Africa's youth must lead institutions, not just protest, says entrepreneur

Young Africans must channel civic engagement into governance and institutional leadership for long-term development, rather than relying solely on protests, urged pan-African media entrepreneur Adebola Williams. Williams, founder of RED Africa and the MITTA Africa Centre, spoke at the 13th Human Rights Forum of Essaouira in Morocco.

While acknowledging the crucial role of civic movements in driving public awareness and accountability, Williams asserted that sustainable change necessitates greater participation in governance. Reflecting on his involvement in Nigerian civic campaigns like Enough Is Enough and Occupy Nigeria, he stressed that the impact of such movements should ultimately translate into structured engagement within public institutions. "Power ultimately lies in institutions, and after protesting, young people and women must demand a seat at the table," he stated, emphasizing that meaningful transformation requires involvement in policy formulation, leadership structures, and public administration.

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Power ultimately lies in institutions, and after protesting, young people and women must demand a seat at the table.

Williams further argued that protests can effectively raise civic consciousness but are insufficient for achieving systemic reform on their own. "Protests can open the door, but power for systemic change ultimately lies in institutions. Young people and women must move from just demanding to getting a seat, participating fully in governance, policy formulation and structured leadership," he explained.

During the forum, Williams also highlighted the growing influence of culture in Africa's political and social development, noting that the continent's creative industries hold significant soft power that should be strategically utilized. He announced plans to launch the MITTA Africa Centre, a youth-focused initiative built around four pillars with storytelling at its core, which is expected to expand across African countries through national centers.

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Protests can open the door, but power for systemic change ultimately lies in institutions. Young people and women must move from just demanding to getting a seat, participating fully in governance, policy formulation and structured leadership.