Four young leaders from across Africa sat down with the Mastercard Foundation to say, plainly, what many of their peers have long felt: being invited to share your story after the decision is already made is not the same as having a seat at the table.
The conversation cuts to something real. These leaders are not waiting to be discovered. They are already building businesses, creating jobs, expanding access, and solving problems that touch millions of lives across the continent. Their argument is straightforward: lived experience is evidence, and evidence should shape policy, direct funding, and hold institutions accountable.
What they are asking for is not symbolic inclusion. They want their perspectives to inform priorities before the agenda is set, not after the press release goes out. Listening, they say, is only the beginning. The harder work is what happens next.
If institutions are serious about youth leadership in Africa, these four voices make the case for where to start: close the gap between consultation and decision-making, and follow the money.
Originally published by AllAfrica.