Africa is in the middle of an amazing demographic shift . Our continent is the only one where the size of the younger generation is rising significantly . Our population is already 16 years younger than in China , and this is only the beginning . Within less than three generations , four out of ten of the world 's youth will live on our continent . This demographic dividend -- and the energy and enthusiasm it brings -- offers us a unique advantage which other continents facing the prospect of a rapidly aging population and dwindling workforce can only envy . In a world changing with breakneck speed , it is young people who are best equipped to identify and deliver fresh solutions to our problems . But we will only fully reap these benefits if we listen to young people , engage with them and provide the education , skills and support they need to prosper . Despite progress , we continue to fail to rise to this challenge . Young people , all too often , find their interests overlooked and their voices ignored . Read this : 'Afropreneurs ' will shape Africa 's future . There can be no clearer symbol of this disconnect than the age of those who continue to set the direction of our countries and their citizens . For while the median age of Africa 's population is now 20 and falling , the average age of our continent 's leaders is around 60 . I am not arguing , of course , that teenagers should be put in charge of countries . Experience counts in government even more than in business . But Africa must ask itself why our continent appears so frightened of giving the younger generation a chance . After all , David Cameron and Tony Blair both became UK Prime Ministers for the first time when they were 43 . Barack Obama first became President of the United States at the age of 47 . Even more importantly , he will step down , because of the constitution , eight years after he entered the White House . In contrast , Africa has just witnessed an 89-year old sworn in as President of Zimbabwe , a post he first gained 25 years ago . And this was after he had already led his country as Prime Minister for nearly a decade . The truth is that it is not so much the age that our leaders first come to power which is the problem but their reluctance to relinquish it . Where necessary , constitutional terms are altered to allow them to continue long after they were supposed to step down . Read this : Holding African governments to account . The result is that political power lies in the hands of aging leaders who have little knowledge or interest in the ambitions and concerns of younger generations -- and sadly even less interest in passing on the reins of leadership . It is why , when we set up the Ibrahim Prize for Achievement in African Leadership in 2007 , we made it a condition that only those democratically elected leaders who hand over power voluntarily at the end of their constitutional term would be eligible . Even in countries where leaders do not confuse their own interests with those of their country , our young people can find themselves locked out of decision-making and debate . They react , not surprisingly , by turning their backs on the political process . Electoral turnout is falling among the young and political apathy is on the rise . Read this : Africa 's rocky road to democracy . The danger is that , denied the chance of peaceful change , despair and anger is fostered . We must at least enable our young people to play a more active part in the decision-making process . If we do not , we will see even more leaders overthrown . The risk of creating a marginalized youth only seems to increase when you look at the job market . Our young people are better educated but enjoy less employment opportunities than their parents . We ca n't just rely on their numbers to drive Africa 's continued economic progress . We need renewed efforts to provide them with the skills they need to fill the jobs of the future . We urgently need to foster national debates involving businesses , education specialists and young people themselves to build the skilled workforce Africa requires to compete globally . It 's time Africa started listening to our young people , instead of always telling them what to do . It is their potential , after all , which will decide our continent 's future . Let 's not waste it .
Africa has a young population , and aging leaders , says Mo Ibrahim . He says African leaders are often reluctant to relinquish power . Growing youth population can be a huge opportunity for Africa . But Africa must start listening to young people , says Ibrahim .