Young people form the largest part of Africa’s slightly over a billion people. This population can be viewed as a demographic dividend to the continent. However, African young persons face one of the greatest challenges of all time, unemployment. It is cited quite often that the continent’s youth unemployment has become a major threat to her socio-economic development. Indeed, no place can develop when a significant proportion of its population is not involved in production. Consequently, many governments find themselves confronted with the dilemma on how to absorb its young population into the labour market. A number of steps to create more job opportunities do not seem to bring the much-needed solutions, as the skyrocketing number of young people languishing without work still remains rambling. With all these and no much gain, it may be clear that the structural changes needed would require a comprehensive approach to employment issues in general. This could be done in a way that not only target the youth, but which looks at educational, capacity building and labour market issues so that dynamic and progressive interventions are initiated. There have been debates about the education system, which needs to be redesigned to suit our needs and realities through supporting hands-on and technical skills development, critical thinking and innovations, so that the youth can consider starting up their own employment and break away from the unemployment seeking syndrome. Besides this, a pragmatic approach is required to acquire globally competitive higher education in Africa. It is true that in as much as youth unemployment is a global affair, western nations that have had relatively more practical education system suffer least effects of youth unemployment. On the other hand, vocational training, attachment programs, entrepreneurship could be intensified as part of our educational curriculum to prepare young people for jobs. Serious efforts must be made to introduce intensive work programs whilst improving the business environment to stimulate economic growth. The private sector must be encouraged to support the existing induction program in addition to apprenticeship programs, by government giving incentives to private and public corporate organizations that are business ready to employ young people without the traditional prohibitive practice of ‘over five years experience’ requirement. Inventive approaches such as increasing innovation incubators may provide a breakthrough to youth unemployment phenomenon. This serves in giving young entrepreneurs the resources to pursue their visions and at the same time keeping them close to the corporate aisles, as well as fostering an environment, which challenges conventional thinking. This way, young people are positioned to be the next generation job creators and employers. Today, a number of successful new industries, products and services have been created by younger people, and ongoing global development and technological progress relies on the creativity and drive of young people being successfully channeled into entrepreneurship and self-employment. Thus, governments should continue supporting youth ventures or startups by availing them resources to undertake research, growth and market in order to make them competitive, train youths and build their capacity on how to take advantage of emerging sectors. Additionally, youth spaces in leadership need to be scaled up and encourage them to take up leadership roles as a way of increasing their participation in national development. Young people being in leadership positions either in public or private sector provide fresh ideas which could create more opportunities. In another way, youth in leadership is a motivational tool for the rest who will put more effort in their endavours to rise to higher rungs in any career or business paths. African countries must implement an effective and robust industrialisation framework to move from the current import-dependent economy. Such Industrial development framework buttressed by relevant agreements such as the Africa Continental Free Trade Area, the Protocol on Free Movement and the Kigali Declaration, among others should open new frontiers for African youth to access opportunities beyond their borders. Finally, it is essential that the continent invest in its dynamic and energetic youth through the provision of skills, knowledge and opportunities to transition successfully from school to job market or to sustainable entrepreneurship. This requires a concerted effort; both at country, regional and continental level, which also requires a strong and collective political will. @Kimanuka The views expressed in this article are of the author.
