Majority of African Youth continue to face unemployment, underemployment and lack of skills. Concerns have risen that Africa could witness a lost generation if additional employment opportunities are not created.
Despite educational institutions improving, and the youth having greater access to educational opportunities, lack of meaningful work for graduates could hamper economic growth and prevent countries from reaching their full economic potential. this high number of youth not sufficiently engaged into labour market creates a pool of disenchanted youth who can become a catchment area for religious extremists, terrorists groups or illicit transnational crime networks -all of which have the power to reverse security and economic progress across the continent. It is increasingly becoming of great concern that youth are unwittingly conscribed into armed struggle, used to settle political scores and exposed to various negative media behaviour. With little prospects for change on the horizon, this likely to grow worse as time goes by.
An emergent an integrated Africa can be fully realised only if its demographic advantage of a large population of youth is mobilised and equipped to help drive Africa's integration, peace and development agenda. It is therefore extremely important to accelerate social development that gives high priority to youth empowerment and development in order to divert the energy of the youth to more productive and socially acceptable activities. If the youth are disillusioned, there is no future for Africa.
See:
Image Gaallery
The Africa Youth Decade Alliance
Inter-faith Continet-wide Youth consultation