May 31, (THEWILL)- The African Development Bank (AfDB) says an increase in the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) must translate to job creation for the people, especially the youths, to ensure growth on the continent.
AfDB President, Dr Akinwumi Adesina, stated this at a presentation on the African Economic Outlook, held on the sidelines of the ongoing 2024 Annual Meetings in Nairobi, Kenya.
Adesina, who identified youth unemployment as a critical issue in Africa, said the continent cannot afford to have 477 million young people under age 35, without opportunities.
“We have to ensure that our growth also gives value to the youth and women. We do not need GDP. It does not matter how that GDP is. We have to make sure that it is creating quality jobs for our people.
“I have said it: Migration to Europe is not Europe’s problem. It is our problem. We cannot have 477 million young people under the age of 35 and have nothing for them. We must invest in our young people, in their skills, talents, entrepreneurship, and give them tools”, he said.
The AfDB boss expressed enthusiasm for initiatives like the Youth Entrepreneurship Investment Banks and the Special Agricultural Processing Zones, designed to transform agriculture structurally.
Adesina also emphasised the potential of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) to boost industrial manufacturing and trade within Africa, reducing dependency on exports outside the continent.
“Trading among ourselves in a free trade zone must be backed by industrial manufacturing to avoid being competitively poor. We need consolidated infrastructure for export-oriented industrial manufacturing to increase our manufacturing share of GDP”, he said.
Addressing financial strategies, Adesina called for increased domestic resource mobilisation, a stronger private sector, and a shift from reliance on commercial creditors to concessional finance.
He urged more blended funds to accelerate the continent’s development and expressed gratitude for governments’ robust support for the AfDB’s capital increase.
According to him, this is crucial for maintaining the bank’s triple-A rating and securing long-term, low-interest financing for Africa.
Emphasising that effective governance, transparency, and accountability are essential for Africa’s progress, Adesina said the continent had $6.8 billion in national capital assets as of 2018, which, if managed transparently and effectively, could significantly accelerate its transformation.
“Africa’s future is bright, but we must tackle governance issues and ensure our resources are fully utilised for the benefit of our people”, he emphasised.
