His Excellency Dr. George Manneh Weah, President of the Republic of Liberia, has underscored that Africa’s future ought to be bright, and that the continent has the potential to turn around its grim outlook that is presented in news daily. He said with more than 60 percent of Africans being young people, “we have the demographic dividend capable of making our region responsive to the needs of its people”.
Speaking Tuesday, December 13, 2022 at the African and Diaspora Young Leaders Forum, US-Africa Leaders’ Summit, Washington D.C., United States of America, President Weah said, “The role young people and the general African diaspora must play in addressing the needs of the continent must be through innovation, investment and knowledge transfer.”
According to President Weah, “It is often said in Africa that young people are our future leaders. But I have observed that not much opportunities are created to allow them to reach their full potential. This has made a growing number of them to seek opportunities here in the West, where they have acquired quality education and useful skills in order to contribute to the development and advancement of society.
“I believe that young people are capable of conquering the world if given a place to stand,” President Weah disclosed.
Recounting the struggles during his life journey, the Liberian Leader said, “From a poor and humble background growing up in the slums of Gibraltar in Liberia, I managed through hard work, discipline and determination to climb to the top of my career as a professional footballer.
“While pursuing my professional career in the diaspora myself, I took back many investments to my home country, Liberia, Zanzibar, Cote D’Ivoire and other parts of Africa. I invested in many businesses and I invested in human capital by supporting many young people in acquiring education to enable them to advance their lives and have a livelihood.
“And so today I say to the youth of Africa: you can also succeed in your chosen fields of endeavor, if you are prepared to be diligent, disciplined, and determined.”
President Weah emphasized that African governments must create the enabling environment and the requisite framework that will allow African youth in the diaspora to contribute, through their education and innovation, to the transformation of the continent.
“Our brothers and sisters in the diaspora are indispensable partners in the development aspirations of our various countries. We must welcome them. We must embrace them. We must recognize them. Africans in the diaspora and Africans in Africa are one people,” President Weah said.
“We can succeed if we allow peace to reign. And, we can succeed if we lay the framework for our young people to have a smooth transition in the democratic process.
“There is no doubt in my mind that the young population of Africa has a significant role in whichever direction Africa takes. So my distinguished African diaspora brothers and sisters, I would like to invite you to join us in helping to build a New Africa where peace, unity, democracy, human rights, comprehensive freedom, tolerance, togetherness, cooperation, reconciliation, equal opportunity for all so that growth and sustainable development will be the cornerstone and foundation for the future of Africa.”