The eighth edition of the YouthConnekt Africa Summit will take place in Kigali from November 25 to 27 under the theme “Shape the Generational Mission.”

The event will bring together young people, policymakers, business leaders, investors and innovators from across the continent to discuss Africa’s future in a rapidly changing global economy.

The announcement was made on Wednesday, June 10, during a stakeholder engagement event in Kigali, where organisers outlined plans for a summit aimed at turning youth-led ideas into investment opportunities, policy reforms and cross-border partnerships.

Organisers expect 5,000 delegates, 40 official delegates to attend the summit and 25,000 joining virtually from across Africa and beyond. Young people are expected to account for 85 per cent of the attendees.

Rwanda hosted the 2024 edition of YouthConnekt Africa Summit. The 2025 edition was supposed to take place in Madagascar last November but it was postponed.

Yann Gwet, the Executive Director of YouthConnekt Africa, said this year’s theme is a call for young Africans, governments, businesses and development partners to respond collectively to a rapidly changing global landscape.

“We are facing a very particular moment in time,” Gwet said. “Because of the nature of the challenges we are facing, we need to get our act together to make sure we provide actual solutions to our young people. Otherwise, if we fail to do that, the consequences will be dire for all of us.”

He added that the theme recognises that today’s economic and social challenges require bold action rather than conventional approaches.

“These are unusual times, and they call for boldness. It cannot be business as usual. We have to understand what is happening across the globe and how we are going to be affected by the shocks taking place, while ensuring young people are equipped to turn those challenges into opportunities,” he said.

Speaking at the event, Minister of Youth and Arts, Abdallah Utumatwishima, said this year’s summit will challenge young Africans to take greater ownership of the continent’s future amid growing global uncertainties.

“We think it is high time that young people and African leaders put themselves to account and start taking responsibility for both the present and the future. What we are going through today, as a country and as a generation, is the fruit of our own hands,” he said.

Utumatwishima added that the summit will bring together young people to explore pathways towards self-sufficiency in areas such as agri-food systems, cultural industries and entrepreneurship, while placing youth at the centre of Africa’s transformation agenda.

Myriam Sangaré, the Summit Coordinator at YouthConnekt Africa Hub, said the conference comes at a time when Africa’s young population faces growing challenges ranging from unemployment and climate change to technological disruption and shifting global markets.