The rise in inflation across Europe, such as the UK between Q4 2022 and Q3 2023, hitting a 41-year high before easing drastically to 2.5 percent in December 2024, the acute housing crisis in North America (US and Canada), and the recent political transitions in the US—prompting the withdrawals from key humanitarian bodies—could be warning shots at Africa to look inwards. A continent still bleeding profusely from years of slavery, colonialism, and genocidal civil war now nursed fresh wounds from lacklustre political leadership, corruption, and Western imperialism. This framework has introduced a debased value system, a microscopic vision, and a desperate craze among African youths to seek “greener pastures” outside Africa’s shoreline. Are the pastures abroad so lush that African youths can’t resist immigration? Why are the youth-focused empowerment efforts not enough? With the rapid rise in generative AI tools, could Africa ever catch up?
The African Development Bank (AfDB) has consistently maintained an optimistic outlook on Africa’s economic trajectory. A 2024 publication forecasts an increase from 3.1 percent in 2023 to 3.7 percent GDP growth in 2024 and 4.3 percent in 2025, way above the global average—placing the continent as the second-fastest-growing region globally, behind Asia. The bank’s president, Akinwunmi Adesina, says that despite significant structural challenges and multiple severe shocks, including heightened food and energy prices driven by geopolitical tensions, Africa has her head “above the waters.”. Truthfully, Africa is not difficult to sell with all its obvious potential. But how long will the world have to wait? —To transform this potential into true prosperity. Amidst the many challenges delaying economic breakthrough is the neglect of macroeconomic indicators that should help us maximise the abundant natural resources and a fast-growing youth population.
The average African youth is a reflection of the continent’s image. She is intelligent, resilient, driven, and opportunistic. If you journey across the region, you will meet young innovators and change-makers creating livelihood opportunities, from IT disruptors in Kenya’s Silicon Savannah to textile artisans in Kano, Nigeria. These youths recognise Africa’s potential and the needless race to immigrate, but systemic failures in education, unrealistic family expectations, and government inefficiencies push them toward migration. It is alarming that the future of Africa is being conditioned to believe its success lies elsewhere. Now that the grass on the other side isn’t so green, with visa restrictions tightening globally and political and economic instability rising abroad, now is the time for Africa to cultivate her vineyards. It is about time we took responsibility. This is the message of the hour.
Unfortunately, youth empowerment programmes across Africa take a curative rather than diagnostic approach. When we put up application notices, gather youths, and embark on short-term training and capital injections without addressing fundamental issues. We waste effort and resources. The root problem of the African youth is a deformed value system propagated through families, schools, and religious institutions. These values are responsible for corruption, greed, and the need for the ‘White Man’s’ validation. To fix this, organisations in the region, especially the African Union, must deliberately develop frameworks for educating future generations. It should be new, radical, and futuristic. This framework review of our school curriculums, especially African history—to preserve culture, instill pride, and enlighten parents and religious leaders on the specific themes for raising a new generation of self-reliant African youths. If Africa is to shape the future world order, her educational system must be local in content and context but global in application. We may deconstruct the educational system by writing math formulas in Swahili or creating programming languages in Ghana’s Akan. We can adapt and add. We need to speed up, catch up with the rest of the world, and raise future leaders.
Today, the hottest conversations are about artificial intelligence and the rise of humanoids. AI is transforming agriculture, climate predictions, business, healthcare, and hospitality. According to a McKenzie report, Ghanaian cashew farmers use unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) to detect diseases early, enabling proactive interventions by collecting data from the leaves, stems, and trunks of cashew trees, allowing swift detection of symptoms before they become visible and lead to serious crop damage. In Rwanda, AI-powered drones efficiently schedule the delivery of medicines to patients in remote areas, improving healthcare accessibility. In Cape Town, a startup is digitising African languages to allow them to be translated by AI-powered software such as Google Translate to boost connectivity. However, reports say African youths are still sceptical about adopting and using new technology due to cultural and social influences. No doubt, perception influences adoption. If there is a belief that there exists a sense of mystery behind AI technology use, its integration will be slow despite growing internet penetration.
There is a need to prioritise long-term tech education for youths to improve adoption and literacy. AI skills are complex to understand with a significant demand-supply gap in the global market. We must be proactive and raise young ethical tech leaders by imparting skills such as Machine learning, programming, cloud computing, and AI ethics. Governments in Africa can continue to create enabling environments for tech growth and AI adoption. Likewise, corporate organisations have a pivotal role in advancing tech education—offering scholarships and mentorship, and funding innovation hubs. Countries like Nigeria, South Africa, and Kenya have thriving tech ecosystems, but sustained investment in digital infrastructure is crucial.
There is a muted but growing expectation for Africa to lead and feed the future world. There are too many factors that support this position—demographics, resources, and innovation potential. But this remains a dream if the protagonist delays stepping onto the stage when her future is still so bright. Africa’s time is now.
Ruby Igwe is the Country General Manager, Nigeria at ALX Africa, a leading EdTech non-profit in Africa. As a pioneer female tech leader in Africa’s biggest market, she inspires a strong and innovative team of tech experts currently empowering and training over three million youths across Africa. Connect with her on social media via LinkedIn, Instagram and X (Twitter).
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