The Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, in Northern States, has urged African leaders to aim at driving sustainable development across the continent by prioritizing youth-focused investment and adopt deliberate messaging strategies.
Rev. Joseph John Hayab, chairman of Northern CAN, made the call at the Wilton Park Roundtable on, “Towards Demographic Dividends in Africa: Action and Investments,” held between 21st and 23rd July, 2025 at Wiston House in West Sussex, United Kingdom.
Presenting a paper titled, “Information, Communication, and Narrative,” the chairman explained that the youthful population in Africa offers immense economic potential, warned that the opportunity would be wasted if leaders fail to invest meaningfully in education, healthcare, and employment generation.
Hayab also explained that the continent’s future cannot be determined by economic policies alone, suggesting that it will largely depend on how societies communicate shared values, build trust, and engage the youth constructively.
He opined, “The demographic dividend is not simply a technical opportunity but a moral responsibility. Our future will be shaped not just by economic planning but by how we communicate, what values we prioritise, and how we include our people in development conversations.”
The Cleric stressed that faith-based organisations and traditional institutions possess moral influence and community trust that can help translate policies into actions people understand and accept, appealing that they must be recognised as key development partners and called on African governments to build long-term partnerships with the religious leaders.
According to him, churches and mosques across Africa serve not only as centres of worship but also as platforms for civic education, information sharing, and value formation but the institutions can play a vital role in driving grassroots support for national development strategies if they are fully engaged and properly equipped.
The Northern CAN chairman stressed the growing need to reframe the narrative around Africa’s population from one of burden to one of promise and called for stronger emphasis on stories that reflect youth innovation, women’s leadership, and the resilience of people living with disabilities.
He noted, “such narratives, when elevated, inspire action and attract investment far better than statistical data alone.”
Hayab explained that real-life stories drive policy acceptance and social change more effectively than abstract figures, saying that their messaging should highlight local success stories and community resilience to build confidence in Africa’s future.
He noted that the COVID-19 pandemic exposed the dangers of unchecked disinformation, while addressing the threat of misinformation and distrust in governance, adding that the role of religious leaders in restoring calm and reinforcing scientific public health messages showed that inclusive communication strategies can yield results.
Hayab, therefore, advocated the creation of a resilient communication framework that includes faith-based actors, youth-led organisations, media professionals, and civil society, believing that such collaboration will ensure that development messages are credible, inclusive, and contextually relevant.
He also called on African leaders to focus on building human capital and cultivating an environment where every citizen feels seen, heard, and included in the continent’s development journey.
