INVEST IN TVET TO REDUCE YOUTH UNEMPLOYMENT - ING ANTWI - BOSIAKO URGES AFRICAN LEADERS

From Emmanuel ADU GYAMFI

African Leaders must invest in Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) to reduce youth unemployment, Ing Peter Antwi Bosiako, the Deputy Director - General, Commission for Technical and Vocational Education and Training (CTVET), has said.

He noted that the only way to reduce the youth unemployment situation across the African countries is for the Leaders to invest significantly in TVET to up - skill the youth with technology - driven entrepreneurial and industry - led skills. 

Ing Antwi Bosiako implored African Leaders to take the advantage TVET offers to help the youth gain some employable skills and entrepreneurial trades to create self - employment opportunities without waiting to be put on government payroll.

“No government can create jobs for all of its citizens, however, in collaboration with the private businesses and individual entrepreneurs, jobs can be created for all” he stressed.

The Deputy Director - General stated these at the Africa Tech Challenge (ATC) Awards 2023 held in Nairobi, Kenya.

It was jointly organised by the Ministry of Education of Kenya, AVIC International Holding Corporation, and China Education Association for International Exchange (CAIE). 

The event was under the auspices of CSR Youth Empowerment project, which aims at enhancing the technical skills of students pursuing technical programmes in Africa, as well as cultivating the spirit of entrepreneurship as a way of encouraging innovation amongst the youth in Africa.

The Africa Tech Challenge competition had two components: the Computer Numerical Control (CNC) Lathe Machining component which was held on - site in Kenya, and the Mechanical Drawing & Computer Aided Design Software Applications component which was also held virtually.

The competition started on 24th July 2023, and lasted for five weeks, with 83 teams formed by 332 participants from Nine African countries - Egypt, Côte d’Ivoire, Kenya, Ghana, Zimbabwe, Gabon, Tanzania, Uganda, and Zambia. 

The Special Keynote Speaker was the Vice President of Kenya, H.E Geoffrey Rigathi Gachagua. In his remarks, he acknowledged the importance of equipping the youth with quality employable training and practical - oriented demand -driven skills.

H.E Rigathi Gachagua indicated that TVET will position the youth to be financially independent and resourceful after receiving training to support the national economic development. 

He stated that, “gone are the days when we used to say, the youths are the future leaders. Today, the youths are not only the future leaders but are the drivers to our future, because of the rapid changes in technology and innovation.

Ing Peter Antwi - Bosiako attended another event (Kenyan National World Skills Competition), which also occurred in Nairo

bi during the same period.