There are days you attend an event and take notes.
Then there are days like this — where you don’t just listen, you feel the room.
The Youth Day at the 14th Africa IGF in Dar es Salaam was exactly that.

This wasn’t just youth being invited to the table, it felt like we were being asked, “How should we build this continent together?”

Throughout the day, we didn’t just hear from youth, we heard from dreamers, doers, and digital warriors. Voices from all corners of Africa spoke honestly about what it means to be a young person navigating a digital space that wasn’t always built for us.

Here’s what stood out:

Key Takeaways That Deserve Global Attention

1. Youth inclusion must go beyond tokenism.

We’re tired of being the last speaker on the agenda or the face on the flyer. We want structure — youth councils, advisory seats, funded participation — and most importantly, influence.

2. Digital identity should mean access, not exclusion.

A recurring theme was this: if digital IDs are rolled out without care, they’ll become digital walls instead of bridges. Youth want IDs that work across borders, protect our data, and include everyone — especially the underserved.

3. Online content moderation must balance freedom and safety.

Many of us have experienced either being silenced or overwhelmed by harmful content. We want platforms and governments to protect users – but not at the expense of our voices or our activism.

4. Data protection isn’t a privilege — it’s a right.

There was frustration about how loosely data is handled in many African countries. We called for stronger legislation, transparency, and accountability — especially when states partner with private tech companies.

5. The digital divide is still very real.

Access, especially in rural and low-income areas, remains a major challenge. And even when youth are online, lack of skills or awareness keeps many from using the internet for education, innovation, or employment.

What We’re Asking of the Global IGF

We want more than applause – we want commitments.

Fund youth-led internet governance labs across Africa.

Create policy pipelines that bring youth ideas into real action.

Hold digital ID frameworks to a standard of inclusion and rights.

Respect the diversity of youth – from gender to ability to language.

Let young people shape the system, not just join it.

✨ Final Reflection
The Africa IGF Youth Day reminded me that the future of this continent isn’t coming — it’s already here, in our hands.
We have the ideas, the courage, and the connection. Now, we just need the space and support to do what we do best: build something better.

This wasn’t just a forum. It was a moment, and we’re running with it.