Mahamoud Ali Youssouf, Chairperson of the African Union Commission, has lauded Ethiopian Prime Minister Dr. Abiy Ahmed for his leadership in steering the nation towards rapid, all-sector growth. Youssouf's commendation came during his alddress at the opening of the 3rd African Job Creation Forum, currently underway in Ethiopia.
Youssouf highlighted Ethiopia's transformative changes as a model for other African nations. He emphasized the urgency of job creation across the continent, noting that while Africa anticipates a population of 2.5 billion by 2050 (with 60% under 25), only about 3 million jobs are created annually despite over 20 million job seekers.
"The changes Ethiopia is bringing about in this regard are incredibly impressive and serve as a lesson for others," Youssouf stated, pointing to Addis Ababa's remarkable transformation as a testament to these efforts. "In recent weeks, I have seen several European cities; Addis Ababa has become even more beautiful than those cities. More than 56 other Ethiopian cities are undergoing this transformation process." He attributed this progress to strong leadership.
Youssouf elaborated on Ethiopia's swift development, stating, "Prime Minister Dr. Abiy Ahmed is doing a great job in this country. When we come to agriculture, Ethiopia is now widely producing wheat, maize, and rice in addition to teff." He also reported significant growth in both the quantity and quality of products from Ethiopian industries, observed during his visit with Deputy Prime Minister Temesgen Tiruneh.
The Chairperson underscored that this rapid development is generating substantial job opportunities, urging other African nations to adopt similar strategies. He called for immediate action to address Africa's disproportionately low contribution to the global workforce (less than 3%, compared to Latin America and the Caribbean's 26%).
Youssouf identified agriculture as Africa's largest job creator and stressed the critical roles of the private sector and the burgeoning technology sector in boosting employment. He also emphasized the need to fully support the emerging generation of entrepreneurs and technologists across Africa to harness their potential for the continent's growth.