'Each generation must, out of relative obscurity, discover its mission, fulfill it, or betray it'

African leaders met in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, in 2009 to try to defuse the youth unemployment time bomb. They declared 2009–18 the “African Youth Decade” and resolved to mobilize resources, including from the private sector for youth development. Their plan of action emphasized the need to address both unemployment and underemployment. Two years later, meeting in Equatorial Guinea, they once more promised the “creation of safe, decent and competitive employment opportunities for young people.”[1]

The above signifies the point that African youth are indeed talented and capable to fight poverty in whatever way possible. It cannot be avoided that, it is in the best interest of the African governments to shift their focus and pay attention to the young people in the continent. The African governments need to invest in the continental youth now, and not later. If this is done, the aspirations that were leveled towards young people in Addis Ababa in 2009 would turn into a reality with young people all over the continent benefiting from that single vision. The time for promises is over!

Generation Action Africa as a youth-oriented organisation, seeks to serve as a driver for change when it comes to young people in the continent and the challenges that they encounter. It is such an important organisation in that, amongst it all, it is committed to do whatever it takes in pursuit of eradicating youth unemployment in the continent and be the voice that always speaks economic emancipation for the youth at large. It is for these reasons that I think young people should always endeavor to rally behind this organisation to be the change that they need. Multiple challenges are facing the youth in the continent today and the only way out is when young people decide to stand above the challenges and take the center stage of opportunities that exist, and of course, created by them where necessary. Young people are more than capable, henceforth, of the need to unite under one umbrella of GAA to make their dreams a reality. Unfortunately, Agenda 2063: Africa We Want cannot be achieved if the youth remain on the sidelines because that would not have been the Africa that they wanted. The time is now!