Malawi Youth Leader Calls for Africa to Unleash Youth Potential, Wage War on Poverty

Addis Ababa, April 8, 2025 (ENA) -- Africa must urgently prioritize empowering its burgeoning youth population and launch a concerted effort to eradicate poverty, Rex Chapota, the Executive Director of the National Youth Council of Malawi said.

Speaking passionately on critical issues facing the continent, Chapota emphasized the untapped potential of Africa's young people and the fundamental need for systemic change.

Highlighting the demographic dividend, Chapota said, "Africa has got over 70 percent of its people as young people, and we need to ensure that this demographic is unleashed at its maximum potential."

Firmly identifying the continent's primary struggle, he emphasized "War on poverty is the greatest war we need to fight in Africa."

"Africa has all what it needs to be a giant in the global economic system," Chapota expressed his strong belief in Africa's inherent capabilities.

However, he inquired about the current beneficiaries of the continent's wealth.

"But who is benefiting from these minerals? That's a key question. And to me, we need to ensure that our political system is a system that helps us to be able to benefit from our mineral resources..."

He underscored the necessity of continental unity and open borders, asserting, "Africa needs to be looking at itself as one people. ... We need to open up our borders. We cannot be continuing to say, let's do it, and we're not doing it."

The Malawi youth leader stressed the critical importance of investing in the younger generation.

"If we don't invest in the lives of our young people deliberately, then Africa won't rise," he warned.

While acknowledging the readiness of African youth, he pointed out a significant hurdle.

"...African young people are ready... we need to make sure that they don't only have got a voice, but they are empowered to even act on their voice," he stressed.

He also called for an overhaul of education systems to cultivate leadership, advocating for "a holistic approach to education, which brings indeed brilliant minds in the continent, but those brilliant minds have got the capacity to lead..."

Chapota urged African nations to adopt progressive policies that actively involve young people in all aspects of development.

"What we need member states is create room in your policies for young people to engage equally as agents of development," he pointed out.

This includes ensuring youth participation in governance, as Chapota emphasized, "Young people also want (to run for election and hold) positions because the understanding is it's up until we see our young people in the House of Parliaments... then their issues will be taken seriously; otherwise, you can't bring youth issues if you're not young yourself."

Chapota highlighted the crucial need for financial support for young entrepreneurs.

"Young people are saying, give us financing so that our brilliant ideas can be taken to scale," he pleaded, noting the high failure rate of startups due to lack of funding.