SWAKOPMUND – The Worldskills Africa competition underway in Swakopmund underlines the critical importance of skills for the transformation of Africa into a powerful continent with attractive economic growth and high returns on investment.
This is the view of professor Mohamed Belhocine, the African Union Commissioner for Education, Science, Technology and Innovation, who was speaking at the opening of the Worldskills Africa competition on Monday.
Teams from nine countries as well as a refugee team are participating in 16 skills, covering six broad industry categories.
About 300 continental and international delegates also participated in the technical and vocational education and training (TVET) conference on Tuesday.
Likewise, 45 local and continental training and industry institutions are participating in the careers’ exhibition.
Belhocine said skills development, especially for the youth, is vital for Africa as the continent is growing at a rapid pace.
“This growing population can be used to develop our youth into a demographic dividend if we strategically invest, empower and change the lives of our young people. We need to skill them so that they are able to participate in the mainstream economic activities of the continent,” he added.
Belhocine said initiatives such as Worldskills Africa could unlock the often untapped potential economic forces and talent of the African youth.
“The continental African Union agenda on inclusive and sustainable development talks about a skills revolution development, underpinned by skills and education,” he noted.
Meanwhile, higher education Minister Itah Kandjii-Murangi acknowledged that Africa is hampered by a scarcity of skilled labour.
“It is also true that our continent continues to face big challenges in expanding access to basic skills training, and to increase employment opportunities and programmes for the growing number of school-leavers. It is a significant challenge because all of this must be achieved while ensuring that education remains equitable, relevant and of good quality,” she said.
Also speaking at the opening, Vice President Nangolo Mbumba said Africa recognises TVET as a crucial vehicle for social equity, inclusion and sustainable development.
“We acknowledge TVET’s potential to contribute to lowered unemployment and poverty alleviation, and we value TVET’s role in enhancing the levels of self-confidence of individuals in becoming productive citizens,” he observed.
According to Mbumba, African governments embraced the responsibility to render the necessary support and assign the required resources by investing in TVET for national socio-economic development and technological progress.
“Investing in TVET is investing in industrialisation and wealth-creation,” he added.
– edeklerk@nepc.com.na