Engaging Youth in Mainstream Development and Governance: Some Reflections from Africa
HILAL WANI

Abstract
This paper examines that how significant move it would be to involve youth in the main stream development and governance projects in Africa. It is obvious reality that no inclusive and sustainable development and governance can be built without involvement of youth. Successful democracy needs participation of all citizens especially the active role and participation of youth is paramount. Reviewing and re-looking the engagement of youth in some of the African nations would be the main discourse of this paper. I will be looking into the point why there is less participation of youth in main stream development and governance of the world nations in general and in particular in Africa? What are the main constraints which prevent youth in taking active participation in the political and democratic process of their specific nations? How could we motivate youth thereby they could be the part and parcel of overall development and governance of their nations in Africa? In summation, it can be said that youth engagement and voluntarism could make governance more stable and effective in African continent. Cases of youth engagement are cited from Nigeria, Ghana, South Africa, Sudan and Ethiopia. African nations could make a big difference if the youth engagement will be taken into consideration.

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