Nigerian youngster, Ogunbufunmi Bunmi was among 38 budding technology-savvy Africans who were announced winners of the World Bank Africa Blog4Dev 2021 competition on July 15 on the occasion of the World Youth Skills Day.
The Blog4Dev competition is an annual writing contest launched in 2014 by the World Bank Kenya office, inviting young people to weigh in on a topic critical to their country’s economic development. In 2019, it became a regional event, open to young citizens from all 48 countries in Sub-Saharan Africa. The competition serves as a way to engage Africa’s youth and provide a platform for them to share their views, and solutions about development topics that are important to them.
This year, the competitors were asked to share their ideas on how young people could work with their government and civil society leaders to respond to the impact of COVID-19 (coronavirus) and build a stronger post-pandemic economic and social system.
Due to the unprecedented effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, there was an eagerness to gain valuable insights and perspectives from African youth on how they can contribute to resilient recovery.
From the onset of the pandemic, the World Bank has responded with the fastest and largest crisis response in its history to support the countries in their crisis response. Up to $50 billion is gradually being allocated to support African governments in strengthening their health care systems, bolstering vaccine purchase and deployment; ensuring food security for local communities; scaling up social safety net programs for the most vulnerable and supporting the private sector in navigating the financial impact of the crisis.
With young Africans disproportionately at the risk of reduced earnings, less disposable income, underemployment, and missed learning and job training opportunities, the stakes are high to ensure that future generations are positioned to succeed. As an institution, our efforts are focused on saving lives in Africa, protecting the poor, protecting and creating jobs, and building back better.
This year, there were 1,266 entries, and the World Bank Country Offices were able to designate winners from 38 countries. The number of entries is very encouraging, and demonstrates the energy that young Africans have to discuss the development challenges affecting them and their communities. This 2021 cohort will add their ideas and enthusiasm to the Youth Transforming Africa network that includes the winners of the 2019 and 2020 editions.
Youth Transforming Africa (YTA) is a World Bank-supported youth engagement initiative that aims to engage more African youth in the thinking and discussions on development in Africa.
A recurrent idea among the many proposed solutions is the creation of online platforms by governments to gather more quickly and efficiently the different proposals from youth and to frame a structured dialogue. Another suggestion is the request to support youth’s skills for innovation, both in social and technological areas, that can contribute to the building of a stronger post-COVID-19 economy and society. Young people can play a role in creating health equipment and kits using local raw materials, or in developing mentoring programs or educational software. Blog4Dev 2021 participant also suggested governmental programs promoting volunteerism and solidarity actions driven by young people in order to reach the most disadvantaged.
The winners will soon embark on a set of online activities. The awards ceremony in Washington, D.C. will be organised when travel is safe again.
We heartily congratulate all of our Blog4Dev winners. They are the torchbearers to Africa’s development journey and serve as important voices in their respective countries.
Join us in congratulating Blog4Dev’s 2021 winners:
- Angola: Evaristo Ucuahamba Manasés
- Benin: Zoumenou Olivier Max-Moreno Sedjro.
- Botswana: Michell Mositi Mompati
- Burkina Faso: Sango D. Edouard
- Burundi: Elsa Marina Syvine
- Cabo Verde: Bruno Miguel Rocha Fortes Pires
- Cameroon: Emmanuelle Laurence Okalia Mbia
- Cote d’Ivoire: Aboubacar Sakra
- DRC: Innocent Mwendo Tuyisenge
- Eswatini: Buyelani Msweli
- Ethiopia: Kidus Fikremariam
- Gabon: Ngognaté Samantha Sammuelle
- The Gambia: Francis Thomas Aubee
- Ghana: Timothy Dziedzom Amaglo-Mensah
- Guinea Bissau: Tchuda Na Blaga
- Guinea: Oummou Kaïry Balde
- Kenya: Kevin Lunzalu
- Lesotho: Paballo Sekoto.
- Madagascar: Lanja Miharintsoa Randrianarison
- Malawi: Mwayiwathu Mkwala
- Mali: Zamba Ousmane Doumbia
- Mauritania: Aiche Sy
- Mozambique: Melio Joao Tinga
- Namibia: Loise Ndinelago Shipepe
- Niger: Fadjimata Harouna Moussa
- Nigeria: Ogunbufunmi Ifeoluwa Bunmi
- Republic of Congo: Malongo Bouanga Mireille Oceanne Neschamah
- Rwanda: Heshima Olexa
- Senegal: Fatou Drame
- Somalia: Mohamed Ali Mire
- South Africa: Sindisa Mramba
- South Sudan: Emma Kwaje Martin
- Sudan: Aisha Mohammedlelhassan Hamid Hassan
- Tanzania: Raphael January Kambamwene
- Togo: Vava Kossivi Nicolas.
- Uganda: Muhanuuzi Dorah
- Zambia: Jade Nshimbi
- Zimbabwe: Julianna Makonise