Johannesburg, South Africa
The Youth Empowerment and Inclusivity Summit 2025 was held in Johannesburg this week, offering a bold reimagination of Africa’s youth development agenda.
By Nthabi NEO Lesufi, Journalist
AfricaHeadline.com
Organised by the Be the Best Version of Yourself Foundation and hosted at Regent Business School in Auckland Park, the event gathered young leaders, corporate stakeholders, community voices and changemakers from across the continent during South Africa’s Youth Month.
The summit was spearheaded by Nolan Pillay, Amazon No.1 bestselling author of The Millennial Success Code, and founder of the Be the Best Version of Yourself Foundation. In his opening address, Pillay called for a new mindset, driven not by charity or tokenism, but by opportunity, resilience and shared vision.
In a defining moment, the summit integrated members of the blind community into the mainstream youth dialogue for the first time through a new partnership with Blind South Africa. Pillay announced a groundbreaking initiative for 2026: a guided climb of Mount Kilimanjaro by five blind participants.
“They may not be able to see the mountain,” he said, “but they will feel the air, hear the silence, and visualise the summit. That is what true vision looks like.”
Launch of Project 1 Million
Among the summit’s key highlights was the launch of Project 1 Million, a flagship initiative designed to equip one million young Africans with the tools to lead in a modern economy. The 12-week programme combines mindset coaching, skills development and real-world placement, aiming to transform beneficiaries from job seekers into job creators.
“We’re not here to hand out fish. We are here to teach how to fish, feed communities and create lasting change,” said Pillay.
Challenging Perspectives, Changing Futures
The summit featured a series of powerful panel discussions and keynote interventions. Jonas Ndlovu urged participants to take personal responsibility for their transformation.
“If you can’t help yourself, others will struggle to help you. Before anyone lifts you up, you must release what’s weighing you down,” he said.
Youth Ambassador Keneilwe Setshedi delivered a message that resonated deeply with the audience.
“Stop chasing external validation—it will break you. Our power lies in knowing our worth. We must stop living through someone else’s expectations.”
The closing address by Meshen Moodley, Head of Transformation and Diversity at the Amrut Foundation, brought the summit to its emotional peak.
“This is not a time to celebrate potential alone. It is a time to confront injustice, create new pathways, and refuse to inherit a future we did not choose. The spirit of 1976 lives on in each of you.”
Expanding the Frontiers of Inclusion
Further expanding its impact, the Foundation announced a new collaboration with Colors of Bliss, a Durban-based organisation advocating for autistic youth. This partnership forms part of a wider commitment to dismantling systemic exclusion and providing platforms for all African youth, regardless of ability or background.
From start to finish, the Youth Empowerment and Inclusivity Summit 2025 delivered more than rhetoric. It provided frameworks, commitments and a vision for a new generation determined to lead, innovate and leave no one behind.
