AMN PLUS-November 5, 2026
Africa’s future prosperity depends on the leadership and active participation of young people, Minister of Youth and Sports Aklilu Tadesse (PhD) has said.
Speaking at the Second African Political Parties Summit, currently underway in Addis Ababa, Aklilu said Africa’s future prosperity, peace and democratic development depend on the active participation and leadership of its youth.
In his welcoming remarks, the minister noted that more than 60 percent of Africa’s population is under the age of 25. He emphasized that young people are not merely beneficiaries of development but also entrepreneurs, peacebuilders and agents of change.
He further stated that Ethiopia has placed youth empowerment at the center of its development agenda and is investing in job creation, entrepreneurship, innovation and leadership development.
Noting that young people occupy more than 50 percent of leadership positions in the country, he stressed that they are not only leaders of tomorrow but also agents of change today.
The minister also underscored that young people should not be viewed merely as voters or participants in election campaigns. Instead, they should be given equal opportunities to participate in policymaking, decision-making and national governance.
He pointed out that the continent’s challenges, including youth unemployment, conflict, climate change and technological transformation, cannot be addressed without the active involvement of young people.
“The future is not merely the destiny of young people; rather, the future is being built by young people today,” he said, calling for greater trust in young people, their empowerment and equal partnership with them.
The summit is being held in Addis Ababa under the theme, Governing for Growth: Political Parties as Architects of Africa’s Economic Future.”
By Leta Teresa
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