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As the Commonwealth marks International Youth Day today, August 12, 2025, it is essential to point out the major problems African youngsters are facing.
International Youth Day reminds us how incredibly important young people are in determining the course of our society. Celebrating this day should also make us consider the possibilities and obstacles facing the youngsters of our age.
Young individuals are driven, creative, and full of energy. Still, without the proper direction and tools, these qualities could be misused.
This generation’s intense need to make money and be financially independent is quite alarming. This enthusiasm is great since it shows self-determination and ambition. However, in far too many instances, the desire for rapid money leads some into deception.
Social media has fuelled this fire by frequently highlighting expensive lifestyles without showing the years of work or the actual effort behind them. This makes young people believe that money can be acquired quickly.
The way forward is that the youth should learn financial literacy early so they can correctly budget, invest, and build wealth through legal means — for example, by integrating financial literacy into the secondary school curriculum or university courses.
Furthermore, mentorship from moral businesspeople might inspire the right example and demonstrate that integrity makes success better.
Also, one of the most important opportunities of our time is content creation. Youngsters are transforming their time into money and influence across YouTube, TikTok, and other social media apps. However, there is an overemphasis on meaningless trends. Some people make content only for clicks. Another challenge is that they might copy others, spread fake news, or try to create viral moments that have no real value.
This compromises reputation and inhibits development. The most successful creators over the long run are those who strike a balance between originality, education, and entertainment.
More training in digital ethics, copyright knowledge, and creative storytelling will help improve the environment. Platforms should also do more to reward content that informs, uplifts, and inspires — not just content that trends for a day.
Although many young people are brilliant, there is often a gap between what they are capable of and what companies actually need.
Statistics on African youth, such as unemployment rates, show that too many rely solely on certificates, neglecting real-world abilities, which sometimes speak louder than degrees on paper.
Combining experience with traditional education is the answer. This may be accomplished through internships, volunteer work, virtual courses, or job training. In addition, governments, schools, and other entities should work together on more skill-building programmes that meet the demands of a rapidly evolving society.
The internet allows youngsters to be more politically and socially aware than any generation before. They are always ready to criticise injustice and push for action. However, false information goes viral quickly and can cause division rather than solidarity.
Young people should be taught how to fact-check, engage in constructive debates, and get involved in decision-making. Youth councils and conferences can provide them with real power to help define policies — not only the appearance of involvement.
International Youth Day is not just to cheer on the younger generation but to empower them to build the future they deserve. The future belongs to the youth, but it will only be bright if we equip them to lead with wisdom, courage, and integrity.
This article was written by Jessica Olayiwola
