Northern CAN Urges African Leaders To Prioritise Funding In Youth

Christian Affiliation of Nigeria (CAN) within the 19 Northern states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) have charged African leaders to make funding in youth a precedence.

CAN requested them to undertake deliberate communication methods to drive inclusive and sustainable improvement.

The chairman of Northern CAN, Rev. Joseph John Hayab, made tthe enchantment on the Wilton Park Roundtable titled: “In the direction of Demographic Dividends in Africa: Motion and Investments,” held from July 21 to 23, 2025, at Wiston Home, West Sussex, United Kingdom.

Presenting a paper on “Info, Communication, and Narrative,” Rev. Hayab famous that Africa’s youthful inhabitants holds huge {economic} promise.

Nevertheless, he warned that the potential will stay untapped if governments fail to put money into important areas reminiscent of training, healthcare, and employment creation.

“The demographic dividend is not only a technical time period; it’s a ethical obligation. If we fail to meaningfully embody younger folks in our improvement pondering, we danger dropping a technology that would remodel the continent,” he mentioned.

He confused that {economic} insurance policies alone can not safe Africa’s future. In keeping with him, how societies talk their values, foster belief, and embody youth in nationwide conversations will considerably decide the expansion trajectory.

Rev. Hayab additionally underscored the very important position of faith-based organisations and conventional establishments in bridging the hole between authorities and the grassroots. He urged African leaders to view non secular leaders not merely as ethical voices, however as trusted companions able to translating advanced insurance policies into community-friendly narratives.

“Our church buildings and mosques usually are not simply homes of worship, they’re centres for civic training, social assist, and worth orientation. If totally engaged, they’ll drive bottom-up assist for nationwide improvement,” he mentioned.

The Northern CAN chairman additionally referred to as for a shift within the narrative surrounding Africa’s inhabitants progress. Reasonably than viewing it as a burden, he urged stakeholders to border it as an asset, highlighting tales of youth innovation, feminine management, and resilience amongst folks with disabilities.

“Individuals join extra with real-life tales than knowledge. We have to showcase the brilliance and energy inside our communities. That’s the way you construct hope, confidence, and appeal to funding,” Hayab added.

He additionally warned of the hazards of misinformation, citing the COVID-19 pandemic as a case research in how false narratives can undermine public belief. He credited non secular leaders with serving to to revive calm and reinforce correct well being messaging throughout that point, underscoring the necessity for inclusive, trusted communication channels.

To this finish, Rev. Hayab advocated for a strong, multi-stakeholder communication framework that features faith-based actors, youth organisations, media, and civil society, in order that improvement messages are correct, credible, and culturally related.

He referred to as on African leaders to put money into human capital, promote inclusive governance, and guarantee each citizen feels heard, valued, and a part of the continent’s improvement journey.

The Wilton Park Roundtable convened stakeholders from authorities, worldwide organisations, civil society, and spiritual communities to discover actionable methods for unlocking Africa’s demographic potential by means of focused funding and inclusive engagement.