How West African Leaders Can Tackle Youth and Gender Inequities

Women informal cross-border traders. Credit: Trevor Davies/IPSBy Ifeanyi Nsofor, Adaeze Oreh, and John Lazame TindabilMay 6 2021 (IPS) Recently, both Republics of Benin and Chad held their 2021 national elections. These countries are among thirteen countries on the continent billed to elect new political leaders in 2021 alone. This is a good opportunity to improve conditions on the continent. Indeed, the COVID-19 pandemic has magnified other issues on the continent like youth unemployment that better leadership could help improve. These are three ways West African leaders can better help their nations at this time of COVID-19 and beyond. First, the rate of youth unemployment must be effectively tackled. Younger nationals must be encouraged and supported to enter politics at all levels, vying for not only executive office, but also parliamentary seats in local, state and national elections According to the United Nations, about 64% of the population in West and Central Africa are aged below 24. Although these young people are a huge resource for the region, unemployment, and a failure to invest and develop such as agriculture, education, health, and industry have led to an under-utilisation of this vital resource. Sadly, the World Bank reports youths account for 60% of all of Africa’s jobless. For a continent with more than 200 million people aged between 15 and 24, the continent is home to the world’s youngest population whose level of unemployment is twice that of...
Source: IPS Inter Press Service - Health - Category: International Medicine & Public Health Authors: Tags: Africa Gender Global Governance Headlines Health Poverty & SDGs Source Type: news