President Samia Suluhu Hassan has reaffirmed her commitment to placing young people at the heart of Tanzania’s development agenda, underscoring the government’s resolve to ensure that youth voices shape national policies and economic programmes.
The Minister of State in the President’s Office responsible for Youth Development, Joel Nanauka, said the President deliberately created a standalone ministry for youth affairs to guarantee that young people are not only heard but are actively involved in decision-making processes that drive the country’s development.
Speaking on December 12, 2025, during a working visit to Bahi District in Dodoma Region, the minister told a gathering of youths that the President expects the ministry to serve as a key link between young people and the government by collecting their ideas, concerns and innovations and ensuring they are reflected in national development plans.
He noted that youths account for about 65 per cent of Tanzania’s population, most of them under the age of 35, making their inclusion in development planning both a demographic reality and a strategic necessity.
According to the minister, empowering young people is critical to boosting productivity, creating jobs and sustaining long-term economic growth.
Nanauka also called on local government authorities to consistently implement the 10 per cent youth, women and people with disabilities loan scheme funded through councils’ own-source revenues.
He said the initiative remains a key tool for enabling young people to start and expand businesses, promote self-employment and create job opportunities for fellow youths.
During the visit, the minister provided TZS600,000 to support young entrepreneurs operating at Bahi Market to formally register their businesses and acquire identification documents. He explained that formalisation would help entrepreneurs gain recognition, improve access to credit and strengthen their participation in the formal economy.
Earlier, a young entrepreneur from Bahi Market, Ms Paula Limo, highlighted challenges facing youth-led enterprises, particularly limited access to affordable financing.
In response, the minister assured the entrepreneurs that the government is working to address such barriers by strengthening youth-focused financing mechanisms and improving access to economic opportunities.
The Bahi youth entrepreneurs commended President Samia for what they described as the government’s continued efforts to address citizens’ concerns, especially those affecting young people.
They said recent interventions have increased confidence among youths and encouraged greater participation in economic activities at the community level.
The visit reflects the broader vision of President Samia’s administration to promote inclusive development by recognising young people as key drivers of innovation, entrepreneurship and national progress.