By Sulayman Waan
As the continent is hindered with lack of development for many years since the abolition of colonial rule by the West, Pan African Youth have factored out the causes of Africa’s lacking development and point out the solutions.
In a series of exclusive interviews conducted The Voice at the recent concluded Pan African Youth Conference on African Unity and Development held The Gambia, number of youth activists shared their opinion on the ways forward.
BoubakarYougbare, former executive chairperson for AYC said, after gaining independence from their colonial masters numerous challenges such as conflict had knocked the continent of and affected Africa development.
He further said lack of good governance in African countries is also a factor affecting the development of the continent, stating that peace and security cannot be attained in the absent of good governance.
“Lack of sufficient infrastructure is another hindrance to the development of the continent,” The Burkinabe said.
However, he opined that for Africa to develop to expectation her people must adopt the issue of good governance, adding African leaders need to make huge investment on infrastructure so as to ease the transportation of good and service across the continent.
“We [African] should make policies that are inclusive; we need leaders’ with vision. We also need young people with mindset that are ready to take ownership of African development and ensure the progress of the continent,” he said.
Hon. ChegeWamaratu Peter, Kenyan delegate described the factors affecting the development as failure African leaders and their selfishness to the continent adding that a leader staying on power for long time for their personal interest and this is affecting the progress of the continent.
“If we want Africa to develop we have to open our borders to ensure the African traders travel freely across the continent. This will enhance the business sector in Africa and also enable our governments to collect more taxes from the traders to develop their various countries,” he said.
He noted that when all African youth unite no doubt the continent will achieve her goal because Africa is blessed with many natural mineral resources that other continents lack.
Kyaidai Priscillah, Uganda youth said lack of unity is the major challenges that affects African development, saying development cannot take place in any given place in the absent of unity.
She urged Africans to commence consolidating their efforts in order to account their success and what they fail to achieve in the continent. “This will help us to form our decision for the future and improve on our [Africans] engagements for Africa,” she said.
Muhammed Lamin Gassama, Gambian youth technician stated that for Africa to attain her aspirations proper educational system should be put in place because education is the only method to build the mindset of people in a situation where they can react productively toward the development of the society.
“We [African] should enhance our educational system to ensure it promotes patriotism, accepts cultural diversity and productively build the culture of the young ones so that when they join the labor force they will be productive enough to act positively towards the development of the continent as the members of labor force are the driving wheels of development,” he noted.