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Young Africans have been urged to take greater responsibility for the continent’s development by leveraging innovation, entrepreneurship, trade, and leadership to build a prosperous and self-reliant Africa.
The call was made at the maiden edition of the “Africa for Africa” Conference, organized by the Youth Partnership for Africa’s Development (YOUPAD) at the Kigali Convention Centre in Rwanda.
The conference, themed “Africa for Africa: Building the Continent We Desire,” brought together young leaders, entrepreneurs, policymakers, academics, development practitioners, and students from across Africa to discuss strategies for advancing the continent’s socio-economic transformation and strengthening youth participation in development.
Speaking during his keynote address, YOUPAD President, Ambassador Nwankwo Henry Nkem, emphasized the need for African youths to channel their talents, skills, innovation, and expertise towards the development of the continent rather than contributing exclusively to the growth of other regions.
While acknowledging the importance of international education, professional exposure, and global mobility, Nkem stressed that Africa’s long-term prosperity depends on the commitment of its young people to invest their knowledge and entrepreneurial capacity in addressing the continent’s challenges.
“There is nothing wrong with travelling, studying, working, or gaining global experience,” he said. “The real question is whether Africa will continue to lose its brightest minds without benefiting from their knowledge and expertise. If all of us leave, who will build Africa? Who will industrialize Africa? Who will create jobs for future generations of Africans?”
The YOUPAD President also highlighted the vast opportunities presented by the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), describing it as one of the most transformative economic initiatives in Africa’s modern history.
According to him, the continental trade agreement offers unprecedented opportunities for young entrepreneurs, innovators, manufacturers, technology professionals, agribusiness operators, and investors to expand their businesses beyond national borders and participate in a unified African market.
“The African Continental Free Trade Area has opened a new chapter for our continent,” he stated. “Never before have African youths had access to a market of this scale. The future belongs to young Africans who are willing to create solutions, build enterprises, expand trade, leverage technology, and collaborate across borders.”
Nkem further called on African governments, private sector stakeholders, educational institutions, and development partners to create enabling environments that support youth-led enterprises, innovation ecosystems, industrial growth, and access to financing.
He noted that the vision of a prosperous and globally competitive Africa cannot be achieved by governments alone, stressing that sustainable development requires collective responsibility and active participation from citizens, businesses, and young people.
“Africa’s challenges are real, but so are its opportunities,” he said. “We possess the world’s youngest population, abundant natural resources, immense entrepreneurial talent, and a rapidly growing market. Our task is to transform these advantages into prosperity. The responsibility of developing Africa belongs first and foremost to Africans.”
The conference featured panel discussions, policy dialogues, entrepreneurship exhibitions, networking sessions, and strategic engagements focusing on youth empowerment, intra-African trade, technology, education, industrialization, and sustainable development.
At the end of the event, participants adopted a communiqué calling for stronger youth representation in economic and policy decision-making processes, increased investment in entrepreneurship and innovation, enhanced support for intra-African trade, and deeper collaboration among youth organizations across the continent.
Delegates also reaffirmed their commitment to promoting Pan-African cooperation, economic self-reliance, and youth-driven development as key pillars for achieving Africa’s long-term growth and prosperity.
The conference concluded with a renewed determination among participants to champion initiatives that place African youths at the centre of the continent’s transformation agenda.
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