Kagame calls for bold youth leadership at YouthConnekt Africa Summit ’24
Kigali, Rwanda — The 2024 YouthConnekt Africa Summit kicked off in Kigali, Rwanda, under the theme “Jobs for Youth Through Innovative Skilling.”
As one of Africa’s most prominent gatherings for youth development, this year's summit aims to address the critical need for innovative skills and employment opportunities for Africa’s burgeoning youth population.
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President Paul Kagame, a leading advocate for African self-reliance, took center stage in his opening remarks, joined by Prime Minister Samuel Ntsokoane Matekane of Lesotho and Mumbi Ndung’u, Founder of the Power Learn Project.
Kagame delivered a message underscoring the urgency of Africa’s development, emphasizing the continent’s potential and the responsibility to realize it.
“Africa has everything to be where we want to be and who we want to be. So we can only blame ourselves for not achieving that,” he stated, inspiring a call for action across the audience of policymakers, youth leaders, and changemakers.
Following the opening remarks, Kagame joined Prime Minister Matekane and Ndung’u in an intergenerational dialogue to discuss practical steps to move Africa forward.
The panel addressed a spectrum of youth challenges, from digital skilling to entrepreneurial support, exploring how young Africans can harness their talent and drive to shape a prosperous future for the continent.
This year’s summit, co-hosted by the Government of Rwanda, highlights Africa’s readiness to address unemployment, underscoring the African Union’s 2024 theme, “Educate (and Skill) an African Fit for the 21st Century.”
By promoting a variety of skill-building initiatives in sectors such as digital technology, agribusiness, and the creative industries, YouthConnekt Africa provides a platform for African governments, private sector leaders, and international organizations to invest in equipping the continent’s youth for global competitiveness.
Among the summit's anticipated sessions is the Hanga Pitchfest, a dynamic pitch competition showcasing youth-led startups and offering a chance for young entrepreneurs to secure support for their ventures.
Additional sessions will focus on topics such as digital skilling, fostering Africa’s creative economy, and youth-led solutions for rural community development.
With Africa projected to host 42% of the world’s youth by 2030, President Kagame's rallying call resonated deeply, setting a transformative tone for the summit.
The event is more than a gathering; it is a call to action for Africa to take ownership of its path, championing innovation and youth empowerment across all sectors. As Kagame emphasized, it’s up to Africa to harness its resources, ingenuity, and collective will to achieve the future it envisions.
The summit will continue through November 11th, featuring more discussions and workshops geared towards creating a resilient, skilled, and empowered youth ready to lead Africa’s transformation.
