Ndidi Okonkwo Nwuneli and Charlize Theron: Investing in Young Africans’ Health is Crucial for Unlocking Their Leadership Potential
To foresee the shape of things to come, look no further than Africa, a youthful and rapidly expanding continent brimming with untapped possibilities. As women who grew up in Africa, we have personally seen the immense potential it possesses.
By 2050, Africans will constitute a quarter of the global population. This surge in youth presents an unparalleled opportunity. With the right investments, these young individuals can fuel global innovation and economic progress. The next major technological breakthrough could originate from Lagos. The future medical innovator might be currently studying in Nairobi. They will establish startups, populate entire industries, and provide the ingenuity that every economic revolution requires.
Inspiring stories are already emerging from across Africa, demonstrating what can be achieved when young Africans are given the resources and opportunities to flourish. In Nigeria, Temie Giwa-Tubosun founded LifeBank, using technology to deliver blood and oxygen to hospitals, and has saved over 20,000 lives since 2016. From to , African innovators are leading the way in fintech, green tech, and creative sectors.
However, millions of young Africans are at risk of never realizing their potential due to a disease that is preventable and treatable.
Two decades ago, the world came together to combat the AIDS crisis, and it was successful. Twenty-six million lives have been saved, and 8 million babies were born HIV-free. Young people gained access to life-saving medication, and maternal mortality rates declined. Africa’s progress in the fight against HIV/AIDS has been transformative.
On a broader scale, several African nations have made significant strides by setting a precedent for inclusive growth. Consider : once one of the world’s poorest countries with the highest HIV rates, Botswana’s GDP per capita soared from just over $500 in 1966 to over $6,800 by 2018 – one of the . During the same period, rose from 54 to 66, despite the devastating impact of HIV. Botswana even surpassed its targets for ending the HIV/AIDS epidemic four years ahead of schedule.
But the fight is now at a crucial juncture. Research published in The Lancet HIV last month cautioned that planned cuts to international aid by the five largest donor countries could undo 25 years of progress with the stroke of a pen. In the worst-case scenario, we could see an additional 10.8 million HIV infections and 2.9 million more AIDS-related deaths by 2030—levels not seen since the early 2000s.
We are witnessing the human impact of these funding cuts firsthand through our own work. In KwaZulu-Natal, for example, where approximately 1.9 million South Africans are living with HIV, Dalisu, a 20-year-old performing arts student, relied on a PEPFAR-supported community program that offered youth-friendly healthcare. (Name has been changed to protect privacy.) Due to funding cuts that forced the program’s sudden closure, his only option for treatment is now his university clinic. Fear of stigma and discrimination has led him to miss appointments, placing him at risk of viral rebound. Without immediate intervention, Dalisu’s health and future are in jeopardy. Millions of young Africans are now facing similar challenges as essential support programs disappear.
Of course, being HIV-positive does not extinguish ambition. Many talented individuals with access to treatment have built successful careers. But imagine how many more success stories could emerge if fewer young people had to face this challenge in the first place. By continuing to address HIV at its root, we can unlock even greater potential, liberating individuals and communities from the burden it places on their health, education, and economies.
African leaders themselves are dedicated to a clear path toward sustainability and fully funding their healthcare systems, with a focus on essential medicines and delivery methods. Countries like have transitioned away from support for medical supplies, while others, such as and , are filling the gaps created by aid cuts. There are also significant opportunities for collaboration across the continent to invest in local manufacturing and joint procurement of medicines, thereby unlocking the economic potential within the health sector. Enhancing the efficiency, effectiveness, and accountability of treatment delivery, investing in healthcare workers and infrastructure, utilizing advances in technology, and engaging the diaspora to invest in the ecosystem will accelerate this transition to full self-sufficiency.
Young Africans are ready to take the lead. They have demonstrated what is possible when we invest in their health, education, and ideas. Now it is time for all of us—governments, philanthropists, and global citizens—to match that ambition. Our future depends on it.
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