Experts at the United Nations event are championing “Youth-Centric Policies” in African nations, highlighting the crucial need for young people’s involvement in crafting and implementing low-carbon policies that resonate with their values, priorities, and aspirations. This inclusive approach ensures that policymakers engage with the youth demographic, amplifying their voices and addressing their unique needs

These views were canvased weekend at a the ongoing United Nations General Assembly UNGA, when policymakers, youth leaders, civil society representatives, and international experts gathered at the Millennium Hilton New York One UN Plaza, for a pivotal United Nations Summit of the Future side event titled “Youth in Front: Opportunities for African Youth in a Just Low-Carbon Transition.”

The event co-organized by the Permanent Mission of Cameroon to the United Nations, IDRC, the Nigerian House Committee on Renewable Energy, UNDP, and INCLUDE Knowledge Platform, served as a critical space for discussing Africa’s role in leading a just low-carbon transition, with a focus on youth empowerment and inclusion.

Speaking on ‘Empowering Africa’s Youth’, Dr Anika Altaf, Executive Director of INCLUDE Knowledge Platform, set the tone for the event, emphasizing the vital role of Africa’s youth in achieving sustainable development goals. She noted that young Africans must be at the forefront of efforts to transition toward a low-carbon economy, framing the low-carbon transition as an economic and social opportunity.

A statement on Monday in Abuja, released by Mr. Edward Dibiana, Media Advisor to the House of Representatives Committee, said that Hon. Oyeshina Oyedeji, (House Committee on Renewable Energy, Nigeria, who represented Hon. Afam Victor Ogene, chairman of the committee), opened the panel by discussing how Africa’s vast renewable energy resources can be harnessed to create economic opportunities for young people.

“He emphasized the need for policies balancing natural resource exploitation with environmental stewardship and equitable development as he called for frameworks ensuring that the benefits of resource extraction, particularly in renewable energy, are shared equitably with local communities and youth.”

Addressing ‘Exclusions in Nigeria’s Low-Carbon Transition’, Victoria Manya, a doctoral researcher at INCLUDE, presented a critical case study focusing on Nigeria’s low-carbon transition.

Dibiana disclosed that “Her presentation shed light on the conflicting priorities among key stakeholders, revealing that while much discourse has centered on decarbonisation, far less attention has been paid to creating labor-based incentives that include youth and women in the transition process.

“Manya referred to the energy sector as the “fossil fuels handmaiden,” highlighting how both the energy and job markets remain heavily influenced by fossil fuel interests. This dependency perpetuates the dominance of fossil fuels and hinders efforts to achieve distributive, procedural, and recognition justice.

“The alignment of the energy sector with fossil fuel structures stifles the growth of renewable energy jobs and reinforces inequities in resource distribution.”

Crucially, Manya emphasized that “Marginalized groups—particularly youth and women—are systematically excluded from decision-making processes in the energy transition. This exclusion results in policies that overlook the specific challenges these groups face and neglect their potential contributions.

“To address these imbalances, Manya recommended policies that incentivize youth and women employment in renewable energy, promote entrepreneurship, and develop infrastructure to support the transition. She also advocated for the use of youth-friendly language in policymaking to ensure policies resonate with the younger generation.”

Prominent figures in the global sustainable development sphere recently delivered keynote addresses emphasizing the crucial role of international partnerships in empowering Africa’s youth. Erin Tansey, Director of the Sustainable Inclusive Economies Division at IDRC, highlighted that while Africa’s youth are the future, they can’t lead the transition alone. To ensure a just transition, international cooperation, technical support, and financial investment are vital.

Ambassador Tommo Monthe, Permanent Representative of the Republic of Cameroon to the United Nations, echoed these sentiments, emphasizing the importance of partnerships in shaping a sustainable future for Africa’s youth. By prioritizing youth development and empowerment, Africa can unlock its full potential and ensure a brighter future for generations to come.

The event concluded with Dr. Altaf, urging participants to continue the conversation and commit to real actions empowering African youth to shape a sustainable and inclusive future. The “Youth in Front” event laid the foundation for further dialogue, collaboration, and action, ensuring Africa’s youth are not just the future—but the present leaders of the continent’s green revolution.