Shadrack Nyakoe
Tourism and Wildlife Cabinet Secretary Rebecca Miano, has urged African governments to invest deliberately in equipping their young people with practical skills, innovation, and entrepreneurship opportunities, describing the youth as the continent’s greatest demographic dividend.
Speaking during the World Bank Education Global Practice Skills for Jobs Africa Policy Academy in Nairobi, Miano stressed that Africa cannot afford to underutilize its youthful population at a time when global economies are driven by creativity, technology, and problem-solving.
“The implementation of the Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC) in Kenya is a deliberate step to ensure every young person is empowered with critical thinking, creativity, and problem-solving skills that the modern economy demands,” she said.
The Cabinet Secretary added that the Academy was more than just a forum, calling it “a continental strategy” to align education with market demands, bridge the gap between learning and employment, and foster entrepreneurship across Africa.
“We can only secure the future of our continent through deliberate investment in the skills of our youth. Education must lead directly to jobs, enterprise creation, and sustainable livelihoods,” she emphasized.
Miano also extended a warm invitation to her fellow African ministers attending the Academy to experience the magic of Kenya, highlighting the country’s role as a hub of innovation, culture, and youth empowerment.
The Skills for Jobs Africa Policy Academy has brought together policymakers, development partners, and education stakeholders to design strategies that ensure Africa’s youthful population becomes a powerful driver of economic growth and transformation.
