Empowering Africa's youth to shape tomorrow
Africa's youth are not just the future; they are the now. As we mark International Youth Day on 12 August, we celebrate young changemakers whose incredible potential is shaping the continent today.
Our commitment goes far beyond bursaries and student loans; we are dedicated partners, investing holistically in the skills, opportunities and platforms young Africans need to thrive and build a better tomorrow.
Across the continent, we’re seeing several youth-led innovations. Whether it’s a student building a fintech app in Cape Town or a young woman learning software development in Lagos, these stories share a common thread: given the right support, Africa’s youth rise to every challenge. With over 60% of the continent’s population under the age of 25, empowering this demographic isn’t just a superficial goal; it’s essential for sustainable development.
From bustling tech hubs to remote communities, we're backing the next generation to build strong futures. Here’s how we’re helping turn young visions into reality:
UniHack (South Africa)
Our third annual UniHack brought together students from the University of Cape Town (UCT), the University of the Western Cape (UWC), the Cape Peninsula University of Technology (CPUT) and Stellenbosch University to develop innovative tech solutions for real-world financial and societal challenges. Targeted at graduates, the event mirrors today’s corporate environment and helps participants build in-demand IT skills. As South Africa grows its digital economy, initiatives such as UniHack are key to unlocking the youth’s potential.
DiSEP (Nigeria)
The Digital Skills Empowerment Programme (DiSEP) equips young Nigerians with critical tech skills to boost employability. This intensive programme prepares successful candidates for certifications in software testing, automation and dev ops, setting them on a fast-tracked career path in the digital economy.
Stanbic Bank Ghana youth programme
Through mentorship, workshops and seed funding, we’re supporting Ghana’s youth innovators tackling sustainability, agritech and fintech challenges. Delivered in partnership with MTN Ghana, the programme trains young people in essential digital skills to thrive in today’s economy.
Future Ni Digital Skills programme (Kenya)
In Kenya, we’ve partnered with Microsoft and American Towers Corporation to empower youth through digital learning. Over 150,000 youth, women and SMEs have accessed free online courses via Futurenidigital.org, bridging the digital divide and opening doors to economic opportunity. We also made courses on digital skills for employability available through TVET institutions, vocational training centres and community-based organisations, ensuring broader access where it’s needed most.
Learn more: https://www.futurenidigital.org/
These initiatives, and many others, underscore our belief that true empowerment is about providing the tools, the knowledge and the opportunities that allow young Africans to innovate, lead and build maintainable solutions for the continent and the communities we serve. This is how we live our purpose of driving Africa’s growth by investing in its youth
Explore our 2024 Report to Society to read more about how we’re making this happen in other communities we serve.