The air of complacency in the youth across the continent is unsettling, to say the least. More specifically, the age category referenced in this article is 15 to 35 years for both Nigeria and South Africa. If one were to ask for their views on socio economic and political matters, the average response indicates a lack of interest, knowledge, trust, and feelings of resentment. As I write, the attention of Nigeria’s youth majority is much more invested in the feud between their music idols, Wizkid and Davido than on matters of national interest. This is despite the havoc of the recent hikes in electricity and fuel tariffs which affect all aspects of their daily life. Add to this the soaring level of unemployment in a country with a population of 233,954,727, the pressure is staggering. South Africa has a similar crisis as the youth become more invested in sensationalism, gossip, and entertainment published by fellow young online content creators. All this while glaring challenges like the 45,5% youth unemployment rate remain largely ignored.

When I reflect on how the youth has historically contributed to important changes in political systems and economic transformations, their value as a creative force and dynamic innovators is undisputed.

I am specifically reminded of Youth Day which is so-called in honor of, June 16 1976, a date designated to commemorate one of the most historically significant events in our history. On this day the youth took to the streets in protest of the government’s plans to impose the Afrikaans language as a medium of instruction in schools for Black students. What was supposed to be a peaceful protest quickly escalated into a full-blown revolt against the government as approximately 10,000 students were met with teargas and live ammunition by the state police across the nation. Because of this incident, the apartheid government suffered paralyzing setbacks as images of the violence meted out against peacefully demonstrating students spread globally. One could say this singular event turned the tide in the fight for freedom in South Africa as the world responded in horror thus giving renewed vigor to what had been a weakening and mostly exiled liberation movement. I could never say that the end justified the means, but I am also compelled to acknowledge that the freedom we have today is to a large degree due to their commitment to a greater course for the Black collective.

I wonder if South Africa would have witnessed the beginning of the end of military rule post-1976 without their valiant actions and sacrifice?

This is only one of the many times across the continent where the youth have been pivotal in initiating the “winds of change” that influence the direction of governments and policies. If we look further back in history, we see the Pan African activism of the insurgencies whom Hayley Selassie dubbed the Mau Mau Angels in Kenya which would sustain a resistance that would eventually lead to Kenya’s independence 10 years later. Another example of bravery is Senegal’s student uprising at Dakar University in 1968 which sparked the revolt against the middle class, an act that spread nationwide albeit short-lived. These were defining moments for the political and socio-economic history of these nations. Time and time again the cunning and valor of young people is demonstrated across the continent, evidence of the invaluable resource they are in shifting the status quo. One cannot help but imagine what the scene would be if the attention of today’s youth pivoted from distractions to matters of national interest.

Figure 1SOWETO, SOUTH AFRICA – JUNE 16 (SOUTH
AFRICA OUT): Soweto youths kneeling in front of the police
holding their hands in the air showing the peace signon June
16, 1976, in Soweto, South Africa. (Photo by Jan Hamman)

That being said, when looking at the perceived cognitive dissonance young Africans have toward their civic duty to defend democracy, I saw the need to engage with some between the ages of 18 to 27. A few interesting points arose from these conversations which I feel may help the older generation, in their various ministries, understand the seeming lack of allegiance and hopefully begin to engage in a dialogue.

At the top of the list is the lack of representation of young people. Although there are policies in place for their young demographic, there is minimal application of them and no prioritization of their struggles. Every year they are inundated with empty promises from the Parliamentary State of The Nation Address in Cape Town, South Africa. And yet there is rarely delivery or meaningful change, what funding is allocated for education is not effectively distributed amid corruption scandals within NASFAS in higher education. They have little to no assistance in mitigating the high cost of living, and access to resources, including employment and entrepreneurship.

The next is the gargantuan gap that exists between the older and younger generations. The lack of communication and rapport between the two generations has led to deep distrust of the political systems at play. The youth is not learning anything constructive from those in government as they are fully aware of the corruption and self-interest of politicians, more than they are of their rights and responsibilities. In their eyes, the broader collective is not beneficial to them and thus they gravitate towards individual pursuits for survival.

Next is the legacy of their parents’ betrayal by those they put in power. What has also negatively contributed to the distrust of The State is being raised by parents who feel “let down” by political officials they fought for and put in power on the promise of positive changes.

