Young People as social actors: Empowering youth to address bad governance and corruption and corruption in Africa

Abstract

Social change could be defined as the process of shifting attitudes, values, and actions to address social problems in a positive way. Today's youth have both the power and the potential to change the world positively. Social change led by young people have proven to have a lasting impact (Andy&Canmel2006). Conventionally, the youth in Africa have been asked to keep away from politics and governance. It is, however, the case that good governance and the fight against corruption are realistic with youth empowerment. Deo1ographically, Africa is the most youthful continent: it has more children and young people than any other continent in the world. This chapter focuses on how we can empower young people in the fight against corruption and bad governance in Africa. The chapter argues that young people, if properly empowered, will play a central role in combating the threats and challenges posed by bad governance and corruption in most African countries. It further argues for the role of the youth in nation-building as a crucial element to good governance and a corruption-free society. Young people have been proven to be problem solvers, to have a positive influence on their peers and the nation, and are extremely ambitious. They have the ability to create an identity for themselves and move the nation forward. However, one thing is still missing: proper empowerment that will propel them to become the social actors they ought to be in the fight against corruption and bad governance