A World Bank reports that Africa’s economic growth will outpace average- a result of higher commodities, increasing investment and a general pick-up in the world economy.

More jobs in Africa can be created if African governments do more to ensure that this growth reduced poverty.

The report said strong economic growth has meant vacancies in Africa and significantly reduced the extent of poverty in Africa over the past decade or so.

Yet, African countries need to do much more too properly harness and unleash their full potential for more growth, much less poverty, and a chance to the youth to build their careers in Africa.

Problem areas

The Bank said that infrastructure development was critical to ensure the strong pace of economic growth – for success of the oil and gas sectors in East Africa, the exploitation of the huge coal deposits in Mozambique, and minerals in West Africa.

Political unrest in Africa and also any sharp unforeseen downturn in demand for commodities from China can be a risk which can dent economic progress, hamper creation of jobs in Africa, increase unemployment and create social unrest.