UNGA: African youths need opportunities, not aid, world leaders charge

World leaders have been charged to rather pay more attention to investing in projects that would provide African youths with jobs and opportunities than providing aids to the continent.

This was said at an investment roundtable for young people in Africathe event held on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly.

While 10-12 million African youths join the workforce each year, only 3 million jobs are created annually, fueling unemployment and economic frustration for many young people.

By 2030, there will be about 1.3 billion 15 to 24 year olds on the planet, some 100 million more than in 2015.

Rwanda’s president Paul Kagame, who was one of the African heads of state present at the investment roundtable, said the recently signed African Continental Free Trade Area Agreement would expand opportunities for the youth.

‘‘Bigger markets, free movement of people and the elimination of internal trade will soon be reality on our continent.

“For a long time, governments across the world have been giving aid to Africa. It’s now time to convert that aid to trade by investing in Africa’s growth.”

He later tweeted:

President Kagame: Any endeavour to empower young people must be based on good politics that is inclusive and that leaves no one behind, especially women and girls. What we need is to translate good ideas and plans into action. #UNGA

— Presidency | Rwanda (@UrugwiroVillage) September 25, 2018