By Muhammed Sherifdeen Omeiza
Africa’s young population is often described as the continent’s greatest opportunity. And it can be.
But a young population does not automatically create economic growth.
It becomes an advantage only when young people have the education, skills, jobs and opportunities needed to contribute to the economy.
Africa has roughly 400 million people between the ages of 15 and 35, according to recent analysis. Yet young people remain significantly underrepresented in political leadership and decision-making.
This creates a serious gap.
Africa is young, but many of its political institutions are not.
The continent has millions of young people entering the labour market, but many economies are not creating jobs quickly enough. When young people spend years looking for employment, their frustration can become a wider social and political problem.
This is why governments should stop treating young people mainly as beneficiaries of development programmes.
Young people are economic actors.
They are farmers, entrepreneurs, teachers, engineers, researchers, artists and political participants. They should be given the opportunity to shape the policies that affect their future.
Education is one part of the solution.
But education without jobs is not enough.
A young person can graduate from university and still remain unemployed because the economy is not creating enough opportunities. This means education policy must be connected to economic policy.
Governments need to ask what kinds of jobs their economies will need in the next ten or twenty years and prepare young people for those opportunities.
This also means supporting businesses that can employ large numbers of people.
Agriculture, manufacturing, technology, construction and services can all play a role. But young people need access to finance, skills and markets if they are expected to become entrepreneurs.
Political participation is another issue.
It is difficult to tell young people that they are the future while keeping them away from important decisions in the present.
Young people should not only be invited to conferences where they listen to older leaders. They should be involved in political parties, public institutions, local government and policy development.
This does not mean replacing older leaders simply because they are old.
Experience matters.
But experience and youth should work together.
Africa’s young population can become a major advantage if governments prepare properly. It can create a larger workforce, a larger consumer market and more innovation.
But if governments fail to provide opportunities, the same population growth can increase unemployment, migration, insecurity and political frustration.
The choice is therefore not between celebrating Africa’s youth or fearing them.
The real choice is whether governments will prepare for the population they already have.
Africa’s youth population is not a demographic problem.
Poor preparation for that population is.
– Muhammed Sherifdeen Omeiza is a Nigerian researcher and writer whose work explores the intersection of humanitarian action, human rights, gender equality and global governance. With a keen interest in public policy, democracy, and political economy, he examines how local experiences and global decisions shape humanitarian outcomes in times of crisis. His writings draw from African and international contexts, reflecting a commitment to justice, accountability, and people-centered governance in global affairs.
Email: sherifdeenmuhammed001@gmail.com
