Chairperson of the Africa Prosperity Network (APN) Advisory Council, H.E. Dr. Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, has stressed that Africa’s development and long-term prosperity must be led by Africans themselves, with women and young people playing a central role.
She made the call in her welcome address at the Africa Prosperity Network Dialogue (APD) 2026, which opened in Accra on Wednesday, February 4.
The three-day dialogue, running from February 4 to 6, 2026 is being held under the theme: “Empowering SMEs, Women and Youth in Africa’s Single Market: Innovate, Collaborate, Trade.”
It has brought together heads of state, policymakers, business leaders, innovators and civil society actors to chart practical pathways for expanding intra-African trade, strengthening entrepreneurship and unlocking youth potential across the continent.
Dr. Dlamini-Zuma described the APN as “the boardroom of Africa,” noting that it provides a space where African ideas are converted into action and the continent’s prosperity agenda is shaped by Africans, for Africans.
She said empowering small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), women and youth is fundamental to the success of Africa’s continental free trade and single-market ambitions.
“The Africa we want—integrated, prosperous and peaceful cannot be built without fully unlocking the potential of women and young people. If they are not empowered, Africa will go nowhere,” she said.
Highlighting structural challenges, she noted that although young people constitute about 60 per cent of Africa’s population, youth unemployment remains persistently high.
Women, she added, contribute nearly half of the continent’s Gross Domestic Product yet continue to face systemic barriers in accessing finance, markets and trade networks.
Dr. Dlamini-Zuma said targeted support for youth-led enterprises could generate up to 50 million jobs by 2030, while closing gender gaps in trade could raise intra-African trade by as much as 15 per cent annually.
She called for deliberate policies to integrate women- and youth-owned businesses into regional value chains, increased investment in skills development, and expanded access to digital technologies. She also urged African governments to simplify trade regimes, eliminate tariffs and non-tariff barriers, and develop cross-border payment, logistics and digital trade systems that work for small businesses, not only large corporations.
On technology, she said Africa must move beyond being a passive consumer of innovation, particularly artificial intelligence, and instead become an active contributor, ensuring that African data, values and knowledge shape the continent’s digital future.
Dr. Dlamini-Zuma further underscored the importance of continental unity and freer movement of people and goods, pointing to Botswana, Namibia and Zambia as examples of countries facilitating borderless trade without compromising security.
“The true measure of this dialogue will not be the eloquence of our speeches, but the boldness of our actions.
“By empowering SMEs, women and youth, innovating with purpose and collaborating across borders, we can restore hope and convince Africa’s young people that their future lies on this continent—not in dangerous journeys elsewhere,” she said.
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The post Africa’s Prosperity Must Be Driven by Its People –Dlamini-Zuma appeared first on The Ghanaian Chronicle.
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