- Africa’s young, digital population is its growth engine
- Botswana rising Connectivity and electricity access improvement key to growth
- AI opportunity has big potential, but limited by skills and infrastructure
- Boko champions message that progress must benefit everyone, not just elites
As leaders and experts assess shifting global power and economic opportunity, President Duma Boko posits that young Africans have the potential to transform the continent’s fortunes if given the right environment.
Boko deliberated during a session at the World Governments Summit (WGS) 2026 themed “Is the Next Decade African?” this week, that brought together Julius Maada Bio, President of the Republic of Sierra Leone; and Emmerson Dambudzo Mnangagwa, President of the Republic of Zimbabwe, who discussed the continent’s future.
Boko focused on youth innovation and Africa’s long-term global potential, noting that the continent is poised to rule the world.
Analysts increasingly point to the continent’s youthful population, expanding digital infrastructure and emerging tech ecosystems as signals that Africa could play a defining role in the coming years — though persistent challenges remain.
Africa is home to the youngest population in the world, with a median age of about 18.8 years, and more than 60% of its people under 25, according to demographic estimates provide by UN Population Division. The continent’s population is projected to account for nearly a quarter of the world’s total by 2050, a shift expected to fuel a rapidly growing labour force and consumer market.
Botswana mirrors this trend, with a median age of roughly 23.9 years.
Boko said young people represent Africa’s greatest asset, describing them as “innovative, entrepreneurial, and increasingly digital natives.” He argued that this generation has the potential to transform the continent’s fortunes if given the right environment.
“These opportunities mean they can operate from anywhere,” Boko said, adding that it was important for young people to remain rooted at home while extending their influence globally.
“Botswana offers training, education, and skills acquisition a supportive environment that nurtures young people and fuels their vitality. This is what Botswana provides and what will ultimately power Africa.”
Digital connectivity is already reshaping that landscape. According to DataReportal, Botswana’s internet penetration exceeded 80% by late 2025, supported by more than four million mobile connections more than one per person on average. Government-backed initiatives such as SmartBots, which provides free public Wi-Fi in schools and community facilities, have helped push national internet usage sharply upward over the past five years, widening access to online services, learning platforms and job markets.
Officials say the programme has been particularly important in expanding connectivity beyond urban centres, although analysts caution that affordability and rural coverage remain uneven. According to Brookings Institution research, high data costs and infrastructure gaps continue to limit full digital inclusion across much of Africa, even as mobile broadband adoption rises.
Electricity access, another cornerstone of digital transformation, has also improved. According to UNESCO, about 76.6% of Botswana’s population now has access to electricity, creating a foundation for connected services, data infrastructure and emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence. Botswana has also begun strengthening its regulatory environment, including the adoption of a Data Protection Act in 2024, as part of efforts to balance innovation with privacy and trust in digital systems.
Across the continent, interest in AI is accelerating. Researchers note that artificial intelligence could significantly boost productivity in sectors such as agriculture, healthcare and finance, but warn that readiness varies widely due to skills shortages, limited computing infrastructure and uneven power supply. Academic studies highlight that while Africa’s AI ecosystem is growing, many countries still lag behind global peers in advanced capacity.
For Boko, technology must serve people rather than deepen inequality. He said Africa’s rise should be guided by fairness and inclusion, calling for a future in which innovation benefits society broadly. His vision extends beyond economics to global governance, arguing that intellectual property should be developed across Africa and that technological progress should not be captured by what he described as a “predatory elite.”
“Our vision is to make the world fairer and more equitable,” he said, stressing that Africans must be able to participate meaningfully in the global economy and share in its rewards.
Yet alongside optimism runs a current of caution. A Financial Times analysis recently noted that while Africa’s cities are expanding and youth populations are dynamic, many young people still face unemployment, strained public services and limited opportunities, creating frustration alongside ambition.
Botswana’s experience reflects this broader paradox: steady gains in connectivity and education coexist with the need for faster job creation and deeper private-sector investment. Policymakers say sustained progress will depend on aligning education with labour market needs, expanding reliable energy, and ensuring that digital growth reaches rural communities.
