Rwanda’s Minister of Youth and Arts, Dr. Abdallah Utumatwishima, has called on African youth to embrace responsibility and self-driven solutions instead of blaming history, colonial legacies, or even God for challenges and failures facing the continent.
The remarks were made on the evening of June 10, 2026, during discussions between the Ministry of Youth and Arts and development partners ahead of the eighth edition of the YouthConnekt Africa Summit, which will take place in Rwanda from November 25 to 27, 2026. YouthConnekt Africa is a pan-African initiative founded in Rwanda to connect, empower, and create opportunities for young people across the continent.
Speaking about the vision behind the initiative, Dr. Utumatwishima said “YouthConnekt was born from President Paul Kagame’s broader belief that Africa’s youth must lead the continent’s development journey”. He explained that “this year’s summit will encourage young Africans to rethink their role in shaping the future and move away from the idea that others owe them solutions.”
According to the minister, many Africans still hold a mindset that limits progress by looking outward whenever challenges arise. He argued that instead of examining personal responsibility and identifying practical solutions, people often blame colonial history or external actors for difficulties they face.
“When things do not go as expected—whether for young people, business leaders, public officials or Africans in general—we sometimes focus on colonial history or think someone else failed us,” he said. “At times, some even suggest that God is responsible, but that is not the answer. This year, we want youth to lead ideas and action across all sectors without shifting responsibility elsewhere.”
Dr. Utumatwishima also welcomed continued support from development partners, private sector actors, and civil society organizations that pledged to support the organization of the summit. He encouraged Rwandan youth to actively participate and maximize the opportunities the event offers.
YouthConnekt Africa Executive Director Yann Gwet said the 2026 summit theme will focus on preparing Africa’s young generation for a rapidly changing world shaped by complex global challenges. He noted that youth issues require collective leadership and practical solutions.
The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Resident Representative and UN Coordinator in Rwanda, Dr. Fatmata Lovetta Sesay, reaffirmed support for Rwanda’s vision of placing African youth at the center of development efforts.
Since its launch in 2017, YouthConnekt Africa reports that the initiative has helped create more than 200,000 jobs and reached millions of young people through in-person and digital participation. The platform has expanded across 39 African countries and continues to position youth as a driving force for Africa’s social and economic transformation.
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