The disparity is equally stark in governance. Despite making up the majority of the population (ages 14–35), young people hold just fourteen percent of parliamentary seats across Africa. This exclusion from decision-making stifles the continent’s ability to fully leverage its youth potential.

With over 60% of Africa’s population under 25, this demographic is both its greatest asset and most urgent challenge. Young Africans have the energy, creativity, and vision to fuel innovation, economic growth, and social progress—yet without meaningful opportunities and platforms for leadership, this dividend risks becoming a crisis.

The upcoming CorpsAfrica All-Country Conference (ACC 2025), slated for Nairobi, Kenya in June presents a crucial opportunity to confront this paradox. Centered on the theme “Leading with Ubuntu: African Youth Transforming the Continent,” the event recognizes that youth challenges—and solutions—transcend borders, demanding collective action.

CorpsAfrica recognizes that if united, Africa’s youth can become an unstoppable force for progress. By fostering cross-border collaboration, young leaders can unlock shared learning, drive innovation, and amplify their advocacy impact. From unemployment to climate crises and governance gaps, Africa’s most pressing issues require solutions that transcend borders.

CorpsAfrica’s model taps into this potential by deploying youth volunteers directly into rural communities. There, they co-create, co-design and implement grassroots projects—gaining real-world leadership and problem-solving skills while strengthening Pan-African bonds through cross-cultural exchange.

ACC 2025 will convene young change-makers from 10 African nations, creating a space to merge diverse perspectives into actionable strategies. More than a dialogue, this gathering will catalyze a living network of emerging leaders united the single mission of seeing Africa’s transformative rise, powered by its own youth.

Governments, businesses, and civil society must prioritize investments in youth leadership and innovation. In spotlighting how this generation is reshaping the continent’s future through solidarity and collective action, ACC 2025 serves as a critical launchpad for these efforts – a chance to transform commitments into concrete, collaborative action.

Now is the moment to embrace the spirit of Ubuntu—”I am because we are”—by uniting behind Africa’s youth. Their boundless energy, creativity, and resilience can bridge divides, drive innovation, and accelerate inclusive progress. Together, let us build an ecosystem where young leaders thrive, unlocking a future of shared prosperity and collective upliftment.  The time to act is now