Charting a New Course: The Rise of African Youth in Health Innovation and Governance

Thought Leadership Article By Faith Labija of Chuchu Softies A 2022 African Impact Challenge Alumnus

"What an elder sees sitting down can never be visible to a child, even if he climbs the tallest Iroko tree." Although this ancient African proverb has served its purpose in recognizing the wisdom of elders, recent dynamics in African innovation and problem-solving have shaken the foundations of this philosophy. Brookings Metro (2024) reports that Africa boasts of the world’s highest rate of entrepreneurship, with 1 in 5 working-age Africans starting a new business and three-quarters of the youth planning to start one in 5 years. Africa is projected to be home to over 830 million youth by 2050 and have 40% of the world's Youth population by 2030. Given that young people are at the epicentre of the continent’s development, why, then, does it continue to dream of a future without young people playing a central role in its governance and policy direction?

With the rise in startup building on the continent largely led by young people who are solving society’s most pressing issues across various sectors, it is daring to make this bold statement: The future of Africa is Youth. But if Africa is serious about this future, it must not only include young people for the sake of mere representation but also influence and decision-making especially when it comes to health governance and policy design.

While the relevance of other sectors that function as pillars of Africa’s economy cannot be overemphasized, the essential nature of the health sector makes it the core knot that holds the center together. Sayings like, “Health is wealth” and “A healthy nation is a wealthy nation” reflect the substantial value both political and cultural systems place on healthcare. Yet, it remains one of the most overlooked areas in many African countries’ policies.  Africa’s health pillar suffers from insufficient infrastructure, weak insurance systems, poor funding mechanisms and stifling regulations. 

Over the past decade, young individuals have started decentralizing healthcare innovation by building businesses and initiatives that make healthcare more affordable, accessible, quicker, and safer for middle to low-income demographics. For example, Grandview Research reports that Africa's digital health market was valued at $3.8 billion in 2023 and is expected to grow at a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 23.4% from 2024 to 2030, which is largely driven by youth-led innovation. However, health startups face strong barriers in accessing funding due to factors such as rigid medical regulations, a lack of integration with public health systems, and limited investor interest. In many African countries, medtech approvals can take up to 3 years or more, a timeline that is incompatible with the fast-paced nature of innovation (The Lancet, 2021). These combined factors deter the investment ecosystem from prioritizing healthcare startups, especially those led by young founders.

Still, the journey to building Africa’s healthcare system is not all doom. Events like World Health Day provide a critical platform to reflect on the strides made so far. There is a rise in intercontinental partnerships designed to strengthen the healthcare system not through brick-and-mortar donations or short-term aid, but through sustainable investments in youth-led innovation. Funders are now prioritizing health-focused incubators, youth research, and capacity-building initiatives. Pioneers of this new approach include the African Impact Initiative’s Health Challenge and the Africa Health Collaborative, comprising institutions like the University of Toronto, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, and Ashesi University. On the career side, networks like AL for Health in South Africa support health startups by hiring top-tier talent from across the continent. Others, like the Health Innovation Hub (H2I), have gone further by creating an ecosystem that supports young female-led healthcare ventures.

From the buzzing streets of Lagos (Nigeria) to Nairobi (Kenya), Kampala (Uganda), Dakar (Senegal), and Cape Town (South Africa), young Africans are rewriting the narrative of leadership in the health sector. For instance, Virtue Oboro’s Crib’ A Glow has treated over 550,000 babies with Jaundice across hospitals in Kenya, Ghana and Nigeria.  M-TIBA has facilitated health transactions for over 4 million users by partnering with over 1200 healthcare facilities in Kenya. These are not isolated cases but a clear demonstration of what becomes possible when governance makes room for youth-led solutions to be scaled, funded, and integrated into national systems.

We must move beyond celebrating youth innovation as a feel-good story and start codifying their involvement in decision-making through youth representation in national health councils, inclusion in budget preparations, and youth advisory boards within health ministries. As the founder of ChuChu Softies, a personal hygiene company I started at age 19, I have witnessed firsthand the challenges and upsides of building healthcare solutions as a young person in Africa. Our work has provided over 850 girls and women with access to safe menstrual hygiene solutions, and it has become clear to me: Africa needs youth representation not just in grassroots innovation but at the policy table.

As we mark World Health Month, let it not only be a commemoration but a reminder that Africa cannot build the future of health without investing in the young minds already shaping it. The future of healthcare in Africa must not be built for the youth but with them.