Rwandan
President Paul Kagame has met with the UNDP Assistant Administrator and
Director of the Regional Bureau for Africa, to discuss strategies for expanding
two pivotal initiatives—YouthConnekt and the Timbuktoo program. Both programs
aim to foster innovation, economic opportunity, and youth empowerment across
Africa, and this meeting signals a strengthened commitment to scaling their
impact.
YouthConnekt, a
Rwandan-born initiative, is focused on connecting Africa’s youth to
opportunities in entrepreneurship, skills development, and civic engagement.
Since its launch, YouthConnekt has expanded into more than 30 African
countries, providing millions of young people with training, mentorship, and
access to resources. During the meeting, President Kagame and Ms. Eziakonwa
discussed strategies for broadening YouthConnekt's reach and impact,
reinforcing its role in addressing high unemployment rates and enhancing the
socio-economic potential of Africa's youth.
The Timbuktoo
initiative, launched by UNDP, aims to cultivate Africa’s entrepreneurial
ecosystem by creating a network of innovation hubs across the continent. These
hubs are designed to support startups with funding, mentorship, and technical
resources, ultimately driving sustainable growth in critical sectors like
technology, agriculture, and green energy. The initiative also prioritizes
collaboration among African entrepreneurs, investors, and policymakers to
foster a robust, interconnected economy that can address local and global
challenges.
President
Kagame and Ms. Eziakonwa emphasized the importance of youth-driven solutions to
challenges such as unemployment, poverty, and climate change. With Africa's
youth population expected to grow significantly in the coming years, both
leaders underscored the urgency of investing in initiatives that empower young
people to be agents of transformation and innovation.
President
Kagame expressed Rwanda’s readiness to lead in facilitating regional
partnerships, supporting YouthConnekt’s expansion, and integrating Timbuktoo’s
innovation model. Ms. Eziakonwa commended Rwanda’s dedication to youth
empowerment, noting that the country’s active participation in these
initiatives serves as a blueprint for other nations.
By: Kanto Okanta
