Panellists on the future of work, Africa’s development and the youth have called for the overhaul of Africa’s educational system and integrate entrepreneurship, innovations so as to create sustainable jobs as well to meet current labour market requirements.
They agreed that the current educational system based on certificates and degrees with little or no emphasis on job creation, innovations and skills development does not make the educational system a catalyst for development and sustained growth.
The panellists; Dr Ayodele Odusola, UNDP Resident Representative in Zimbabwe, Dr Joseph Attah-Mensah, Senior Fellow at the African Centre for Economic Transformation and Ms. Tiekie Barnard, Founder and CEO, Shared Value Africa Initiative, South Africa, speaking on the topic “Africa’s youth in the next decade: a catalyst for development or security threat?” were unanimous that the current educational system in Africa must radically change.
Being the third edition of such programme dubbed a fireside discussion, held this year by the Africa Future Leaders Institute of Global Affairs (AFLIGA), provided the opportunity for in-depth analysis of the current educational system in Africa, sustainable job creation, self employment, entrepreneurship and security of the African continent.
Dr Emmanuel Dei-Tumi, Founder and CEO of AFLIGA, moderated in the discussion.
Dr Ayodele Odusola observed that lack of development of the continent stems from inability to explore the potentials of the youth.
He stressed the need for a complete overhaul of the educational system and not based it on the acquisition of degrees and certificates.
He advised that the youth and young graduates must be exposed to entrepreneurship and serious trade as skills.
“We must leverage the capacity of the African youth and graduates for future work and prioritise skills, data management and artificial intelligence and invest heavily in the youth to become assets instead of security threat.”
Dr Ayodele Odusola emphasised that “we need education that is fit for purpose.”
Dr Joseph Attah-Mensah, was of the view that young entrepreneurs should be given incentives to create more employment.
He said such incentives must be based on merit and gender inclusivity adding that government and industry needed to support young entrepreneurs.
Ms. Tiekie Barnard on her part, Sid the current crop of African youth are showing leadership, resilience and innovation.
She said the real threat to the continent is the refusal to invest in the youth, stressing that the current developmental age no longer belongs to degrees and certificates but creative thinking, innovation and adaptability.
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