Planning Minister Trevor Manuel. Picture: TREVOR SAMSON
Planning Minister Trevor Manuel. Picture: TREVOR SASpeaking at a graduation ceremony at the African Leadership Academy in Johannesburg, Mr Manuel emphasised the importance of involving the youth in dealing with unemployment.AS YOUTH unemployment rises in South Africa and elsewhere in Africa, promoting an entrepreneurial spirit among young Africans will help alleviate the problem, Planning Minister Trevor Manuel said on Friday.
"Many of the traditional forms of employment, especially in the agricultural and mining sectors, are no longer available," Mr Manuel said. "Young people need to be entrepreneurial to change the rampant unemployment by creating new forms of employment."
According to the Population Reference Bureau, a private nonprofit organisation, nearly one in three people living in sub-Saharan Africa is between the ages of 10 and 24. This figure is projected to double by 2050.
To make use of this growing potential workforce, African countries need to make deliberate efforts to invest in their youth, a valuable resource for economic prosperity, Mr Manuel said.
Michael Hastings, global head of corporate citizenship and diversity at professional services firm KPMG, also spoke at Friday’s event and said African governments had to realise the pivotal role of entrepreneurship.
"Most African governments are not in a position to create enough jobs for their youths and therefore need to provide an environment that enables young Africans to set up businesses," he said.
Founded in 2008, the academy aims to develop the next generation of African leaders by equipping students with leadership and entrepreneurship skills. It admits students from all over the continent, with more than 45 African countries now represented.
"It was entrepreneurship that changed the face of Europe, much of Asia and America, and it is what will change Africa too," Mr Hastings said. "Flourishing small businesses (started) by young Africans will boost Africa’s economy."