By Michael Ofulue, Osogbo

African leaders have been urged to invest in youth-led enterprises and work towards ensuring that visa and border policies are harmonised and simplified to boost trade, labour mobility, and economic integration across the continent.

Leaders of the black race were also called upon to prioritise greater youth involvement in leadership positions across Africa.

These calls were made by the Executive Secretary of the Global Youth Consortium Against Female Genital Mutilation, Dr Costly Aderibigbe-Saba, in a statement issued to mark African Union Day 2024.

According to her, the harmonisation of visa and border policies across the 55 member states of the Union would simplify procedures and boost trade, labour mobility, and economic integration, while fully operationalising the African Union’s Continental Free Movement of Persons Protocol.

In the statement, titled “Celebrating African Union Day 2024: The Africa We Want,” Aderibigbe-Saba stressed the importance of youth involvement in the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), explaining that, “The contributions of young people to Africa’s economic growth must be highlighted at every opportunity.”

“This includes investing in youth-led enterprises and creating meaningful opportunities for them within the AfCFTA to scale their enterprises across Africa easily and freely,” she added.

Aderibigbe-Saba, who is also the Founder of Value Female Network Africa, said, “The Africa we want is an integrated, prosperous, and peaceful Africa, driven by its citizens, representing a dynamic force in the international arena.”

“This is the heart of the Pan-African development agenda, and it is inspiring to see the steps the African continent has taken since the Sirte Declaration on the 9th of September 1999 to establish the African Union, its founding in 2001, and its official launch in Durban, South Africa, in 2002.

“Over the years, the African Union has worked diligently towards the economic and social development of Africa. Key achievements include the establishment of NEPAD, the operationalisation of the AfCFTA, the ratification of the Protocol on Free Movement of Persons, Right of Residence, and Right of Establishment, and the ongoing drafting of the African Union Convention on Ending Violence Against Women and Girls — a cause I have personally engaged with through a series of virtual consultations.”

“As we commemorate African Union Day 2024, we celebrate the resilience of Africans and the progress our continent has made. Yet, we must acknowledge that much remains to be done.

“Africa, home to the world’s largest population of young people (over 60% of Africa’s population is under the age of 25 – World Economic Forum), must reflect this vibrant demographic in leadership across its 55 member states.”

Reeling out key recommendations for the attention of African leaders, the youth development advocate stated:

“Youth Leadership: Africa must recognise its greatest asset – its youth. Home to the world’s largest population of young, innovative minds, this demographic must be reflected in leadership across the 55 member states.

“Harmonisation of Visa and Border Policies: Simplifying visa and border procedures will boost trade, labour mobility, and economic integration across Africa and fully operationalise the African Union Continental Free Movement of Persons Protocol.

“Greater Youth Involvement in the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA): The contributions of young people to Africa’s economic growth must be highlighted at every opportunity. This includes investing in youth-led enterprises and creating meaningful opportunities for them within the AfCFTA to scale their enterprises across Africa easily and freely.

“Most importantly, Agenda 2063 — Africa’s blueprint for sustainable development — must be at the forefront of our discussions. We, as citizens, must hold our leaders accountable for signing conventions, adopting charters, and reporting on the in-country progress of policies, such as the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights.”