Youth Initiative for Land in Africa (YILAA) wil carry out a study next year to establish youth awareness on their rights to access and own land. The study will be in four countries, Benin, Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Senegal and Tanzania, Mr. Augustine Nyakatoma , the Resident Director of YILAA Tanzania, said. “Had youth known the value of land, they would not leave their villages to migrate to cities where they end up renting tiny rooms,” he observed on the sidelines of the 4th International Youth and Land Governance Conference in Africa (CIGOFA) going on in Arusha. He said at least dollars 200,000 had already been mobilised for the study to begin in Benin and Senegal early next year, while $200,000 was still being sought for the study in DRC and Tanzania. The findings would finally inform an education programme for youth, gauging the rate of awareness among youths on the value and benefits of land use. Mr Nyakatoma was hopeful that the study would go a long way in reducing land ownership-related conflicts, including rampant reports across the continent about some youths killing their parents to “fast track” land and asset inheritance
