West African leaders urge youth investment and digital skill adoption

In observance of International Youth Day, various leaders across West Africa are calling for increased investment in youth development, digital literacy, and leadership opportunities.

In Nigeria, officials and organizations are urging young people to reject criminality, drug abuse, and oil bunkering in favor of skill acquisition and entrepreneurship. The Minister of Youth Development, Ayodele Olawande, and the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) emphasized the importance of seeing youth as active partners in national development rather than mere beneficiaries. Organizations like the Young Innovators of Nigeria (YIN) are advocating for expanded digital literacy and technological access in rural areas to drive economic transformation.

In Ghana, leaders are encouraging unemployed graduates to utilize new media and artificial intelligence for entrepreneurship rather than engaging in cybercrime. Additionally, calls have been made for African governments to adopt more inclusive governance models that provide young people with meaningful roles in decision-making processes.