The United Nations Foundation, The Elders, and the African Union Youth Envoy have jointly launched a new podcast series titled The Future of Africa, designed to give young leaders across the continent a platform to debate solutions to pressing global and regional challenges.
The limited-episode series, which premiered on August 12, brings together influential voices to explore critical issues including climate justice, development finance, democratic governance, education, and Africa’s role in shaping global affairs. Organisers explained that the podcast will also highlight the growing influence of Africa’s young population, who are increasingly shaping political, economic, and social narratives at both national and international levels.
Hosted by Kenyan media personality Adelle Onyango and Mark Leon Goldberg, host of the Global Dispatches podcast, the first episode examined Africa’s place on the global stage. It explored how the continent’s influence is rising, driven not only by its demographic advantage but also by the vision and determination of a new generation of leaders.
The series comes at a time when African youth are grappling with harsh economic realities, particularly high inflation, weak job creation, and widespread unemployment, especially among graduates. With limited entrepreneurial opportunities and inadequate support for small businesses, many young Africans face structural barriers to contributing fully to their economies. The podcast therefore seeks to position young people not just as subjects of policy discussions but as central contributors to the design of solutions.
Organisers noted that The Future of Africa is not just about highlighting problems but about presenting youth-led strategies for change. It aims to challenge policymakers, investors, civil society, and the wider global community to listen more closely to young African voices and incorporate their ideas into policy and practice.
To deepen the conversation, the podcast series will feature interviews with notable African changemakers and stakeholders who have shaped civic engagement and policy advocacy. Among the scheduled guests are the Special Assistant to the Speaker on Interparliamentary Affairs and Public Relations in the Nigerian House of Representatives, Chimdi Neliaku; the Executive Director of Yiaga Africa and Convener of the Not Too Young To Run Movement, Samson Itodo; and the Director of Democratic Resilience at Open Society Foundations, Chukwuemeka Eze.
By giving visibility to diverse perspectives, the project aims to connect young Africans with opportunities for influence while providing a platform to amplify ideas that can shape the continent’s economic, political, and social future.
