Kigali today welcomed hundreds of young innovators, policymakers, and leaders for the launch of the Youth Connekt Africa Summit, one of the continent’s premier youth gatherings, dedicated this year to creating “Jobs for Youth Through Innovative Skilling.”
The summit seeks to address one of Africa’s most pressing challenges: youth unemployment. The event featured a lineup of influential speakers, each underscoring the importance of equipping young people with modern, adaptable skills to meet the demands of a dynamic job market.
A key highlight was the summit’s focus on the creative economy as a pathway to economic empowerment and job creation. During a session on “Re-imagining Africa’s Creative Economy,” Elodie Shami, Director General of Imbuto Foundation, emphasized the significance of creativity as a vehicle for growth and innovation. “The African creative industry is more than just art, music, and fashion; it is a powerful engine for economic growth, cultural exchange, and innovation,” Shami noted, urging stakeholders to harness this potential to provide meaningful employment for young people.
The Minister of State for Youth and Arts in Rwanda, Sandrine Umutoni, echoed this sentiment, calling for a new perspective on Africa’s cultural and creative industries. “We owe our future generations to start treating the creative sector as a driving force for socio-economic transformation, while showcasing African excellence globally,” she stated. Highlighting the need for bold investment in Africa’s creative economy, Umutoni added, “Let us imagine an Africa where national and international investors view arts not as risks, but as valuable opportunities that strengthen our economies and enrich our cultures.”
With only 1.5% of the global creative economy attributed to Africa—despite the continent being home to 18% of the world’s population—the Minister emphasized the need for sustainable policies that allow young creatives to thrive. She stressed that cultivating a creative revolution could unlock vast opportunities, helping Africa bridge the gap between its potential and its current contribution to the global economy.
Youth Connekt Africa, now adopted by 33 African member states, has grown into a vital platform for addressing developmental challenges by fostering collaboration, sharing knowledge, and creating employment pathways. Focused on skill development, Youth Connekt aims to equip youth with the skills needed to succeed in emerging fields, with a particular emphasis this year on innovative skilling for the jobs of the future.
Through sessions designed to inspire and empower, the Youth Connekt Summit aims to provide African youth with the tools they need to drive progress and seize new opportunities in both traditional and creative industries. By investing in innovative skilling, the summit envisions a future where Africa’s youth are not only job-ready but are pioneering new industries and redefining the continent’s global role.
As the summit continues, further discussions will delve into how Africa can harness the creative sector to generate sustainable employment and economic growth, while preparing young Africans to lead a new era of creativity, innovation, and economic empowerment
