President of the African Development Bank (AfDB), Akinwumi Adesina, has criticized African commercial banks for failing to support youth entrepreneurship. Speaking on Channels TV, Adesina said the financial system is structurally designed to exclude young people, making it nearly impossible for them to access capital.
“You walk into the bank at 21, and all they see is risk. They ask for land, property, or 40 years of tax records. But you’re only 21,” he remarked, highlighting the unrealistic loan requirements.
Adesina called the system “ill-equipped” to meet the needs of Africa’s 465 million young people, blaming it for pushing talent abroad in search of better opportunities. He dismissed tokenistic youth programs, insisting the real need is access to capital, not handouts. “They need capital. They need you to put your money at risk on their behalf,” he said.
He urged banks to overhaul risk models and invest in youth-led businesses to unlock Africa’s greatest asset—its people.
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