While speaking to attendees of the YouthConnekt Summit in Kigali’s Rwanda, Aliaume Damala Badara Akon Thiam, also known as Akon, the Senegalese-American singer, urged African youth to seize opportunities to innovate and turn their challenges into profitable ventures.
“Young people have to be the driving force and take charge to build the future that Africans want. Work collectively and promote entrepreneurship, job creation for the better future of Africa,” he said.
The potential is in Africa, the only thinking missing is participation and infrastructure – @Akon #YouthConnektAfrica pic.twitter.com/8InJuZJub6
— YouthConnekt Africa Hub (@YouthConnektAf) July 21, 2017
Akon while addressing over 2,000 youth from all over Africa during the final day of the maiden summit called on African youth to play an active role in rebuilding the continent and not depend of the governments.
“We have to be the driving force to rebuild Africa. We cannot depend on governments to do it for us. Their job is to lay down the low and make sure that there’s accountability for the things that we do,” local media The New Times quoted him.
The musician is also the founder of the 1 billion dollar solar project, Akon Lighting Africa which aims at providing electricity to some 600 million Africans living in rural communities.
“When I was growing as an entertainer, I said to myself I don’t want to be remembered for just singing and dancing. Ultimately, I had to figure out what I can do that will help create a legacy. It hit me in the middle of the first song when the power just went off,” he said referring to the project.
He also called on the African youth living abroad to always rebrand Africa and be part of its development.
“The role of the youth in diaspora is to give back to their home countries. Be proud of your country and think of how to take part in promoting and developing it,” he said.
“On the internet you will only see historical images and animals, as if Africa was a big jungle. Africans never gets full credit in any way. Entertainers, filmmakers and producers, the press and anyone that creates content should take part in redefining this continent,” he added.
The summit that was jointly organized by the Government of Rwanda in collaboration with UNCTAD, UNDP and other YouthConnekt partners opened on Wednesday July 19 and closed on Friday July 21 with high profile guests attending including Rwanda’s President Paul Kagame, Jack Ma, Founder and Executive Chairman of Alibaba Group, Dr. Mukhisa Kituyi, Secretary-General of UNCTAD as well as successful entrepreneurs, artists and youth opinion leaders from across the continent.
VIDEO COURTESY: African Perspective Magazine
