For so long young people of Africa have been at the backyard when it comes to decision-making, which has critical stakes in their futures. The theme for this year’s YouthConnekt Africa Summit; “Accelerating Investments in Youth: Resilient Youth, Resilient Africa,” clearly depicts that now is the time for the youth to take center stage in the transformation of our beloved continent Africa.
As the representative of the Liberia Youth Task Team of the Africa Youth Partnership to Advocate an Equitable Recovery from the COVID-19 Pandemic at the just ended YouthConnekt Africa Summit in Kigali, I had the opportunity to learn from and connect with youths from across the continent.
On day one of the YouthConnekt Africa Summit 2022, I was able to see top African Leaders, as they discussed continental recovery efforts. During the speech of Mr. Maxwell Gomera, UNDP Resident Representative to Rwanda, I understood that 80% of young people’s businesses fail to reach their full potential because of lack of access to finances, grants and loan opportunities. There is a correlation between what he said, and the Liberia Youth Task Team’s advocacy focus which falls under the Entrepreneurship & Innovation thematic area. It all boils down to the need for governments and development partners to provide increased access to finances, grants and loans for youth led businesses and start-ups.
Unlike day one, day two afforded me an opportunity to move around the city center of Kigali and mingle with some international friends. After said social event, I participated in a side event about Entrepreneurs. During the event, the facilitator was talking about how female entrepreneurs are at times reluctant to step over to male dominated sectors in our economies.
With that in mind, I raised one of the policy positions in our Africa Youth Partnership Communiqué. The said position talks about enabling gender neutrality in sectors, industries and market behaviors, through interventions that address pre-existing market behaviors constraining women-led enterprises. Against the aforesaid, I told the facilitator that it’s imperative for African Governments and Development Partners to increase their efforts to eliminate practices and behaviors that hinder gender neutrality in sectors of our economies.
Day three began with a general Youth Task Team (YTT) members’ meet up. I was able meet and connect with other YTT members from West, East and Southern Africa. We had a brainstorming meeting, geared toward discussing how the various YTTs from different regions can complement each other. After said meeting, I participated in a side event on Mental Health, where I seized the opportunity to inform participants about the Liberia Youth Task Team’s advocacy focus under Health & Well-being, which is the Passage of the amended law of the Liberian Controlled Drugs & Substances Act of 2014.
During my deliberation, I gave the correlating factor in Mental Health, Drugs & Substances Abuse and the COVID-19 Pandemic. I told participants, for Africa to win the fight against Mental Health, our governments need to do more in ensuring that Africa isn’t used as a transit hub for drugs and other harmful substances.
In conclusion, the YouthConnekt Africa Summit 2022 was a conduit for adequate youth engagement and effective youth participation. It is my hope that such a program could take place bi-annually.
