Young Africans must harness innovation, entrepreneurship and technology to drive the continent’s transformation instead of waiting for governments and development partners to solve their challenges, youth leaders have said.
The call was made during the opening of the 2026 Billi Now Now (BNN) Youth Summit in Kampala, which brought together hundreds of youth leaders, entrepreneurs, innovators, policymakers and development partners from across Africa.
Opening the three-day summit, Reach A Hand Africa Chief Executive Officer Humphrey Nabimanya said Africa’s greatest resource is its youthful population and the creativity, resilience and determination that come with it.
“Our future is not something we wait for; it is something we build,” Nabimanya said, referring to this year’s theme, “Africa Recharged: Youth Power. Bold Voices. Real Change.”
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He said that despite young people making up the majority of Africa’s population, many continue to be excluded from meaningful participation in decision-making processes.
“For too long, young people have been invited into conversations after decisions have already been made. Too often, youth engagement has been symbolic instead of meaningful. We believe young people are not beneficiaries of development but the architects of Africa’s future,” he said.
Nabimanya said the BNN Movement was created to unite young Africans committed to addressing challenges through innovation, entrepreneurship, civic action and technology.
He explained that the platform enables young people to exchange ideas, influence policy and develop home-grown solutions capable of transforming communities.
The summit also marked the transition of Reach A Hand Uganda into Reach A Hand Africa, reflecting the organisation’s expansion beyond Uganda.
Nabimanya said the organisation has extended its work to Kenya, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Zambia and Burundi, where it is working with local youth organisations to strengthen community-driven initiatives.
“The aspirations and challenges of young people are shared across Africa. That is why we are building partnerships that allow young people to learn from one another and jointly create solutions that respond to local realities,” he said.
He stressed that the summit was designed to generate practical outcomes rather than become another gathering dominated by speeches.
“This is not another conference. It is a platform where ideas will be transformed into partnerships, solutions and actions that will continue long after this summit ends,” Nabimanya said.
He said the movement was entering a new phase following the exit of Planned Parenthood Global, creating an opportunity for African youth-led organisations to take greater ownership.
“This is our opportunity to build a movement that is locally owned, African-led and sustainable for future generations. That responsibility rests with all of us,” he said.
Delegates at the summit are discussing six key areas: health, education, climate action, entrepreneurship, creative and cultural economies, and responsible technology.
According to Nabimanya, discussions are centred on one question: what kind of Africa do young people want to build?
He encouraged participants to use the summit to create lasting partnerships and return to their communities ready to implement practical solutions.
Rasheed Mutaha, a youth leader from Kenya, urged participants to remain bold, adaptable and actively involved in shaping public policy and community development.
“Our voices are here to create change. We are not simply participants; we are helping to shape the next chapter of the BNN Movement,” he said.
Mutaha said technology, especially artificial intelligence and social media, has become a critical tool for innovation, learning and civic participation, urging young people to use it responsibly.
He said consultations conducted across several African countries showed that 85 percent of young people want greater access to resources and decision-making opportunities, while 84 percent identified technology and digital platforms as key drivers of social and economic transformation.
He added that ideas generated during the summit would be developed into community projects, connected to funding opportunities and transformed into policy proposals.
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Hardy Ruremesha, Executive Director of Springs Communities in Burundi, challenged young people to turn local problems into opportunities.
Sharing his organisation’s experience, Ruremesha said it converts plastic waste into environmentally friendly products, demonstrating how community-based innovations can address environmental challenges while creating livelihoods.
“We are not the leaders of tomorrow; we are the leaders of today. When young people are trusted and supported, they create jobs, improve education, protect the environment and inspire hope,” he said.
He encouraged delegates to believe in their ideas and take action within their communities.
The Billi Now Now (BNN) Movement is a pan-African youth initiative that connects young leaders, entrepreneurs, innovators and civil society organisations to co-create solutions to Africa’s development challenges.
The 2026 summit is being held under the theme “Africa Recharged: Youth Power. Bold Voices. Real Change.” and coincides with the expansion of Reach A Hand Africa into Kenya, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Zambia and Burundi as part of efforts to strengthen locally led youth development initiatives across the continent.