President of the African Development Bank (AfDB), Dr. Akinwumi Adesina, has called for strategic investment in African youths, stating that the continent’s young population needs access to capital, not token empowerment schemes, to transform their ideas into wealth.
Speaking during an exclusive interview on Thursday, Adesina stressed that with over 465 million Africans aged 15 to 35, the youth bulge is a demographic asset that must be turned into an economic one through proper financing and human capital development.
“Young people don’t need freebies. They need capital, risk-backed support, and an environment that believes in their potential,” he said.
He described the growing japa migration trend as a symptom of systemic failure, particularly by financial institutions that are not structured to support youth-driven enterprises.
Adesina disclosed that the AfDB has established a Youth Entrepreneurship Development Bank and recently approved $100 million to create the Nigerian Youth Entrepreneurship Investment Bank, targeting over 38,000 youth-led businesses and attracting $2 billion in investments.
He warned that Africa risks outsourcing its future if it fails to invest in its youth.
“We must not turn our demographic strength into another continent’s asset. Our young people are the future of Africa’s prosperity,” he said.
