# African youth employment drive > Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/african-youth-employment-drive > Updated: 2026-08-03T17:05:17.000Z. Sources: 5. Developments: 2. At the Africa Forward Summit in late July, Tony Elumelu, founder of Heirs Holdings, urged global leaders to prioritize private‑sector investment in jobs, reliable electricity and infrastructure as the key to unlocking Africa’s youthful population. He highlighted the success of the Tony Elumelu Foundation, which has supported millions of young entrepreneurs and thousands of funded ventures, arguing that training, capital and a supportive environment are essential for African businesses to compete globally. A week later, African political figures reinforced the call for action. Ghana’s Bernard Ahiafor, speaking to the Pan‑African Parliament, advocated coordinated government policies that promote job creation, entrepreneurship, technical‑skills training and digital inclusion, linking youth unemployment to climate change, food security, migration and the continent’s digital transformation. Former President John Dramani Mahama addressed young Africans and the diaspora, urging them to lead through innovation, integrity and enterprise, and emphasizing the need for quality education, democratic governance and supportive ecosystems to realize the goals of the African Continental Free Trade Area and Agenda 2063. ## Timeline ### 2026-08-03: African Leaders Call for Unified Action on Youth Unemployment African leaders Bernard Ahiafor and former President John Mahama urged coordinated policies and youth‑driven innovation to combat unemployment and drive development across the continent. 3 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/african-leaders-call-for-unified-action-on-youth-unemployment ### 2026-07-27: Tony Elumelu urges jobs, power and infrastructure to unlock Africa's youth potential Tony Elumelu called for jobs, electricity and infrastructure to empower Africa’s youth, while Awele Elumelu stressed the continent’s untapped talent and the impact of entrepreneurship training and funding. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/tony-elumelu-urges-jobs-power-and-infrastructure-to-unlock-africas-youth-potential --- Cite as: African youth employment drive. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/african-youth-employment-drive