Gabon: Students have faith in a better future through new leaders
On his arrival in power the new president of the transition Brice Oligui N’guema had announced several reforms in favor of the poorest and the young, especially in education and higher education.
Although some students are still in doubt, many remain optimistic. Aware that not everything can be done in one day, they already believe in a better future. They are already hopeful that one day their country will have student housing and several universities, as classrooms and lecture halls are crowded most of the time.
Relying on the president’s requirement of transition students also hope to get a job once out of university. «The future prospects were very limited because there are not many opportunities at the end of the studies, the students were left to themselves, Now with the new institutions, we can dream better and think that we will be a saved youth compared to others» said 24-year-old economics student Marcus Mouloud.
Gabon, the third richest country in Africa per capita, but one inhabitant in three lives below the poverty line (less than 2 euros per day), the unemployment rate is one of the highest on the continent: 20% of the working population and a third of the under-25s.
The project for the president of the transition is very broad. Tackling poor governance, corruption and youth employment remain challenges.
African youth have always relied on their leaders to disappoint them once they cling to power. Oliigui N’guema is one of the new leaders on whom the Gabonese youth counts to change things, so he is urged to respect his promises, because the opposite is often a source of discontent that leads to disastrous consequences.
