Get to know us.

YANGG is a pan-African youth-led organization comprising 17 member countries. The organization comprises vibrant African youths who are zealous and passionate about contributing to the development of their society through the actualization of the Sustainable Development Goals, business development/entrepreneurship, and leadership development.

YANGG stands as a network that unites rising future pioneers attempting to make a change to create better systems in Africa through the realization of the global goals.

Member countries include: Nigeria, Senegal, Kenya, Togo, Morocco, Sierra Leone, Uganda, Burundi, Namibia, Lesotho, Benin Rep, DR Congo, Cameroon, Gambia, Zambia, and Botswana.

In 2018, a young man named Collins Ibeawuchi was selected to represent Nigeria at a Model United Nations (MUN) Conference held in Malaysia. During the preparatory phase of this international engagement, he observed a remarkable trend: there was a significant number of African delegates expected to participate in the event. This realization sparked a deep sense of purpose in him.

Seizing the opportunity, he created a podcast through the platform provided by the organizers, facilitating travel to Malaysia. In this podcast, he extended an open call to all African delegates who would be attending the conference, asking them to respond if they were interested in collaborating on an initiative that focused on African development and sustainability.

Within just 10 to 15 minutes, he received over 100 responses from passionate young Africans across the continent. These young leaders expressed interest in connecting, sharing ideas, and working together to shape a unified message for inclusion growth within Africa.

Recognizing the potential of this collective energy, he proposed that, rather than only discussing Africa’s challenges, such as poor education, hunger, climate change, and gender inequality, on a foreign stage, African youths should also come together to proactively design solutions tailored to unique realities. More importantly, he proposed that the team should explore the idea of hosting a Model United Nations conference on African soil, led by Africans, for Africa.

This conversation marked the genesis of what would later become the Young Africans Network for Global Growth (YANGG). Through his leadership, the team began as a coalition of individuals from different African countries, united by a shared vision: to leverage grassroots, localized strategies in advancing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) across the continent.

During the early meetings, the team agreed on the need for a formal identity. After multiple suggestions, the name “Young Africans” emerged, and one of the founding members proposed expanding it to reflect our pan-African, collaborative nature. This led to the full name: Young Africans Network for Global Growth.

From there, YANGG began the foundational work, drafting governance structures, setting communication protocols, and defining strategic priorities that would ensure sustainable collaboration among young changemakers from different backgrounds.

Collins Ibeawuchi took the lead in coordinating the network’s initial activities, gathering young minds across the continent to co-create a new narrative for African development. Since its inception, YANGG has grown to include members from countries including Senegal, The Gambia, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Togo, Mali, Burundi, Botswana, Lesotho, Ghana, South Africa, Uganda, and others.

YANGG’s journey continues, grounded in a collective belief that local approaches can solve global challenges and that young Africans are not just the leaders of tomorrow; they are the changemakers of today.

We are guided by these values.

• Strategic Partnership: Just as no ocean exists without the merging of rivers and seas, we believe in the power of collaboration. YANGG is committed to partnering with organizations that share our dream of making Africa the Tree of Life.
• Integrity: Integrity is the foundation of humanity. We uphold the belief that every individual deserves dignity and respect. For Africa to thrive in peace, we must protect and promote human integrity above all else.
• Innovation: To transform Africa into a shining jewel, we must unlock the creativity of our youth. YANGG inspires young Africans to think boldly, create freely, and lead with innovation.
• Pan-Africanism: We carry the torch of visionary leaders like the late President Muammar Gaddafi, advocating for a united Africa, one where race, gender, religion, and color are never barriers to unity.
• Inclusivity: We want to make our continent hospitable to both the rich and the poor, black and white, young and old, strong and weak, and, most importantly, the impaired.
• Team work: As our people say, “one hand can never tie a bundle.” YANGG fosters a culture of teamwork among African youth, encouraging them to unite, collaborate, and solve challenges together.