AfDB President Rallies Investors To Harness Africa’s Youth Potential

By Emmanuel Nduka Obisue

African Development Bank Group (AfDB) President, Dr. Sidi Ould Tah has called on global investors to seize the economic opportunities embedded in Africa’s rapidly growing youth population, describing it as the continent’s most powerful asset.

He delivered the message on Wednesday, November 26, during the opening session of the Africa Investment Forum (AIF) Market Days in Rabat, Morocco.

Heritage Times HT reports that the AIF is an annual platform that brings together governments, private sector players, financiers, and development partners to showcase and advance investment-ready projects across Africa.

Tah stressed that Africa’s demographic shift, where the youth population continues to surge, must be matched with bold, targeted investment in skills development, entrepreneurship, technology, and inclusive growth.

“In two and a half years, the continent will represent a quarter of humanity. Our workforce will surpass that of China and the United Kingdom combined,” he said. “This demographic reality must be transformed into economic strength, not left as a statistic,” he added.

He cautioned that without decisive action to close persistent financing gaps, Africa risks missing out on a generational opportunity.

“If Africa continues to face a shortage of investment, our common ambition will remain out of reach. We must channel capital into the hands of our youth—our innovators, our entrepreneurs, our creators—because they are our greatest asset,” he warned.

Tah underscored the importance of STEM and digital skills in shaping the continent’s economic future, noting that young Africans are already driving innovation across various sectors. He emphasised that access to finance, practical skills, and meaningful economic opportunities must be prioritised.

He also highlighted the importance of technical and vocational training, as well as the need to formalise informal work, in enabling young people to secure sustainable livelihoods.

This year’s edition of the Africa Investment Forum brought together more than 2,500 delegates, featuring 41 projects spanning energy, transport, agribusiness, ICT, mining, and urban development. Thirty-nine of these projects are already considered investment-ready.