Youth and Talent Development as tool for Africa’s growth -Speech by Onwuka M. Onyeka

Youth and Talent Development as tool for Africa’s growth -
Speech by Onwuka M. Onyeka
July 20 2017, Africa Youth and Talent Summit 2017 Tamale, Ghana.

1. Opening Remarks
My partner James Jibunma and I, along with our Nigeria delegates are very excited to be here in Tamale, Ghana.
The atmosphere and people have been very amazing.

Let me start by thanking God Almighty who made the successful hosting of the summit possible. I want to recognize Honorable Salifu Sa-eed, the Minister of Northern Region.

The Regional Director, National Youth Authority, Honorable Ziblim A. Shaibu. Our distinguished faculty, Prince Siita Sofo.
The CEO of NTV Ghana, Mr Awin Peter.
The Co-founder of Cowtribe, Mohammed Mustapha.
The motivational speaker and author and my dear country sister and legal luminary, Chychy Chukwu.
I would also like to recognize our esteem panelists and most importantly the youth who are present here. Thank you Tamale, for hosting the maiden edition of Africa Youth and Talent Summit 2017

The African Development Bank reports that Africa has the fastest-growing and most youthful population in the world. Over 40% of the entire population of Africa are under the ages of 15 and 24.
Another report suggests that Africa is experiencing the most rapid urbanization in the world and remains one with 65% of her over 1.1billion population still bellow the age of 35.

Population Reference Bureau (PRB) projects Africa’s population to more than double, rising from 1.1 billion today to 2.4 billion by 2050.

The question is, can we see this as an opportunity for the development of Africa or just a mere statistics? My answer is, ‘Yes we can’. This is why we formed the Africa Youth and Talent Summit and the theme for the maiden edition is; ‘Youth and Talent Development, a tool for Africa’s growth’.

2. In 2010, after my tertiary education, I relocated from Delta State to Lagos, Nigeria. Like every youth, I wanted to build my career and become great.When I arrived Lagos, I realized I needed a platform to develop my acting and singing skills, then I discovered there were just few of such platforms which were not accessible to anyone without a proper financial stand. The minimal fee the cheapest of these platforms required was $200 US Dollar.

How could a youth without a job or roof over his head have been able to afford such an amount for registration let alone transportation and other minor fees the training may be requiring afterward? This experience led to the establishment of Green Platinum. Our goal being to raise world class talent and youth across Africa, we started a training at a garden in Ojota, Lagos with two students who will be performing here today.

In the last four years, we have developed over one thousand young Nigerians and reached over twenty four thousand youths across Africa via our online training. In 2017, we partnered with my friend and brother, the founder of INK MEDIA, A Nollywood Actor, and the current face of Pepsi Nigeria to take the #TalentMasterClass across African cities. James is also here with us as the Co-convener of this summit.

3. Lack of Accessible Youth Development Platforms
Africa’s youth are in constant search of accessible youth and talent development platforms and the over five hundred youth present here attest to that fact. It is said that if you build the youth, you build the nation, but the lack of accessible youth development platforms has made over two million youths leave Africa for Europe, some by sneaking around borders and endangering their lives.

The lack of youth engagement has enabled the rise of terrorist groups in Northern Nigeria, Somalia, Sudan, Uganda and a host of other countries on the continent.The lack of youth development has also lead to rise in crimes and other vices time will not allow me to mention.

4. The Solution
I strongly believe that it is Africans that will solve the problems of Africa. Friends of Africa have done a lot in supporting youth development in Africa. From DFID to British Council of Arts to other non African youth organization and NGO’s, but the truth is, we are the only one who truly knows the Africa problems and the solutions.

We need to build Online Training and teach leadership and employment Skills, we need to start up African NGO’s, the Government and Corporate organizations need to build functional development centers just to mention a few.

Finally, I urge every youth here today to open their hearts and minds to grasp the information our special guests, facilitators and panelists will share within the next 5-6 hours. If James Jibunma and I who started our career four years ago can host an African International summit such as this, I believe you can achieve your goals within the next four years.

Let me conclude by thanking our sponsors, the Management and staff of NTV Ghana, Radio Tamale, BCA, Elite Block Magazine and everyone who have made this summit a huge success.
May God Bless the African youth!
May God bless the African Continent