The President of Rwanda called out for African youths to utilise the internet in order to unlock their full potential and to be politically active.
Speaking in the opening of the Broadband Commission’s Youth Forum, President Paul Kagame said that African youth should seize the opportunities available through the internet and other technologies in order to further themselves.
He was reported as saying:
“To you, the youth, I would like to say that technology is increasingly playing a major role in the way you learn, interact and fully participate in today’s world…You are tomorrow’s promise because of today’s possibilities-you possess the energy and drive required to use these technologies to address some of the world’s challenges across many sectors.”
President Kagame did note that there needed to be effective strategies and regulation in order to ensure the fast rollout of broadband infrastructure before private companies would invest in broadband in developing countries.
He added:
“We leaders are faced with urgent decisions – we must establish the right partnerships across governments, industry, academia and the international development community to ensure that we do not wait for another century to recognize that broadband too, was another missed opportunity.
“As we continue to deliberate on the subject of building Africa’s future around broadband technologies, it is also important to recognize that the world needs to be mobilized to address broadband as a development imperative.”
President Kagame went on to summarise:
“This is the message we will deliver to world leaders as they convene in Geneva next month in October to adopt core strategies that will move broadband to the central stage of developmental policies.”
