Jabu Mtwa, one of the International Olympic Committee’s (IOC) 2023–2026 Young Leaders, is rewriting the narrative for African youth through sport. A native of Johannesburg, South Africa, Mtwa is turning the continent’s booming sports industry into a catalyst for change, tackling youth unemployment and transforming lives — one goal, one game, one young person at a time.
At just 20, Mtwa co-founded a local football club where he quickly realised that for many of his peers, the pitch was more than a pastime — it was a refuge from joblessness, poverty, and hopelessness. “They had nowhere else to be,” Mtwa recalls. “Sport was their only escape.” This eye-opening reality inspired him to dig deeper into how sport could serve as a vehicle for economic empowerment, and thus, the Ithuba Lethu Sports Hub was born.
Launched in March 2025, the Ithuba Lethu Sports Hub (meaning “Our Chance” in Zulu) is more than just a sports initiative — it’s a movement. Designed as a non-profit, the Hub educates, trains, and connects young Africans to real career opportunities in the sports sector — from marketing and event management to personal branding and media. Over 60 participants joined its debut workshops on sports careers and personal development, setting the tone for a future where African youth are not just spectators, but power players in the sports industry.
“Our vision is simple,” says Mtwa. “We aim to empower Africa’s next generation by unlocking career pathways in sport — on and off the field.”
With youth unemployment rates soaring across Africa — despite it being the youngest and fastest-growing continent — Mtwa believes sport is a natural equaliser. “Sport transcends barriers. It creates unity, teaches discipline, and opens doors to industries that many young people don’t even know exist,” he says.
Supported by the IOC Young Leaders Programme, which equips young changemakers with funding, mentorship and global exposure, Mtwa has partnered with institutions like the Nova Pioneer Education Group to expand the Hub’s reach. His long-term vision is to build a continent-wide platform that scales sport-driven development and solidifies Africa’s place in the global sports economy.
Mtwa’s work contributes to Olympism365, the IOC’s strategic initiative to use sport as a lever for sustainable development and progress. As part of this global effort, he will represent Africa at the Olympism365 Summit: Sport for a Better World, taking place in Lausanne, Switzerland this June. The Summit will bring together voices from the Olympic Movement, the United Nations, civil society and the private sector to explore how sport can further the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
“In this age of economic uncertainty and digital disruption, sport remains one of the most powerful languages for development,” Mtwa says. “It’s not just about games — it’s about growth, guidance and giving hope.”
For Africa’s youth, the game is changing — and thanks to visionaries like Jabu Mtwa, the future is looking bold, beautiful, and full of promise.