Finally, is the deeply entrenched belief that the system is rigged. Those in government are too powerful and decisions are made before matters are presented for transparent public participation. This makes it pointless to commit themselves to any politically inspired cause or agenda. More pointedly several cited the recent 2024 elections in South Africa as an example when videos of meetings in Europe, mid-2023 circulated on social media this year. Allegedly these videos had contents of meetings held to decide the outcome of the 2024 elections. What is concerning is that even if this supposed leaked footage is fake, such information solidifies the narrative that their voices do not matter. This is bad for future voting seasons in the country especially as no one within the government sees fit to educate on these matters or correct these narratives.

What could then be a way forward in addressing the challenges faced by our young people on the continent as well as fostering loyalty and active participation?

In my opinion, youth engagement is a soft target where the quickest results could be achieved. We live in a digital age where everyone across the globe, is connected daily. Content creators have a powerful influence in swaying the minds, beliefs, and values of every person who has access to them. Current content from these creators is in large part what holds the attention of the youth and influences the most significant to the most minuscule decisions in their lives. With this in mind and also taking into account that the current challenges include a lack of youth engagement, communication, education, and leadership mentoring, I see partnerships with the most influential content creators as a move that could be highly beneficial, especially as both Nigeria and South Africa have a plethora of digital entertainment and lifestyle creators as well as influencers. Upon further study, one would see that all is not lost with the youth as some do seek to make a difference in society in their countries. Those who come to mind are such content creators as Uyime Godman, Torkumathefirst in Nigeria, Dan Corder, Zethu Gqola in South Africa. It is my opinion that this is the quality of creatives that would, with support and guidance, benefit national objectives.

Concerning tackling high unemployment levels, I had a conversation with the esteemed doctor Akinwale Ojomo, Chief Engagement Officer, Diaspora Innovation Institute. I found his ideas on closing the skills gap and ultimately addressing poverty and unemployment quite profound. Dr. Akinwale believes that Nigeria and possibly most African countries would benefit from proactively structuring and streamlining the migration of their population. He enthusiastically encourages governments to get on negotiation tables with countries around the globe for trade agreements that would see Nigeria supply them with her biggest resource, human capital. When the government negotiates opportunities on behalf of its citizens abroad, they have to ensure that these citizens are adequately skilled and qualify for jobs that have been already secured on a large scale. Considering that migration is currently happening without the government benefitting from the resources they have invested in educating and qualifying doctors and engineers, etc before they migrate in an individual capacity, it makes sense to explore the feasibility of this approach and what it could do for not only the unemployment crises, security of Nigerians in the diaspora but the fiscal too.

As he spoke what came to mind was the Nelson Mandela–Fidel Castro collaboration established in 1996. A project that despite its many criticisms at inception around 2000, went on to address a very critical deficit in the country, the lack of doctors in rural South Africa when the new democratic government came into power. President Nelson Mandela appealed to Cuba’s then-President Fidel Castro to supply doctors who could be deployed to critical areas. Cuba agreed to send doctors on condition that South Africa send students for Cuba to train at South Africa’s expense and send them back once qualified and Cuban doctors returned. Cuba had surety that these South Africans would not be a liability as there was an agreed time that they would reside, study, and work in Cuba and at no point be a liability to Cuba’s economy. South African Black doctor aspirants from rural communities were able to access medical training and jobs which in turn inspired a sense of civic duty in them. South Africa was able to render services in the health sector as those now qualified doctors returned to make a difference in the vast rural South African landscape, and simultaneously serve the government as part of their remuneration for their training.

In conclusion, I think it would be prudent of our governments to start redressing youth dispassion by investing in more effective technologies and strategies and recruiting a younger demographic to implement and manage them. They would potentially be a better fit for the process of building and engaging with their contemporaries for better cooperation towards mentorship for leadership in the continent.

I also see a multi-faceted opportunity in exploring Dr. Kinwale’s ideas as a starting point for exploring new trade agreements that benefit both countries and their citizens. The added benefit I see in this strategy is that there is currently a great demand for semi-skilled and skilled labor throughout Europe, over and above the usual professional labor demand. Africans are risking life and limb to cross oceans and fences to get work opportunities in these countries. What if our governments were forward-thinking enough to control migration in a way that sees everybody benefitting and safe?

At the end of the day it is us, society that has the responsibility to nurture a generation of young people who are informed, engaged, and passionate about creating positive change on the continent. We must foster a desire in them to create healthy economies and governance to build healthy societies throughout our continent.

By Georginah Jacobs (Boardroom News Columnist)

thewritertherapist@gmail.com

Contact: +27633454869