Youth leaders from across Africa gathered in Abuja on Friday, emphasizing the urgent need for increased investments in young people to combat high unemployment, political instability, and economic fragility that hinder the continent’s progress.
Afika Rwayi, the chairperson at the All Africa Conference of Churches Youth Pre-Assembly, highlighted Africa’s youth unemployment rate of 19.8% in 2021, surpassing the global average. Rwayi stressed the necessity for policies and initiatives promoting employment opportunities, citing limited access to quality education hindering skills development for Africa’s competitive job markets.
The challenge of high unemployment rates in Africa poses significant obstacles for the continent’s youth, facing difficulties in securing stable and meaningful employment. Rwayi identified insufficient educational resources and outdated curricula as factors leading many youths to enter the workforce without proper qualifications, exacerbating unemployment and socio-economic disparities.
To address these issues, Rwayi advocated for responsive education systems, vocational training, and entrepreneurship programs empowering youth to create opportunities and foster innovation and self-sufficiency in the face of employment challenges.
She also raised concerns about the digital divide hindering African youth’s participation in the global digital economy and acquiring essential tech skills for modern jobs. The unequal distribution of technological infrastructure and socio-economic disparities create barriers for many young Africans to gain the digital skills necessary for the modern workforce.
Methodist Archbishop Michael Akinwale appealed to youth leaders to collaborate in developing solutions, emphasizing that African governments rely on their innovation and vision. The 5-day conference, attended by over 600 young delegates from 40 African countries, focused on discussions to enhance youth capacity for sustainable growth in the continent.
