DAR ES SALAAM, Sept. 10 -- Leadership is not something that should begin when a young person finally reaches a position of authority. It is a skill that can be nurtured much earlier through education, mentorship, participation and opportunities to make decisions. For Tanzania, investing in youth leadership is particularly important because the country has a remarkably young population.

According to the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), people aged between 15 and 35 accounted for more than 20.6 million people, or 34.4 per cent of Tanzanias population, according to the 2022 Population and Housing Census.

UNFPA describes this youthful population as an opportunity for Tanzania to achieve a demographic dividend, provided the right inve...