YOTA joined the world to commemorate International Youth Day 2025 with a dynamic youth-led engagement that unpacked the complex realities of digital inequality and digital power. The virtual conversation, held on X Space and moderated by Lyzianah Emakoua, brought together young voices from across Africa to reflect on how access to digital tools and spaces determines who has influence at the global table.
Youth Climate Leader Dawda Cham shared first-hand experiences of the obstacles facing young people in the Global South. He highlighted how limited digital access continues to hold many back from engaging meaningfully in multilateral processes and influencing decisions that shape policy and governance. He also reflected on the Africa Youth Partnership initiative, implemented by YOTA, and how it has helped shine a light on these pressing issues while amplifying youth voices on the global stage.
The discussion further examined the question: Does the high cost of data keep young people from participating in global dialogue and cooperation? In her intervention, Baliqees Salaudeen-Ibrahim, CEO and Co-Founder of Green Republic Farms, explained how expensive data services often prevent young people from accessing critical platforms for dialogue and collaboration, widening the digital gap between Africa and other regions.
Looking forward, the conversation turned to the role of young people in closing the digital divide. John Lipoyema Takora, Vice President of the Voices of Youth Coalition – Damongo, encouraged young people in the Global South to see themselves as part of the solution. He urged them to “light their candles” by using creativity, resilience, and collective action to turn disadvantages into opportunities for impact.
This year’s commemoration underscored the urgent need to address structural barriers to digital access and to ensure that young people everywhere are able to participate meaningfully in shaping global cooperation. YOTA remains committed to creating inclusive platforms that place youth voices at the centre of transformative change.
