07/11/2025
Africa doesn’t have a youth unemployment problem — we have a policy innovation problem.
Every year, millions of young Africans enter the job market full of energy, but most of our systems were built for a different era
Our schools still train students for jobs that don’t exist.
Our businesses face policies that make it easier to import than to produce locally.
And our governments often separate innovation policy from employment policy — when in reality, they should be the same thing.
Think about it: Rwanda’s tech-innovation policies created thousands of digital jobs.
Kenya’s support for fintech startups turned M-Pesa into a global example.
And Nigeria’s creative industry policies are giving birth to new media entrepreneurs.
The lesson is clear — when policy meets innovation, jobs follow.
So, what can we do?
1️⃣ Reform education to teach skills, not subjects.
2️⃣ Build innovation hubs that link directly to industries.
3️⃣ Give tax incentives to local startups creating jobs.
4️⃣ Make it easier for small businesses to access credit.
Smart policies are not just documents — they are job-creation engines.
If Africa wants to solve unemployment, we must start designing policies that empower innovators, not paperwork.
Because every young African with an idea deserves a system that says, “Yes, you can build it here.”
✍🏾 What policy change do you think could create more jobs in your country? Share your thoughts — let’s build solutions together.
Samuel wassa
