The Economic Community of West African States has called for increased investment in systems and programmes that will unlock the potential of the region’s youth.

The director of ECOWAS Youth and Sports Development Centre and acting ECOWAS resident representative in Burkina Faso, Francis Njoaguani, made the call at the African Youth Conference held in Abuja.

Mr Njoaguani said African countries must urgently invest in systems and structures that unlock the youths’ potential as drivers of development, peace and prosperity through innovation.

“Let us take a brief look at the facts: Africa is the youngest continent, with 70 per cent of sub-Saharan Africa under the age of 30 years. Yet over 60 per cent of young people remain unemployed or underemployed, in spite of being more connected, more educated, and more aspirational than ever before.

“Infrastructure deficits cost the continent an estimated two per cent of gross domestic product growth annually, while the lack of inclusive industrial development continues to widen inequality and deepen underdevelopment. But there is hope — and that hope lies in these very same young people,” he said.

Mr Njoaguani said ECOWAS had worked with partners and stakeholders to promote sports as a tool for peace and regional development and organised regional tournaments that build unity and social cohesion among young people.

According to him, that is why the focus areas of the 2025 AYC conference, from building resilient infrastructure and fostering innovation to promoting peace and security — are not just aspirational goals but also urgent imperatives.

He said young people must be at the centre of every solution that African countries pursue, adding that their voices must shape the continent’s policies, and their talents must build the industries.

David Nwokorie, the convener of the conference, gave a brief introduction to AYLC, saying that the centre is more than just an institution but a movement, a beacon of hope, and a call to action.

Mr Nwokorie said the AYLC is rooted in the spirit of intercultural collaboration between Africa and Europe and that AYLC is a creative think tank and a research hub dedicated to advancing dialogue and fostering partnerships among scholars, policymakers, and others.

He stated that the emergence of leaders was crucial to our collective future, governance, peace-building, diplomacy, mediation, policymaking, conflict resolution, and dialogue.

(NAN)