Youth empowerment today, prosperity tomorrow

  

BY LULSEGED WORKU
Youth empowerment is essential, because the future of Africa depends on the active involvement of its young generation today. Their capacity to navigate between hurdles and opportunities will determine whether Africa emerges stronger, more united, and more resilient. Harnessing their potential will be the key to building a continent that is peaceful, just, and prosperous, driven by its own people, with its youth leading the way.

With regard to this, the African Governance Architecture and African Peace and Security Architecture platform (AGA & APSA) had discussed last Tuesday here in Addis Ababa about the challenge and opportunities of African youth.  Speaking at the event, African Union’s Political Affairs, Peace, and Security Commissioner, Ambassador Bankole Adeoye, highlighted the immense potential and the significant challenges faced by Africa’s youth. According to him, African youth find themselves at a complex intersection of opportunities and obstacles, a situation demanding urgent and collective attention from governments, civil society, and the youth themselves. 

Bankole Adeoye underscored that young people, mainstreaming their participation, and empowering them are critical for advancing democracy, protecting human rights, preventing conflicts, building peace, and fostering regional integration. While these principles are well recognized, the reality remains that young Africans are navigating an environment filled with ongoing conflicts, civil wars, and social upheaval. These challenges threaten stability and progress, yet they also present unique opportunities. If properly harnessed, the energy and resilience of Africa’s youth could serve as powerful drivers of sustainable growth and development.

 

He pointed out that youth empowerment is a key flagship initiative on the platform’s agenda. The commitment to this cause is strong, with calls for collective action to turn existing policies into tangible results. Despite the existence of strategies such as the youth engagement plan within the continent’s governance frameworks, the real challenge lies in effective implementation. The efforts of the secretariat to support and monitor progress are vital to ensuring that commitments translate into real change.

 

Looking forward, the upcoming African Governance Report anticipated in 2027 promises to shed light on how young Africans can participate meaningfully in governance and decision-making processes. Such inclusion is seen as a crucial step toward transforming potential into influence, enabling the youth to take active roles in shaping their societies.

 

Regional experiences, especially those from the Eastern and Southern Africa regions, demonstrate that youth-responsive approaches must be integrated systematically into all initiatives. Cooperation across borders is essential because Africa’s challenges and opportunities are interconnected. Tailoring solutions to regional contexts and sharing best practices can accelerate progress and innovation in youth empowerment.

 

The importance of giving young people a voice in high-level discussions was also emphasized. Including youth representatives in forums and decision-making processes signifies a shift toward recognizing them as central actors rather than passive beneficiaries. This active involvement fosters a sense of ownership and responsibility among young Africans, motivating them to contribute meaningfully to societal development.

 

The overarching vision for Africa’s future, as articulated in long-term development plans, relies heavily on the active participation of its youth. A peaceful, just, and inclusive continent can only be achieved by empowering its young generation, who make up the majority of the population. Their involvement is essential for fostering stability, economic growth, and social cohesion.

 

However, the journey is fraught with challenges. Many young Africans find themselves at a crossroads, faced with opportunities that beckon and hurdles that hinder progress. Persistent conflicts and civil wars across numerous countries have created environments of insecurity, disrupting education, destroying infrastructure, and displacing millions. These conditions leave young people vulnerable and ill-prepared for the demands of modern economies.

 

Despite these hardships, Africa’s youth remain a powerful and largely untapped resource. Their resilience, creativity, and entrepreneurial spirit are vital assets that can catalyze transformation if supported by inclusive policies. The continent’s demographic strength, the large and youthful population, presents a significant opportunity. When equipped with the right skills and opportunities, young Africans can become drivers of economic diversification and innovation.

 

Civil conflicts serve as a stark reminder of the importance of investing in peace building and conflict prevention strategies that actively involve youth. Young people’s participation in peace negotiations, reconciliation efforts, and community rebuilding initiatives can foster ownership and responsibility, helping to prevent the recurrence of violence. Empowering youth in these processes is both a moral and strategic imperative for sustainable peace.

 

Unemployment is another critical challenge. Youth unemployment rates across the continent often exceed 30 percent, fueling frustration and exposing young people to risks such as radicalization and exploitation. Yet, this challenge also opens doors for innovation. Africa’s young population can become a demographic dividend, an economic advantage, if provided with quality education, vocational training, and entrepreneurship opportunities. Such investments can transform youth from job seekers into job creators, fueling economic resilience and diversification.

 

The strategy to empower young Africans is central to transforming the continent’s potential into shared prosperity. Creating an enabling environment that fosters innovation, supports startups, and expands access to education and technology is essential. A future where young people thrive requires a collective effort to build inclusive societies, where their voices count and their talents are nurtured.

 

Integrating youth into all levels of governance and development processes is vital. When young people are actively involved in decision-making, policies better reflect their needs and aspirations. This participation also instills a sense of ownership, motivating youth to engage responsibly and contribute to societal progress.

 

Regional cooperation plays a crucial role. Lessons from regional experiences, especially from the Eastern and Southern Africa regions, demonstrate that youth-responsive approaches must be embedded systematically into all initiatives. Sharing knowledge, resources, and best practices across borders enhances the capacity of nations to address youth-specific issues effectively.

 

The overarching message emphasizes that the continent possesses both the strategies and the potential to turn challenges into opportunities. The real task is in implementation, mobilizing youth organizations, civil society, private sector actors, and development partners to work together. The future of Africa hinges on how well it can create an environment where its youth can thrive.

 

During the event, the importance of adopting a future-focused mindset was stressed. The youth of Africa are caught between opportunities and challenges, and it is the collective responsibility of all stakeholders to ensure that the former outweighs the latter. Despite the ongoing conflicts, civil wars, and economic hardships, the resilience, ingenuity, and determination of young Africans remain powerful assets. They can serve as catalysts for peace, stability, and shared prosperity.