Transforming Youth Employment through Visionary Leadership

This episode of the Leadership for Africa’s Future Podcast discusses the significant opportunity presented by Africa's youthful population, with over 60% under the age of 25. The episode emphasizes the need for bold and innovative leadership to leverage this demographic as a catalyst for transformation, rather than a challenge. The host outlines the importance of creating quality jobs and meaningful career paths, enhancing education to focus on resilience, creativity, and critical thinking, and rethinking entrepreneurship as a mindset. Emphasis is also placed on the necessity of digital access and literacy, viewing gender and geographic disparities as opportunities for innovation, and fostering intergenerational collaboration. The ultimate goal is for leaders to empower youth to drive Africa’s next wave of transformation.

Episode Transcript

(00:00):
Welcome to this new episode of Leadership for Africa’s Future Podcast! Today, we’re talking about something that’s not just a set of statistics, but a real opportunity for our continent—Africa’s youth.
Did you know that over 60% of Africa’s population is under the age of 25? That makes us the youngest continent in the world, and if you ask me, it’s a potential goldmine waiting to be tapped. 3 00:00:25,446.666666667 --> 00:00:26,796.666666667 But we need to be careful. 4 00:00:27,196.666666667 --> 00:00:31,446.666666667 This can either be our greatest strength or a challenge if we’re not prepared. 5 00:00:32,266.666666667 --> 00:00:41,716.666666667 We have a choice—to leverage this youth population as a catalyst for transformation or risk stifling growth if youth employment remains stagnant. 6 00:00:42,356.666666667 --> 00:00:46,386.666666667 And let me tell you, playing it safe with traditional solutions just isn’t going to cut it. 7 00:00:47,96.666666667 --> 00:00:51,426.666666667 Leaders need to be bold and innovative if we’re going to seize this opportunity. 8 00:00:52,158.666666667 --> 00:00:59,748.666666667 According to the International Labour Organization, over a third of Africa’s youth are either unemployed or underemployed. 9 00:01:00,328.666666667 --> 00:01:04,778.666666667 That’s not just a number—it’s a pressing issue that demands our attention. 10 00:01:05,338.666666667 --> 00:01:10,878.666666667 But here’s the thing: if we focus solely on unemployment rates, we might miss the bigger picture. 11 00:01:11,578.666666667 --> 00:01:18,798.666666667 The real challenge isn’t just about the number of jobs but the quality of those jobs and the opportunities for young people to grow. 12 00:01:19,68.666666667 --> 00:01:27,688.666666667 This means we need leaders who are ready to change the narrative—from just ‘creating jobs’ to ‘creating pathways to meaningful careers and personal growth.’ 13 00:01:28,892.666666667 --> 00:01:34,462.666666667 Let’s talk about some of the challenges African youth are facing and how leadership needs to evolve. 14 00:01:35,222.666666667 --> 00:01:38,252.666666667 First off, we need to go beyond skills. 15 00:01:38,642.666666667 --> 00:01:41,32.66666667 It’s not just about teaching technical skills. 16 00:01:41,422.66666667 --> 00:01:46,902.66666667 Our education systems have to prioritize resilience, creativity, and critical thinking. 17 00:01:47,482.66666667 --> 00:01:54,742.66666667 Instead of just focusing on what to think, we should be helping young people master how to think—how to solve real-world problems. 18 00:01:55,292.66666667 --> 00:02:01,332.66666667 That’s the kind of shift we need in our educational approach, and leaders play a crucial role in making this happen.

(02:01):
And while we’re at it, let’s rethink what we mean by entrepreneurship.
We often hear this word and immediately picture startups or new businesses, but entrepreneurship is more than just a job title—it’s a mindset.
It’s about being innovative and taking ownership of whatever role you’re in.
Leaders should encourage young people to adopt this mindset, whether they’re running their own company or working in an established organization. 23 00:02:29,786.66666667 --> 00:02:33,916.66666667 Now, let’s move on to something else that’s critical: digital access. 24 00:02:34,636.66666667 --> 00:02:37,506.66666667 In today’s world, technology drives transformation. 25 00:02:37,996.66666667 --> 00:02:44,616.66666667 But unfortunately, many young Africans are still excluded from this due to a lack of infrastructure or digital literacy. 26 00:02:45,286.66666667 --> 00:02:51,376.66666667 We need leaders to treat digital access and literacy as fundamental rights, not as luxuries. 27 00:02:52,196.66666667 --> 00:02:58,656.66666667 This has to be central to our national growth strategies because every young African deserves an equal shot in the digital age.

