Kayode ShopekanAfrica’ will remain poor and continue to lag behind if the youths are not empowered.
African youths can make the continent great, if there is vaccine equality, digital infrastructure and youth inclusion.
Director of the World Trade Organisation, Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala explained that access to vaccines, digital infrastructure, women and youth inclusion will boost Africa’s preparedness for the future.
She made this known on Monday at the “It’s Your Turn! Africa’s Recovery Talk Series” hosted by Mrs Vera Songwe, UN Under Secretary-General and Executive Secretary of Economic Commission for Africa (ECA).
“I believe that if we encourage our youths and improve our digital infrastructure, and even digitise our trade, that can help,” Okonjo-Iweala said.
Iweala highlighted other factors to include women and micro, medium and small enterprises inclusion. “If we can empower our women and get liquidity to our micro, medium and small enterprises and both work in tandem, because about 50 per cent of many of these enterprises are owned by women, I think that will help us propel a recovery,” she added.
She praised the efforts African governments have made so far in combating the covid pandemic stating that It shows we can act as one. “A continental approach is the first thing,”she said.
U.S Ambassador to the UN, Linda Thomas-Greenfield added that vaccine equity is what the U.S. sees as an essential step in achieving goals of a prosperous Africa as multilateral vaccine response is needed to combat the pandemic.
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