A Professor of Regional Economic Integration and Law in Africa and Fellow of the Hubert Humphrey Programme, USA, Muhammed Ladan, has called on African leaders, policymakers and religious institutions to urgently address the complex relationship between law, religion and youth development to secure the continent’s future.
Speaking at a three-day International Conference on Law, Religion and Youth in Africa held in Kigali, Prof. Ladan described the conference theme as “existential, developmental and profoundly transformational,” stressing that Africa’s progress depends largely on how effectively it empowers its growing youth population.
“It is both a privilege and a profound honour to deliver this Special Address at this important International Conference on Consortium for Law and Religion Studies in the beautiful city of Kigali, Republic of Rwanda,” he said.
Professor Ladan commended the organisers for what he termed the “aptness, timeliness and strategic relevance” of the conference theme, noting that Africa currently stands at a critical crossroads shaped by demographic transformation, technological disruption, religious dynamism, security challenges and increasing demands for social justice.
According to him, Africa remains the youngest continent globally, with more than 70 per cent of its population below the age of 35 and over 60 per cent under 25 years, making the continent’s youth both a major opportunity and a potential risk if not properly engaged.
He noted that the future of governance, constitutional democracy, peace, religious coexistence, innovation and economic development across Africa would depend significantly on how societies empower young people.
The legal scholar described African youths as active agents of transformation rather than passive observers, citing their growing roles in promoting religious tolerance, defending human rights and strengthening democratic accountability across the continent.
“From interfaith dialogue initiatives in West Africa, to youth-led peacebuilding networks in the Horn of Africa, to digital civic advocacy movements in Southern and Eastern Africa, African youths are demonstrating remarkable resilience, creativity and leadership,” he stated.
Professor Ladan, however, warned that millions of African youths continue to face exclusion, unemployment, poverty, trafficking, forced migration, cybercrime exploitation, drug abuse and recruitment by extremist groups.
Highlighting six major structural challenges affecting law, religion and youth relations in Africa, Ladan identified weak implementation of constitutional protections, corruption, political instability, poverty, inequality and limited access to quality education as major obstacles confronting the continent.
He pointed to emerging innovations, including youth-led peacebuilding initiatives, interfaith dialogue platforms, civic technology movements, legal aid programmes and restorative justice mechanisms as encouraging signs of progress.
Professor Ladan called for a holistic, inclusive and rights-based approach to addressing youth-related challenges, urging African governments to strengthen constitutionalism and judicial independence while investing more in education, digital literacy and skills acquisition.
He also challenged religious leaders to deepen interfaith dialogue, promote tolerance and reject hate speech, extremism and the manipulation of religion for violence.
He concluded by urging African leaders to place young people at the centre of governance and development efforts.
“History will judge our generation not merely by the laws we enact or the conferences we organise, but by whether we succeed in building an Africa where young people can live in dignity, practice their faith freely, access justice equally and realise their full human potential,” he said.
“The future Africa we envision must be an Africa where law serves justice, religion promotes peace, and youth drive sustainable development.”
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