"Youth as a catalyst for a sustainable future"
these were the words of Engr. Jamiu Badmos, Founder, QHSES Leadership Academy, is the topic given to me today.
Africa has the youngest population. 70% of people under 30 are youth, the largest segment anywhere globally.
They're vital. All our discussions here, for a sociable future, must involve the youth.
Africa's Youth – A Demographic Moment Shaping Sustainability
With 70% of Africans under 30, youth power dominates the continent's future. Engr. Jamiu Badmus sounded the alarm.
53 million youth in sub-Saharan Africa are neither employed nor in training, with global youth unemployment at 40%.
Their potential as innovators and drivers of change is unmatched, yet systemic barriers remain.
Data, Skills, and Stories of Impact
According to Egnr. Jamiu, the QHSCS Leadership Academy has connected nearly a thousand students, including the visually impaired, for free, capacity-building education.
Programs like World Cleanup Day in Ghana reward plastic collection with meals, merging activism and social inclusion.
From tech-driven advocacy to creative recycling ("Where they see trash, I see potential"), youth are already transforming sustainability and the continent.
| Metrics | Value | Note |
| Africa's youth population (under 30) | 70% | Africa is the most youthful continent globally |
| Youth not in employment, education, or training (SSA, 2023) | 53 million | Barrier to growth and transformation |
| Global youth unemployment | 40% | Crisis for sustainability, prosperity |
| QHSCS Leadership Academy students (tuition-free) | ~1,000 | Includes visually impaired, growing by the month |
| World Cleanup Day youth participation (Ghana, plastics-food) | High, growing annually | Innovative activism, social impact |
| Key youth mindset recommendations | Purpose, persistence, adaptivity | Critical for empowerment, sustainability |
| Top youth skills | Innovation, tech, collaboration | Driving social and economic transformation |
Unlocking Africa's Youth: Empowerment, Barriers, Action & Solutions (2025)
For social and environmental progress, Africa must elevate youth to change-makers, not just leaders of tomorrow, but the driving force of today.
Jamiu urges new mindsets: purpose, resilience, teamwork, bold innovation and action. When youth take initiative, collaborate, and adapt, their potential can transform sustainability goals into reality.
Mobilising Youth, Scaling Solutions
The core plan prioritises hands-on learning, mentoring, and capacity-building programs, making education and activism widely accessible.
Jamiu stresses the urgent need for partnerships and creative incentives: invest in youth skills, involve them in ESG decisions, support their enterprises, and champion technology for social change.
Collaboration, both local and continental
will accelerate Africa's green transformation.
Path Forward – Youth Innovation Powers Africa's Global Leap
Africa's future is tied to mobilising youth through practical learning, boundary-pushing innovation, and broad partnerships. Targeted investment in education, advisory services, and jobs can unlock transformative impact and real growth.
By empowering this generation, Africa turns its demographic dividend into a global catalyst, driving lasting solutions for people and planet.
