We Shall Be Included!

Originally posted by udglobal on July 28, 2016

The facts tell us that Africa's population stands at an estimated 1.1 billion. This population is expected to rise to 2.4 billion people by the year 2050. In Sub-Saharan Africa, 62 percent of the population comprises youth under 25. This population keeps rising and constitutes what is currently referred to as the youth bulge.

So what does this mean for Africa?

Firstly, this means that Africa has a grand demand for supplies in the form of food, clothes, housing, and a list of all other luxuries. This inevitably makes it a very promising market for any business. It means that no corporation that deems itself multinational can ignore the promise of this African Market.

AI rendering of photo showing African Youth in 2032

Secondly, it means that Africa has more than enough workforce to drive the economy. It means that any investor who is serious about the new global world should be focusing on taking advantage of the growing workforce in Africa. This is further iterated by universities’ annual graduate turnover. Every year, institutes of academia churn out hundreds of thousands of qualified youth into the job market. Unfortunately, half of these graduates are not guaranteed to get into formal employment. Ergo, the vicious cycle of disillusionment and loss of confidence in the governments of Africa today.

Lastly, it means that a vast majority of the world’s millennials are in Africa. Meaning Africa could benefit a lot from the oomph, innovation, and ingenuity tagged to the millennials. It is no wonder there have been great advances in innovation like mobile money transfer platforms, mobile phone applications, education software, and off-the-cuff business models that are not limited to conventional national boundaries. Millennials are now, more than ever before, transacting online, networking on the inter-webs, and sharing their experiences on the many social platforms literally at their fingertips.

It is thereby very necessary for governments, private sectors, and civil societies to acknowledge that Africa is blessed on the merit of its youth. It is very dangerous for societies, and their governments to choose to overlook the youth. Any government and society that does invest in the youth is doing so at its peril. It will only take the inclusion of youth to make the strides that the current leaders of Africa aspire for.

For sure some governments have made efforts to address issues concerning youth by creating opportunities, revolving funds, and running special youth projects. I take the examples of the ‘Uwezo Fund’ and ‘Youth Enterprise Development Fund in Kenya as well as the ‘National Youth Development Fund in Tanzania. However, vices like corruption, nepotism, tribalism, and greed have made these resources just a mirage for the average youth. Drawbacks also include high interest rates and red tape to name a few which make it near impossible for youth to access resources from the government.

Governments have also adopted national youth policies that mean all good to the youth. Unfortunately, there is a lack of accountability on the part of some sections of the leadership as well as other departments in states. Some civil services remain non-committed and this makes the situation worse for the youth.

It must be realized that it is time that all actors from both the public and private sectors genuinely start thinking about the predicament around youth. There must also be a deliberate push to take the discussion to youth themselves. There is need to start engaging all youth and all actors must start seeing the promise that is Africa. More so, the promise that is the African youth.

It is youth that will drive the change in Africa. We need to get every single youth involved in the change process. It is time for the young African leaders and we cannot afford to leave a single one behind!

A single grain of rice can tip the scale. One man may be the difference between victory and defeat – (Mulan, 1998).