President Paul Kagame Inaugurates 7th Edition of YouthConnekt Africa Summit with Focus on Innovative Skilling for Youth

President Paul Kagame of Rwanda has officiated the opening ceremony of the 7th Edition of YouthConnekt Africa Summit taking place in Kigali from 8-10 November 2024, with this year’s theme being ‘Jobs for Youth through Innovative Skilling’. The summit aimed to equip young Africans with the necessary skills to lead and innovate in today’s rapidly changing world.

During the opening ceremony, President Paul Kagame delivered a powerful speech, reflecting on his own experiences growing up in a refugee camp and the lessons he learned about politics and governance.

He expressed his disappointment that many of the challenges he faced as a child are still prevalent in Africa today.

“We grew up experiencing things that taught us many lessons, things that you don’t learn in school but you learn in life,” President Kagame said.

“It is disheartening that what I am talking about then, so many years ago in the sixties, some of that is still happening even now. You have people, especially young people, who are still suffering because of politics and all kinds of bad governance.”

President Kagame emphasized the importance of addressing these issues and creating opportunities for young people to thrive.

He called for a united effort to ensure that the next generation does not face the same challenges that he did.

The summit will feature inspiring conversations, workshops, and fun activities aimed at empowering young Africans to take charge of their futures.

Participants will discuss ways to create jobs, promote entrepreneurship, and harness the power of technology to drive economic growth and development across the continent.