10 Dec 2023

The ingenuity, energy and dreams of Africa’s young people shall be the driving force behind the continent’s aspirations to realise the ideals of Agenda 2063 and economic transformation.

This was echoed by panellists at the just ended Kusi Ideas Festival in Tlokweng held under the theme: Africa’s Agenda 2063: Making the Dream Come True.

Panelists were discussing the sub-theme: When African youth get behind the wheel, which seeks to find where the creative force of young Africans could be seen in making a difference in Africa and to make the positive argument that they could make a difference.

Regional programme manager at Start-Up Support Co-Creation Hub Ms Yandile Nuku said youth should be seen as providing solutions to 21st century challenges ranging from technology, agriculture, energy and water among others.

“There is a great opportunity to showcase your products in so far as solving these challenge is concerned. Self-urgency from young people is very crucial. Take advantage of availed programmes, take advantage of access to information, insights and identify a challenge and create a solution around it,” she said.

Ms Nuku said the education system had to be used as a catchment area and significant investment should be channeled towards that field.

She urged stakeholders to invest in funding research and extensively engage in identifying talent amongst youth.

She said youth had to take advantage of their own dreams and ideas and nurture them.

“Challenges we face here are challenges of every young person throughout the continent. Elder generation must assist young people realise their dreams. Succession planning is very important as well as the national workforce planning, which would assist in making way for young people,” she added.

She said regional integration would open doors of opportunities for young people and create platforms in different sectors.

She said the idea of integration was currently promising with the recent free movement of people in some parts of the continent. Arch-Ride Kenya mechanical engineer Ms Magdeline Maluta said Agenda 2063 had so many promising opportunities for youth.

“There is provision for more potential for young people in the continent and entrepreneurial start-ups are availed in many folds. We must in embracing education make sure young people have correct skills for the jobs,” she said.

Ms Maluta said the education system had to be developed that was for the industry, addressing challenges and in sync with how technology moved. She urged governments to make more investments on infrastructure and provide education for all even in remote areas. She said youth were a driving force in any efforts to move the continent forward.

“Entrepreneurial funding is important as it would create safety nets for income generation. Elder generation must engage youth in conversation and make sure no one is left behind.

Collaborate and create skills that the markets need. What you believe is good for you will give you the courage, don’t shelve your dreams,” she said.

Chief executive officer of GLAP Enterprises in Burundi Mr Innocent Havyarimana said the future of Africa was in the hands of youth if they embraced integration. He urged young people across the continent to form collaboration and change Africa.

More than 60 percent of Africa’s population is under the age of 25. The continent has the youngest population in the world with 70 per cent of sub Saharan Africa under the age of 30.

By 2030 young Africans are expected to constitute 42 per cent of the global youth population. ENDS