Kagame urges African youth to embrace problem-solving at Dakar food summit

Rwandan President Paul Kagame has urged young Africans to take ownership of the continent’s challenges and embrace problem-solving rather than seeking escape abroad.

Speaking at a town hall meeting on the sidelines of the Africa Food Systems Forum in Dakar, Senegal, on Monday, Kagame said young people should see themselves as key drivers of transformation, stressing that no society exists without challenges.

“We have to focus on young people who constitute the largest portion of our population, through education, through financing, through different partnerships, so that all these young minds with their innovation and ideas in terms of entrepreneurship can thrive,” Kagame said.

He cautioned against a culture of dependency, urging youth to take responsibility. “There is no sitting back and waiting until there is a problem and you expect that somebody is going to come and help,” he said.

Delivering a direct message to the youth, Kagame warned against fleeing from difficulties. “Let’s not run away from problems. Because even where you run to, you will find problems, maybe even more problems. Especially when they will send you back where you came from.”

The Rwandan leader encouraged resilience and purpose-driven leadership, noting that failure should not deter them from trying. “Find a purpose, know there are going to be problems, try and fail, but don’t fail to try,” he added.

The Africa Food Systems Forum, formerly known as the African Green Revolution Forum (AGRF), brings together leaders, policymakers, private sector players, and youth to discuss solutions for strengthening food security and agricultural transformation across the continent.