Africa is often described as the world’s youngest continent, yet when governments discuss economic growth, trade, education, innovation and governance, the very people who will inherit that future are too often left out of the conversation. Africa’s youth challenge is not that young Africans lack ideas, ambition or talent but that our institutions have not evolved quickly enough to recognise them as partners in shaping the continent’s future.
Across the continent, young Africans are building businesses, creating global brands, driving innovation and reshaping industries. They are founding fintech companies in Nigeria, developing climate solutions in Kenya, producing films in South Africa, creating fashion labels in Côte d’Ivoire and taking African music to audiences worldwide. They are not waiting for permission to build Africa’s future. The real question is whether our institutions are ready to build that future with them.
Africa’s greatest advantage is not only its minerals, oil or arable land but also its people. More than three-quarters of its population is under 35, according to the World Economic Forum (WEF), and its youth population is projected to exceed 830 million by 2050, according to the African Development Bank (AfDB). By 2050, one in every four people globally will be African, and the continent is expected to have the world’s largest workforce. This demographic shift has the potential to transform Africa into a global economic powerhouse but only if young people are equipped to contribute meaningfully to the economy.
Yet a demographic advantage alone does not guarantee prosperity. According to the International Labour Organisation, young Africans are more likely to experience unemployment, underemployment or informal work than older adults. AfDB estimates also reveal that between 10 and 12 million young Africans enter the labour market each year, but only about three million formal jobs are created. This gap between education, employment and opportunity has become one of Africa’s defining development challenges.
For years, our response has been to ask how we can prepare young people for the future. Perhaps we should also ask how our institutions can catch up with the future that young Africans are already creating.
The evidence is everywhere. Data from the AfDB and the African Union indicate that micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) account for about 90% of businesses and more than 80% of employment across Africa, with many founded or led by young entrepreneurs. From technology and agriculture to renewable energy and digital services, young Africans are solving local problems with global relevance. They are creating businesses that generate employment, attract investment and expand markets, proving that innovation depends not on age but on opportunity.
This is particularly evident in the creative economy. Africa’s music, film, fashion, design, gaming and digital content industries have become important economic assets. Afrobeats fill stadiums across Europe and North America, African films are reaching global streaming platforms, fashion designers are showcasing their work on international runways, and content creators are building audiences of millions online.
According to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO), Africa’s film and audiovisual sector alone has the potential to create more than 20 million jobs and generate over US$20 billion in annual revenue if supported by greater investment, stronger intellectual property protection and improved distribution systems. These industries are no longer simply about culture; they are also about employment, exports and economic growth. Yet many policies shaping these sectors are still developed without the voices of the young people driving them.
Too often, young people are invited into policy conversations after decisions have already been made. They are asked to attend conferences, participate in panel discussions or represent “the youth perspective” but are rarely given meaningful influence over the policies that affect their future. This approach no longer reflects reality. Young people are producers of economic value, including entrepreneurs, investors, innovators, employers, taxpayers, creators and community leaders. Their perspectives should help shape the policies that determine Africa’s future.
If Africa wants to unlock the full potential of its demographic dividend, governments must move beyond consulting young people and begin governing with them. This means giving young leaders seats on national advisory councils, including them in economic and trade policy discussions, expanding access to finance for young entrepreneurs, reforming education to reflect the realities of digital and creative economies, and removing regulatory barriers that prevent young businesses from growing.
Encouragingly, some institutions are beginning to move in this direction. At the upcoming Elevate Africa Convening in Accra, one of the key objectives is to position young Africans as decision-makers rather than observers. The convening will produce a Youth Communiqué, a set of recommendations developed by young leaders that will be formally presented to Heads of State and traditional leaders during the Closing Plenary. Its significance lies not simply in the document itself, but in recognising that young Africans should help shape the continent’s future, not merely inherit it.
That is the kind of leadership Africa needs, one that does not invite young people into the room simply to be heard but trusts them to help make decisions. Their ideas, experiences and innovations are essential to solving the challenges Africa faces today, and the continent cannot build its future without giving them a meaningful role in shaping it.
