President Obama touted the power of entrepreneurship Saturday during a speech before the Global Entrepreneurship Summit in Kenya, where he is conducting his first presidential visit to the country.

"Entrepreneurship offers a positive alternative to the ideologies of violence and division that can all too often fill the void when young people don't see a future for themselves," Obama said.

The president noted "Africa is on the move" and that it is "one of the fastest-growing regions in the world," according to Reuters.

Although China has overtaken the U.S. as the continent's biggest trading partner, Obama pushed the Kenyan government to do more to protect businesspeople from corruption.

He said the government should encourage the rule of law and fight against corruption to encourage more businesses to overcome the most common hurdles to entrepreneurship in the country.

The president also announced a new U.S. commitment to boost business in sub-Saharan Africa.

The assistance includes millions of dollars in loans and initiatives from the State Department, U.S. Agency for International Development and Overseas Private Investment Corporation.

One of Obama's largest outreach efforts in Africa — a 2013 initiative aimed at increasing the continent's access to electricity — has potentially enabled 4 million people to connect to the grid.