“Until the lion learns to write, every story will glorify the hunter.”
We’ve been called lazy. Directionless. Obsessed with scrolling and trending. But none of that will matter once we make this next move.
Here’s the truth: African youth are building from the ground up, innovating from their communities. The city dream has shifted to the village, where indigenous knowledge meets modern-day tech. I’ve seen it firsthand at Jacob’s Ladder Africa (JLA) through our greenlabs incubation program. Young innovators are building solutions, and if you’re one of them, greenlabs is a launchpad. Not marketing, just facts (or maybe I just really love my job).
If I weren’t working at JLA, I probably wouldn’t have known anything about the Africa Climate Summit (ACS) or how much it impacts us as youth. And that’s the issue: we’re often left out of the conversation until it’s time for action. The same goes for our education systems, stuck in the past while the world, including China, is teaching AI to students as young as 6 years old. (Yes, we should all be challenged.)
We don’t need pity. We need systems that work, and yes, we’re ready to be part of building them.
The Africa Climate Summit 2 (ACS2) is being hosted by the Government of Ethiopia and the African Union, and it’s a big deal. ACS2 is where African voices shape priorities for COP30. Where climate finance, green growth, and systems-level shifts become real. This year’s theme? Accelerating Global Climate Solutions: Financing for Africa’s Resilient and Green Development. And yes, youth voices are central.
At ACS2, JLA is hosting the Green Jobs & Skills Pavilion, a space spotlighting green jobs as the real answer to youth unemployment. Did you know? Over 500,000 graduates enter Africa’s job market annually, and 1 in 2 are unemployed or underemployed. The problem isn’t youth. The problem is broken systems. And we’re here to rebuild them.
We’ve made dance challenges and meme formats go viral. Now imagine using that energy to shift Africa’s narrative. That’s what Voices of Africa is about. A digital movement. 400 million youth. Showing up with phones and a purpose. No streets. Just strategy. No shouting. Just storytelling. We’ll be tracking every pledge made. Holding leaders accountable. And making sure this summit isn’t just another one.
If you’re young, African, and bold, join our Pan-African WhatsApp community and be part of the Voices of Africa campaign.
Get real-time updates from ACS2, creative content you can share, and opportunities to raise your voice for green jobs & accountability.
Join the WhatsApp Community: https://forms.gle/gNwgi6oG8oosvERV7
Let history record that Africa’s youth were the loudest, smartest, and most creative force at ACS2. We’re not asking for seats. We’re bringing our own.
We come in humility to learn from those before us. But we also come with the courage to shape systems that work for us.
This isn’t just about one summit. It’s about action. Transparency. And reclaiming our voice.
We are here. We are awake. And this is our next move. #VoicesOfAfrica | #ACS2 | #GreenJobsNow
