UN deputy secretary-general Amina Mohammed says Africa must “bet on her youth” to realise its digital potential.

Ms Mohammed told delegates at the interactive multi-stakeholder dialogue on Africa’s Development at the UN headquarters in New York that by 2050, there would be more than 850 million young people in Africa.

“This is an incredible opportunity. Realising this potential means investing in STEM education now. It means building digital infrastructure that connects talent to opportunity,” she said.

Ms Mohammed noted that in 2023, only 19 per cent of people in Africa had access to at least one form of social protection, such as social security or health insurance, compared to 53 per cent globally.

“Strong social protection is not just about safety nets. It is about creating the stability that allows societies to take risks, innovate and grow,” Ms Mohammed said.

She emphasised the possibilities, saying, “The choice is ours, we can continue business-as-usual and watch the 2030 Agenda slip away, or we can support systemic transformation.”

Philémon Yang, the president of the General Assembly, in a message to the meeting, said, “Africa is a vast and populous continent, rich in natural endowments and talents, yet much of that potential remains underutilised.”

The UN official added that no single African country could achieve full digital integration on its own, stressing that regional cooperation and multilateral support were essential.

Speakers also stressed that African expertise must guide solutions. Speaking on behalf of the African Group, Ahmadou Sameteh, Gambia’s health minister, reaffirmed the African-led solutions to African problems.

“We reaffirm our collective determination to ensure that Africa’s development is led by its own people, grounded in knowledge, innovation, and social justice,” Mr Sameteh said.

A report on Africa’s development, presented at the General Assembly on Monday, revealed that digital innovation and technology remain underfunded and underdeveloped across the continent.

In 2024, only 34 per cent of women and 45 per cent of men on the continent used the internet, compared to global averages of 65 and 70 per cent. The report showed that 98 per cent of Africans under the age of 18 do not complete school with even basic STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) skills, reflecting long-term under-investment in education.

The report noted that slow progress in digital integration and STEM education was impeding Africa’s ability to reach the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030. The “digital divide” hits marginalised groups hardest, including women and rural communities, according to the report.

The report also noted that current systems do not sufficiently support young innovators, as 75 per cent of young Africans have insecure employment and lack basic protections.

This lack of social protection is part of a wider labour rights gap, the report also noted.

The report called on governments and partners to adopt a people-centred approach that promotes digital and technological innovation alongside decent work, rights, and respect for intellectual property.

(NAN)