Africa urged to create more jobs for its youth

The African South-South Relations Commission President, Abdou Souleye Diop, emphasized the importance of addressing Africa's youth unemployment challenge during an interview on CNBC Africa. He highlighted the need for Africa to create more jobs, especially for its youth population, in order to leverage the continent's economic growth effectively. Diop acknowledged the significance of the EU-Africa Business forum as a platform for African and European private sectors to collaboratively explore pathways for progress. Diop stressed the essential need for enhancing partnerships between African and European stakeholders to propel the continent forward in the coming years. He indicated that job creation stands as a crucial area for growth and development in Africa. Diop underscored that the informal economy remains a significant component of Africa's economic landscape, and strategies need to be devised to effectively manage the balance between formal and informal job opportunities. When discussing the prospects of job creation in Africa, Diop outlined three key issues that need to be addressed. The first issue he highlighted was the importance of improving the education system across the continent to ensure that the youth are equipped with the necessary skills for future employment. Secondly, he emphasized the importance of aligning industrial needs with educational curricula to foster a skilled workforce. Finally, Diop underscored the significance of investing in innovation to unleash Africa's potential as an innovative continent and enable youth to manifest their creativity. Furthermore, Diop emphasized the crucial role of regional integration in addressing unemployment and promoting job creation in Africa. Despite Africa's vastness with 54 countries, individual markets remain relatively small. Therefore, Diop advocated for promoting regional integration to create a more conducive environment for investment, infrastructure development, and policy alignment. He highlighted examples like ECOWAS in West Africa, which has made progress in regional integration efforts but still requires further enhancement to maximize its impact. In the realm of industrialization, Diop emphasized the importance of leveraging each country's resources and comparative advantages through regional collaboration. He underscored the need to avoid unnecessary competition among African nations and instead focus on developing complementary industries that capitalize on the strengths of each country within a regional framework. In conclusion, Diop's insights shed light on the multifaceted challenges and opportunities that Africa faces in addressing youth unemployment. By prioritizing education, innovation, and regional integration, Africa can pave the way for sustainable economic growth and create a conducive environment for job creation and skill development among its youth population.