The Youth+ Festival is set to return for its second edition on February 28 to March 1, 2025. The festival which will take place at the Sarit Expo Centre will bring together 4,500 ambitious young entrepreneurs and professionals for two days of knowledge-sharing, mentorship, and skills development.
Under the theme ‘Live Your Legacy,’ the festival will empower Kenya’s brightest through insightful keynote speeches, dynamic panel discussions, and, for the first time, 24 curated festival villages focused on industry-specific skills.
(TOP: Content Creator Abel Mutua, Podcaster Adelle Onyango, and Youtuber and musician Ben Cyco, at the 2024 Youth Plus Festival).
A key highlight of this year’s festival is Vusi Thembekwayo, the internationally acclaimed entrepreneur and speaker, who will deliver a keynote on Day 2. Additionally, attendees will have access to 24 festival villages, the breakout sessions are designed to hone practical skills across sectors such as Financial Wellness, E-commerce, Digital & Influencer Marketing, Tech & Innovation, and Climate & Sustainability. These villages will be led by industry experts, ensuring real-world insights and market relevance for the participants.
“At Youth+, we believe that Kenya’s youth are not just the leaders of tomorrow, but the changemakers of today. By equipping them with the right skills, mentorship, and market access, we are redefining opportunities for young entrepreneurs to build sustainable careers and businesses. This festival is a movement that fosters passion, profession, and generational impact,” said Freddy Mulli, CEO of Youth+ Africa.
Some influential figures such as Ivy Wanjiru (Founder, JustIvy Africa), Tonee Ndungu (AI Thought Leader), Waceke Nduati (founder, Centonomy), Terry Muikamba (Media Strategist), Phil Karanja (CEO, Philit TV), and Melanie Keita Mariam (CEO and co-founder, Melanin Kapital Neobank) will also grace the event.
With such industry leaders sharing insights and mentorship, the festival presents an unparalleled opportunity for young Kenyans to turn passion into profession and build a lasting legacy.
The inaugural 2023 Youth+ Festival attracted 1,480 young entrepreneurs and featured 15 innovators showcasing innovative ideas and technologies. The festival was launched in response to Kenya’s rising youth unemployment rate, currently at 67%, as a proactive initiative to equip young people with the skills, knowledge, and networks needed to drive economic growth.
Building on this momentum, the second edition will provide even greater access to mentorship, apprenticeship programs, market linkages, financing opportunities, and policy advocacy – critical components not only for youth employment but also for the sustainability of Kenya’s 7.4 million MSMEs, many of which struggle to survive beyond two years.
Youth+ Africa aims to bridge the gap between youth potential and economic opportunity by focusing on entrepreneurship, skills development, and industry-driven networking.
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