Young Africans are being called upon to take the driver's seat in shaping the continent's digital future. This powerful message formed the core of a major address delivered at a recent technology and innovation summit in Lagos.
A New African Narrative for the Digital Age
Kelechi Ndieze, the Global President of the Young African Network for Global Goals (YANGG), made a passionate appeal during his keynote at 'The Future Conference 2025'. He declared that the era of others telling Africa's story is over.
"For too long, we have allowed external voices to share the narrative of Africa," Ndieze told a captivated audience of entrepreneurs, innovators, and civic leaders. "They have written their own story about our continent. But today, we are launching a movement that will tell the authentic African story, in a genuinely African way and from an African perspective."
Harnessing Africa's Greatest Asset: Its Youth
Ndieze pinpointed Africa's unique demographic as its most potent strength for this transformation. He emphasized that with over 60 percent of the population under the age of 25, the continent stands at a pivotal moment in history.
However, he issued a stark warning against a pervasive poverty mindset that threatens this potential. He described how this mentality has conditioned many young people to be perpetual consumers of technology and innovation, rather than becoming its creators and producers.
To drive his point home, Ndieze shared a poignant anecdote from his time on a 2019 campaign team. He recounted witnessing young people who were prepared to trade their fundamental four-year voting rights for a mere one thousand naira.
He was quick to clarify that this disturbing trend is not solely a result of systemic corruption. He attributed it profoundly to what he termed a "poverty of the mind," a limiting belief system that must be overcome for true progress to take root.
The Path Forward: From Consumers to Creators
The conference, themed 'Innovating Africa’s Economy Through Digital Transformation and Civic Engagement', served as a rallying point for a new generation of leaders. The clarion call from YANGG is clear: Africa's youth must not just participate in the digital revolution; they must own it, shape it, and define its purpose for the African context.
This movement is about more than just adopting technology. It is about building a self-reliant, innovative, and prosperous Africa where young people are the architects of their own digital destiny, finally breaking free from a consumer-centric model.