(02:59):
And finally, when it comes to inclusion, we often look at gender and geographic disparities as hurdles to overcome.
But let’s flip that thinking.
Leaders need to see these disparities as opportunities to innovate.

Think about it (03:11):
untapped rural talent could be the driving force behind new agricultural and tech innovations if we approach it the right way. 32 00:03:21,670.66666667 --> 00:03:27,620.66666667 So, what does leadership’s role in all this look like? It’s about creating a real shift—a paradigm shift. 33 00:03:28,250.66666667 --> 00:03:32,460.66666667 Youth-centered policies can’t just be about traditional job creation anymore. 34 00:03:32,980.66666667 --> 00:03:41,160.66666667 We need policies that push for digital adoption, promote knowledge-sharing across borders, and incentivize impact-driven entrepreneurship. 35 00:03:41,800.66666667 --> 00:03:48,660.66666667 Imagine an interconnected Africa where countries share solutions to common challenges—that’s the vision we need. 36 00:03:48,910.66666667 --> 00:03:50,760.66666667 But it’s not just about policies. 37 00:03:51,520.66666667 --> 00:03:57,120.66666667 A visionary leader understands that supporting youth employment isn’t about isolated programs. 38 00:03:57,530.66666667 --> 00:04:04,510.66666667 It’s about creating ecosystems that connect education, entrepreneurship, the private sector, and community development. 39 00:04:04,980.66666667 --> 00:04:09,20.66666667 When these systems work together, they support young people in a holistic way. 40 00:04:09,753.33333333 --> 00:04:11,753.33333333 And we can’t forget about collaboration. 41 00:04:12,503.33333333 --> 00:04:15,263.33333333 Youth empowerment shouldn’t be a top-down initiative. 42 00:04:15,633.33333333 --> 00:04:21,193.33333333 Young people should be seen as co-creators of solutions, not just recipients of opportunities. 43 00:04:22,313.33333333 --> 00:04:32,63.33333333 Leaders need to actively create platforms where intergenerational collaboration can happen—where young people and experienced leaders can work together to drive change. 44 00:04:32,513.33333333 --> 00:04:36,883.33333333 It’s about creating that sense of shared responsibility and collective action. 45 00:04:37,385.33333333 --> 00:04:49,745.33333333 So, what’s the takeaway here? Leaders in Africa need to reimagine their roles—not just as providers of jobs, but as catalysts for the kind of creative disruption that young Africans are fully capable of. 46 00:04:50,175.33333333 --> 00:04:55,635.33333333 The goal isn’t just to bridge the unemployment gap; it’s about closing the imagination gap. 47 00:04:56,85.33333333 --> 00:04:57,205.33333333 I mean it seriously. 48 00:04:57,575.33333333 --> 00:04:59,585.33333333 It's about closing the imagination gap. 49 00:04:59,615.33333333 --> 00:05:06,655.33333333 Leaders who inspire youth to dream bigger and envision new possibilities are the ones who will unlock Africa’s full potential. 50 00:05:07,635.33333333 --> 00:05:13,685.33333333 To really tap into Africa’s youth potential, we need leaders who lead with vision and empower with intent. 51 00:05:14,475.33333333 --> 00:05:22,955.33333333 It’s time to shift the mindset from ‘saving’ young people from unemployment to empowering them to lead Africa’s next wave of transformation. 52 00:05:23,99.33333333 --> 00:05:30,429.33333333 That's it for today’s episode! If this conversation got you thinking or inspired you, don’t keep it to yourself—share it with your network. 53 00:05:31,109.33333333 --> 00:05:38,579.33333333 And remember, it’s not just about what we do within our organizations—it’s about the impact we make across the continent. 54 00:05:39,549.33333333 --> 00:05:40,539.33333333 Thanks for tuning in.