The forum, themed 'Educating and Qualifying Our Youth for a Prosperous, Integrated, and Dynamic Africa,' brought together African leaders to address key challenges in education and youth employment.
Kagame pointed to the vast potential of Africa's growing youth population, describing it as a critical driver of economic growth.
'In just a decade from now, young Africans will represent the biggest share of the global population entering the workforce,' he said.
'We cannot let this opportunity go to waste. This generation has the potential of becoming a powerful engine for growth and prosperityâ€"not just for Africa, but for the rest of the world.'
The Rwandan Head of State stressed the need to equip young people with skills aligned with modern labour market demands.
'What we need to do is equip these young people with the skills and expertise to meet the demands of the labour market,' Kagame noted, highlighting the partnership with UNICEF for digital skills and connectivity as a promising model.
Kagame also emphasized the importance of increased investment in education, citing Rwanda's efforts.
'In Rwanda, we have increased the share of education spending in our budget from 11% in the year 2020 to 17.7% in the year 2024,' he stated.
Beyond increased funding, he highlighted the importance of quality reforms, saying, 'The focus should be on quality if we want to see long-term results. This means training and hiring better-qualified teachers, modernizing the curriculum, and encouraging critical thinking rather than rote memorization.'
He further urged African nations to take ownership of their education strategies, reducing dependence on external support.
'Effective partnerships should not be confused with outsourcing responsibility or leadership. It is not a question about being big or small or having sufficient resources; it is about making the right choices. This is well within Africa's means,' Kagame asserted.
Hosted by Mauritania's President Mohamed Ould Ghazouani in collaboration with the African Union and UNICEF, the forum aimed to explore sustainable solutions to reduce the number of out-of-school children, improve learning outcomes, and prepare youth to tackle Africa's challenges.
The president closed with a call to action, urging leaders to create opportunities that discourage risky migration in search of better prospects.
'As we speak, many young Africans are putting their lives in danger to go find better opportunities abroad. This is a sign that we need to do more to empower our youth,' he remarked.
'Africa is our common home, and we must ensure that every African has a future on this continent.'
The forum's outcomes are expected to inform policies to revamp education systems and boost youth employability, strengthening Africa's position in the global economy.
Among the leaders present at the forum were President Muhammadu Ghazouani of Mauritania, who hosted the event and currently chairs the African Union; President Abdelmadjid Tebboune of Algeria; and Senegalese President Bassirou Diomaye Faye. Moussa Faki Mahamat, Chairperson of the African Union Commission, and Ted Chaiban, Deputy Director of UNICEF were also in attendance.
Wycliffe Nyamasege
