The 29^th Ordinary Session of the Summit of the African Union’s theme “Harnessing the Demographic Dividend through Investments in Youth” is timely.  Today, nearly 600 million Africans are young. In 2050, 400 million will be aged between 15 and 24. This trend underscores the urgent need to use the demographic dividend to stimulate Africa’s emergence.

Each year, more than 11 million young Africans enter the labour market, but only 3 million jobs are created. An estimated 60% of the continent’s unemployed are young people. Laying strategic initiatives that will tap into the creative potential of the youth is crucial.  A better Africa can be realized by creating strategic platforms that will enable Africa’s youth to be solution givers and bearers of hope. The platforms should accord the youth partnerships that will lead to the implementation of their proposed solutions.