Kigali, November 8, 2024 – President Paul Kagame officially inaugurated the 7th Youth Connekt Africa Summit today at the Kigali Convention Centre, highlighting Africa’s potential for self-reliant growth. He stressed that the continent possesses everything it needs to achieve its aspirations, and any failure to reach these goals should prompt self-reflection among its leaders.
The Youth Connekt Summit, held annually, has brought together youth ministers from various African nations, young entrepreneurs, university students, and representatives of different youth organizations. This year’s summit, which will run from November 8 to 10, has attracted over 3,000 participants from across the continent.
During his keynote address, President Kagame shared personal insights from his youth, including the challenges of growing up as a refugee. He described how living in refugee camps made him aware of the struggles caused by poor governance and the lingering effects of colonialism.
“Things were happening in ways that should not have been,” Kagame recalled. “When you look back to the 1960s and the issues we faced, similar problems persist today, with people suffering due to bad politics and poor leadership.”
President Kagame explained that his family went into exile when he was just four years old, an experience that helped shape his understanding of life’s challenges and the importance of resilience.
“We grew up learning a lot from life’s hardships—not just in classrooms but from real-world experiences,” he said, encouraging the youth to learn not only from their own lives but also from the history and experiences of others.
Kagame urged African youth to prepare themselves to handle challenges by drawing lessons from both their own experiences and those of others in different regions. “Put yourself in these situations and ask: If it happened to me, how would I respond? How could I overcome it?”
He also emphasized that Africa has all the resources needed to fulfill its dreams and that it should take responsibility for achieving its own development, rather than pointing fingers elsewhere.
Lesotho’s Prime Minister, Samuel Ntsokoane Matekane, shared his journey of starting a business at the age of 20. He encouraged the youth to embrace resilience, as it ultimately leads to success. “I began with small jobs, like brick-making, and gradually grew my ventures,” Matekane said. He is now a prominent businessman and the current Prime Minister of Lesotho, underscoring his belief in patience and hard work.
Mumbi Ndung’u, a Kenyan entrepreneur and founder of Power Learn Project, urged African youth to stay informed about global events and developments in their countries. She stressed that youth employment is key to economic growth and that governments should establish policies to facilitate job creation for the young population.
Ambassador Belén Calvo Uyarra, the European Union Ambassador to Rwanda, applauded Rwanda for initiating the Youth Connekt program. She emphasized that young people play a crucial role in shaping Africa’s future, noting that 60% of Africans are under the age of 25.
Concluding the first day’s discussions, President Kagame took a ‘selfie’ with the young participants, alongside other leaders, including Prime Minister Samuel Ntsokoane Matekane
Since its inception, the Youth Connekt Africa Summit has been held six times, with four summits hosted by Rwanda, one in Ghana, and another in Kenya. To date, 33 African countries have embraced the Youth Connekt program, a testament to its role in promoting youth empowerment across the continent.
