Young people hold the key to Africa’s transformation

Over the past few months, I attended several interesting gatherings relevant to Africa’s development. One was the just concluded World Economic Forum (WEF) in Addis Ababa, whose theme was “Shaping Africa’s Transformation.”

The underlying pillars were strengthening Africa’s leadership, accelerating investment in frontier markets and scaling innovation for shared opportunities.

Ordinarily, this thematic structure would appear comprehensive. I will, however, venture to challenge it on the basis of a glaring omission.

Just preceding this event and also in Addis Ababa was another meeting of business leaders — Frontier 100 — where McKinsey & Co. led an enlightening session around the African consumer.

Whereas I should not have been entirely surprised at the fact that most consumers are less than 30 years (a quick check at any shopping malls confirms this), that they in fact constitute 69 per cent was startling more so when they said that these age group accounts for 60 per cent of urban spending in Africa. So we now know that they are the primary consumers.

Prior to my visit to Addis Ababa, I attended the regional finals of the Imagine Cup—a global software competition for student developers— in Nairobi.

The innovative energy in the room was hard to miss. As an old-school developer, I appreciated the technical skill at play.

What I learnt is that we are not short of innovative talent in Africa. However, as a business leader, the lack of focus and direction was actually disturbing. So much so that when I was asked to address the 100 plus competitors, I changed my topic to confront the issue.

I asked, “How many of you have looked at the Vision 2030 document?” No-one raised their hands. I repeated, nobody.

So, you have this situation where government— the biggest spender anywhere—is telling us where it is going to spend money for the next 20 years and those who should be earning that money are not necessarily looking there. I sensed a premium on “Cool” vs. “Wealth Creating” Apps.

This worries me. Knowing that we are in the Information Age where the commodity of trade/wealth is Intellectual Property (IP), I fear that all this talent will go to waste when they can’t make ends meet and revert to traditional methods of earning a living.

Back in Addis Ababa, at a WEF side meeting I was co-facilitating on transforming education and attended by about 30 ministers, deputies and industry leaders, a related phenomenon played out.

The outstanding and young minister from Ghana challenged his colleagues to “get with the programme” as the young folk would say.

He illustrated his point by highlighting the contradiction in policy that enables the acquisition of 60,000 computers for schools while banning children from bringing technological devices to school, as was the case in one country.

An interesting group of WEF participants is the young global leaders. One such leader from Kenya attended this education session. She made a point with the rhetorical question, “Why has no-one asked me how education can be transformed, having just left school?” I would go one step further. Why has no-one allowed her to do so?

As Kenya seeks to transform into a middle income status, the talk of public, private partnerships (PPP) is common. However, there is an omission in my perspective. It should really be “PPYP” – that is “Public Private Youth Partnership.”

The other 31 per cent of the population, who are the old, accounting for less than 40 per cent of consumer spending are not going to transform Africa, on their own.

They alone will not transform education, health, agriculture, tourism or anything substantial.

Drive economic growth

Kenya and Africa as a whole needs to recognise that it is not the devices but the content that will drive economic growth.

It needs to come to terms with the concept of “Big Data” or “3D Printing” and its implications. It’s OK to “Facebook”, “Tweet”, “Poke” as a way of communication. I expect to vote electronically. After all, I do that every day in Outlook or when I hit “Like.”

So, what do I suggest as a way forward. I think all these goals and plans being laid out to spur development are appropriate. However, they must be made and designed with the youth in mind.

For example, Vision 2030 is good. The economic pillar being incorporated in the education curriculum in schools is even better.

Strengthening Africa’s leadership is fine as long as it is to allow the youth to flourish in this new world.

Accelerating investment works too as long as it is targeted at the current youth un/underemployment.

Scaling innovation will have the effect if it rides on the innovative energy abundant in our youth.

Africa is one billion strong. It is also geographically massive. Africa’s infrastructure is relatively limited. Its population is the youngest. These facts all represent challenges and opportunities.

If we successfully provide modern and focused leadership and direction, as well as incorporate the youth in taking on these challenges, we will transform Africa and the world.

If we allow these consumers the opportunity to dominate production, Africa will be transformed.

Mr Otieno is the General Manager Microsoft East & Southern Africa