Chief Executive Officer of the National Youth Authority (NYA), Osman Ayariga has called for greater youth inclusion in Africa’s strategic planning, stating that the continent’s future progress depends on it.
Speaking at the 25th Conference of Ministers of African Youth (COM25), he criticised the longstanding practice of planning for young people without their active involvement. He urged African leaders to rethink this approach.
“The greatest problem of Africa has been that we keep planning for the future generation, not involving the generation of the younger generation,” he remarked, highlighting the need for change in the planning process.
He argued that it is essential to integrate the youth into decision-making, especially given their growing demographic importance.
“It is incumbent and important that we actually include the younger generation, which is the youth, in whatever strategic planning that we’re doing. Young people form a larger demographic as far as the numbers are concerned”, he stated.
Referring to sectors such as agriculture and fintech, he pointed out that these fields are becoming key drivers of Africa’s economic future, with many young people already leading the way.
“You look at the areas of agriculture, you look at the areas of fintech, and you understand and know that the next great thing to happen to the continent of Africa is either agriculture or fintech,” he said. “And you see many young people going into agriculture.”
He also stressed the need for the youth to have a voice in frameworks like the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), which can enable youth participation in cross-border trade and business.
“So it is incumbent that young people are involved in the strategic planning of the AfCFTA to make sure that young people get involved and their inputs are actually considered. As to how one person trading in one country or farming in one country can transcend between the borders of his country into another country seamlessly, free and very conducive for young people”, he voiced
His comments also urged African leaders to take more active steps to incorporate the youth’s input into policy discussions. He emphasised that it should not be enough for ministers to speak on issues affecting young people without their direct involvement.
“For us, we think that it’s incumbent that every time we have such strategic meetings, we have such strategic partnership, we need to involve as many young people as possible,” he said. “It’s not enough just for the ministers to come and discuss what actually is going to affect young people.”
He concluded by reminding the audience that young people represent the largest demographic across the continent and, therefore, must be at the forefront of shaping Africa’s future.
“We have more younger people and just a few ministers to implement what the younger people are suggesting and what the younger people are saying,” he said.
Source: Ghana/StarrFM 103.5FM/Mary Asantewaa Buabeng
