Member, Minister of Social Development
20. Mohammed Al Bowardi: Cabinet Member, Minister of State for Defence Affairs
21. Thani Al Zeyoudi: Cabinet Member, Minister of Climate Change and Environment
22. Jameel Musabah Al Muhairi: Cabinet Member, Minister of State for Public Education Affairs
23. Ahmed Humaid Belhoul Al Falasi: Cabinet Member, Minister of State for Higher Education Affairs
24. Sultan Al Jaber: Cabinet Member, Minister of State
25. Maitha Al Shamsi: Minister of State
26. Rashid bin Fahd: Minister of State
27. Ohood Al Roumi: Minister of State for Happiness
28. Noura Al Kaabi: Cabinet Member, Minister of State for Federal National Council Affairs
29. Shamma Al Mazroui: Minister of State for Youth Affairs