The African Union called for a major overhaul of education and vocational training, as Zimbabwean President Emmerson Mnangagwa opened Africa Skills Week in Harare on Monday. He highlighted the challenges in creating jobs for millions of young people entering the continent’s workforce.
Footage shows Mnangagwa arriving at the conference venue, singing the national anthem and addressing delegates gathered beneath African Union and national flags.
“Our country treasures this honour accorded to us by the African Union to host this flagship programme,” Mnangagwa said. “We are a nation that strongly believes that human capital development and the power of practical knowledge are key ingredients to building our respective countries.”
African Union Commissioner for Education, Science, Technology and Innovation Gaspard Banyankimbona highlighted the continent’s growing youth workforce.
“Every year, over 12 million young Africans enter the labour market, bringing fresh energy, creativity and immense potential. While the formal economy currently absorbs only three million of these young talents, this represents our greatest opportunity for innovation, entrepreneurship and the creation of new high-value industries,” he said.
Mnangagwa also urged African governments to move beyond traditional classroom education towards skills that would support industrial development.
“A decisive paradigm shift is urgent so that we transition from the culture of mere acquisition of theoretical education,” he said.
Banyankimbona also highlighted Africa’s share of less than one per cent of foreign direct investment in advanced technologies, including robotics and artificial intelligence.
“By proactively retooling our workforce and building our own technological ecosystems, we shall be able to position our youth to be global innovation leaders,” he said.
The third edition of the Africa Skills Week runs from October 12 to 16 at the Harare International Conference Centre, bringing together policymakers, educators and industry representatives to discuss vocational training, digital transformation and employment opportunities across the continent.
Source: Viory
