Adedapo Adesanya
By Adedapo Adesanya
The African Youth Survey 2020 has revealed a rising “Afro-optimism” among youths in Africa driven by a strong sense of individual responsibility, a post-colonial mindset, entrepreneurialism and confidence in a shared African identity.
Conducted across 14 African countries, it was discovered that Africa’s youth believe they can solve problems collaboratively and are hopeful of fighting corruption, achieving peace and improving their personal living conditions.
These new findings contradict global stereotypes and outdated narratives that see Africa as a hopeless continent. The survey was conducted by the Ichikowitz Family Foundation, a leading African foundation encouraging active citizenship across the continent in collaboration with Transatlantic polling firm, PSB Research.
The survey revealed that young people who are self-starters, pan-African, digital and media savvy, tolerant were mindful of the challenges that could affect their ‘African Century’, such as corruption, the lack of new jobs, limited start-up capital, water scarcity, fake news, terrorism and poor education systems.
They were asked their opinions on their identity as Africans; on social cohesion in their communities, on the environment; on political stability and democracy; on foreign relations; on entrepreneurship; technology and the media; and, their views of the future.
According to the Ichikowitz Family Foundation chairman, Mr Ivor Ichikowitz, this was a wake up for Afro-sceptics.
He said, “We have found that youth in Africa are imbued with optimism about the future – and want to shape their own destiny. We have found a youth that refuses to shy away from the very real challenges of Africa, that is honest about what needs to be done and what their role has to be to achieve this – and they are overwhelmingly keen to make that difference.
“The Afro-optimism that’s flourishing among young Africans does not rest on hope, but on their ability to seize the opportunities provided by the modern world. The findings underscore entrepreneurship as the greatest aspiration of African youth, who are embracing digital technologies to shape their futures.
“If there were ever doubt in the ‘Africa-Rise’ narrative, this research provides us with strong evidence that Africa’s time is here, and that it will continue to rise – carried forward by a new generation of innovative, responsible and confident leaders.’
Another contributor to the report, a former President of South Africa, Mr Kgalema Motlanthe, said, “I am encouraged by the youth of Africa’s common vision of a pan-African identity; of a love of their fellows that transcends colour, creed, class or nationality; and, of their commitment to fight the corruption. I am immensely heartened too by their Afro-optimism, underscored by their belief in Afro-capability.
“We have much work to do if we are to stand a very real chance of making the dream of the African Century a reality for our people, but this survey shows that in our youth, we have the very best chance yet, which truly is something to celebrate, to encourage and to look forward to.”
According to the survey, it was discovered that African youths were thriving in entrepreneurship, technology, media, climate change, community cohesion and African Identity, though there was less optimism in areas such as environment, African unity, democratic values, foreign relations, and see infectious disease and terrorism as the continent’s two biggest threats of the last five years, but were optimism of a future defined by job opportunities, innovation and entrepreneurship, but bedevilled by corruption.
Congo Brazzaville, Ethiopia, Gabon, Ghana, Kenya, Malawi, Mali, Nigeria, Rwanda, Senegal, South Africa, Togo, Zambia and Zimbabwe – were some of the country’s surveyed with a total of 4,200 in-depth, face-to-face interviews conducted.
