Global Africa Business Initiative (GABI) 2024 Highlights Report Stresses Youth Empowerment and Collaboration as Cornerstones for Africa’s Economic Growth

BY TOP AFRICA NEWS MEDIA

February 5,2025 – The Global Africa Business Initiative (GABI)2024 Highlights Report was unveiled on the 5th February, 2025 during an online press conference, spotlighting key achievements and forward-looking priorities for Africa’s sustainable economic growth. Industry leaders, policymakers, and private sector champions rallied around the need to empower African youth and strengthen collaboration to unlock the continent’s untapped potential

Charles Murito of Google: Youth Investment at the Heart of Economic Transformation

Charles Murito, Director of Sub-Saharan Africa Government Affairs and Public Policy at Google, emphasized the critical importance of Africa’s young population in driving the continent’s social and economic advancement. He shared concrete examples of Google’s ongoing investments that aim to equip young Africans with the digital skills and entrepreneurial tools they need to succeed in a technology-driven economy

“For us on the continent, if we do not take the young folks seriously, we’re not going to grow the continent, both from a social perspective as well as an economic perspective. That’s why, at Google, for instance, we have different initiatives that are focused on delivering results and skills growth for young people,” Murito said

Murito highlighted Google’s successful initiatives over the past seven years, including training over6.4 million Africans in digital skills and investing $7 million in the Black Founders Fund, empowering African entrepreneurs. This fund has already spurred an additional $75 million in post-seed investments, underscoring the catalytic role private sector funding plays in creating opportunities for innovation and business growth

Recently, Google launched a new initiative in South Africa dedicated to young Black entrepreneurs in the e-commerce space, reinforcing the company’s commitment to building a vibrant, inclusive digital economy.

Murito reiterated the need for collaboration across public and private sectors to scale impact, stating, “Even if we’ve trained6.4 million Africans, there’s a lot more that continues to need that training and skills development. So we need to collaborate more.”

Sanda Ojiambo: A Global Platform for Africa’s Economic Agenda

Sanda Ojiambo, Assistant Secretary General and thought leader driving the Unstoppable Africa event series, outlined the pivotal role GABI plays in shaping Africa’s policy and investment landscape. With the event now firmly established as a key global platform for advancing Africa’s economic agenda, Ojiambo looked ahead to priorities for 2025

“In2025, we will continue to emphasize sustainable growth, regional integration, and fostering partnerships between African businesses and the global community,” Ojiambo said.

“This platform unites policymakers, corporate leaders, and entrepreneurs to conceptualize actionable solutions and facilitate investment in critical sectors, from renewable energy to digital infrastructure.”

The combination of GABI’s convening power and corporate investments like Google’s fosters an ecosystem where African economies can thrive while addressing key challenges such as youth unemployment, skill gaps, and unsustainable practices. As Ojiambo noted, collaboration and shared ownership remain essential to achieving Africa’s long-term development goals

The lively press conference underscored a shared sense of urgency to scale up initiatives that prepare young Africans for leadership in the digital age. As momentum builds for the2025 discussions, GABI continues to serve as a beacon for aligning public and private sector actions in support of Africa’s future