By Roger Caldwell
Africa is rising and there is a” youthquake” happening on the 54 countries populating the continent. It covers an area larger than China, Europe, India, and the United States combined, and there are 1.4 billion people living there in many different cultures and climates.
By 2030 young Africans are expected to constitute, 42% of global youth, and in Africa 60% of the African population are under the age of 25. African youth hold the key to the development of the continent.
In 1950, the African continent held 8% of the world’s population, and by 2050 the continent will hold a quarter (25%) of the world’s population. With today’s youth in Africa, they are taking active roles in shaping the future, in start-ups, in agriculture, industry, IT, and sustainability. The African Development Bank (AfDB) is starting to set up companies being run with individuals under 35 years of age, with $2 billion of funding.
Even though there are major business taking place in certain cities such as Accra, Nairobi, Cairo, and Benguerir, there is still about 50% of most countries don’t have electricity. Chronic unemployment is everywhere on the continent, and this is a major crisis. In the countries where there is Democracy, they are controlled by old men with young voters.
In almost every country in Africa there is some form of crime with officials, and violence is used to keep the leadership in control. Aids and Sexually Transmitted Diseases are in many of the 54 countries on the continent and health and wellness is a priority.
Clean water in many countries is difficult because rain water is used for cooking, washing, and drinking. All over the continent there is insufficient rainfall, high temperatures and there is a crisis.
The drought has always been in different countries but in 2023 it has intensified into Angola, Zambia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, and Namibia. The lack of rain has affected the agriculture sector, and now there are problems with feeding families and a need for assistance from other continents.
With the entire different crisis on the continent, Africa’s political reach is growing. China, Russia, United States, Turkey, Arabs, and Europe are fighting each other to get huge reserves of the minerals needed to make electric cars and solar panels.
Recently, the African Union joined the Group of 20, the primer group for international economic cooperation, taking a seat at the same table as the European Union. Hilton plans to build 65 new hotels on the continent and new markets are opening up such as cosmetics, organic foods, and fashion.
Education is the key for the youthquake taking over the continent and policymakers must create a functional system that benefits the youth and businesses. Hip hop is affecting the youth on an international level, and there will be new classes of millionaires who will help create a new infrastructure.
At this year’s 8th Tokyo international Conference on African Development, the President of the African Development Bank, Akinwumi A. Adesine announced the launch of the African Education Science, Technology and innovation Fund stating, “Together we have a unique opportunity to reach millions of youth with education.”
Higher education in Africa needs financing. The continent’s growing need for knowledge and economy is also a boom for business and more jobs. As 54 countries work to solve their massive problems, the leadership must not forget its most valuable asset by far, “the young Africans.”
