The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), 19 Northern states and the Federal Capital Territory, has urged African leaders to prioritise youth-focused investment and adopt deliberate messaging strategies aimed at driving sustainable development across the continent.
Chairman of Northern CAN, Rev. Dr. Joseph John Hayab, made the call at the Wilton Park Roundtable on “Towards Demographic Dividends in Africa: Action and Investments,” held between 21st and 23rd July, 2025 at Wiston House in West Sussex, United Kingdom.
Presenting a paper titled “Information, Communication, and Narrative,” Rev. Hayab stated that the youthful population in Africa offers immense economic potential. However, he warned that this opportunity would be wasted if leaders fail to invest meaningfully in education, healthcare, and employment generation.
According to him, the continent’s future cannot be determined by economic policies alone but will largely depend on how societies communicate shared values, build trust, and engage the youth constructively.
In his words, “The demographic dividend is not simply a technical opportunity but a moral responsibility. Our future will be shaped not just by economic planning but by how we communicate, what values we prioritise, and how we include our people in development conversations.”
The cleric stressed that faith-based organisations and traditional institutions must be recognised as key development partners and called on African governments to build long-term partnerships with religious leaders who, he noted, possess moral influence and community trust that can help translate policies into actions people understand and accept.
He said churches and mosques across Africa serve not only as centres of worship but also as platforms for civic education, information sharing, and value formation.
According to him, these institutions can play a vital role in driving grassroots support for national development strategies if they are fully engaged and properly equipped.
The Northern Christian leader also highlighted the growing need to reframe the narrative around Africa’s population from one of burden to one of promise.
He called for stronger emphasis on stories that reflect youth innovation, women’s leadership, and the resilience of people living with disabilities, noted that such narratives, when elevated, inspire action and attract investment far better than statistical data alone.
Hayab explained that “real-life stories drive policy acceptance and social change more effectively than abstract figures. Our messaging should highlight local success stories and community resilience to build confidence in Africa’s future.”
While addressing the threat of misinformation and distrust in governance, he noted that the COVID-19 pandemic exposed the dangers of unchecked disinformation. However, he added that the role of religious leaders in restoring calm and reinforcing scientific public health messages showed that inclusive communication strategies can yield results.
Dr. Joseph therefore advocated the creation of a resilient communication framework that includes faith-based actors, youth-led organisations, media professionals, and civil society. He said such collaboration would ensure that development messages are credible, inclusive, and contextually relevant.
He also called on African leaders to focus on building human capital and cultivating an environment where every citizen feels seen, heard, and included in the continent’s development journey.