Youth entrepreneurship can help people realise their potential and drive Africa’s transformation, writes Collins Kimaro, a Correspondent from Tanzania. “What Africa becomes tomorrow depends on how it harnesses the potential of young people today,” said Eric Shitindi, Permanent Secretary of the United Republic of Tanzania, as he officially opened a technical workshop on youth entrepreneurship, …

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Despite their restricted access to finance and weak regulatory environments, young entrepreneurs in Africa are rising above these challenges, writes Collins Kimaro, a Correspondent from Tanzania. On 25 May 2016, millions of young people across Africa celebrated International Africa Day. Their hope for the future shines against the backdrop of a global youth employment and under-employment crisis – a crisis …

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Youth unemployment won’t be solved by higher education or government policy alone, writes Lyn-Marie Blackman, 29, a Commonwealth Correspondent from Barbados, who urges youth to use a do-it-yourself attitude to solve problems and create jobs. As a Commonwealth Correspondent, I have always made the attempt to not only highlight the issues of the day but …

“Unemployment: the employable solution” Read More »

Tough times in the employment market mean it’s essential to support innovation in the marketplace, writes Mercy Zulu, 25, a Commonwealth Correspondent from Lusaka in Zambia, who argues it’s not too late for Zambia to catch up. Around March 2015, I walked passed a group of students engaged in a heated conversation involving the infamous jobless …

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A hot debate topic in Africa centres on how the twenty-first century African youth can contribute to the growth of a continent in need of its young people to take it to another level. Alphonse Akouyu, 22, a Commonwealth Correspondent from Cameroon, reports on a conference designed to move #AfricaYouthFwd. The Future Forward partnership between Ashoka …

“Future Forward – Ecosystem exchange event” Read More »

Gabriel Antwi, 23, a Correspondent from Ghana, talks to Miss Lugu, a student of University of Ghana who dreams of being an entrepreneur. She has started on that path with a venture on campus, selling coconut on a wholesale and retail basis.  Gabriel: What is the name of your business? Lugu: The name of my business …

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By Martin Chemhere For most youth-owned businesses in the Commonwealth Southern African community, access to finance, a united voice to seek support together, ease of doing business amongst the respective countries, are still challenging and bureaucratic. Compounding this outlook is a shortage of accelerator or incubation initiatives necessary to enable specific trade amongst the member countries. …

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Many youth are competing for jobs or making ends meet as entrepreneurs, writes Carole Nyemeck, 23, a Commonwealth Correspondent from Cameroon, who reports there is a significant pool of social innovation talent. She looks at the business models needed to transform societal problems into sustainable entrepreneurial innovations. Since the beginning of the capitalist era, business models have clung …

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Nigeria is suffering an unemployment crisis, but Titus Igwe, one of the innovative and entrepreneurial Igwe twins, talks about giving back to his country by creating 20 million jobs through the YEAST Project in this interview with Sola Abe, 24, a Commonwealth Correspondent from Lagos in Nigeria.  Just within 36 hours after a new job portal was …

“Aiming to create 20 million jobs in ten years” Read More »

The Commonwealth Secretariat is bringing together young entrepreneurs from across West Africa with the intent of setting up a new regional youth alliance, writes Musa Temidayo, a young Commonwealth Correspondent from Lagos in Nigeria. Never have I been more convinced about the importance of creating a supportive and thriving ecosystem for young entrepreneurs, and a …

A Stronger Voice, A Better Commonwealth Read More »