Minister of Youth, Sport and Child Development Vincent Mwale has called for the provision of entrepreneurship skills and startup capital to youths to create employment and wealth.
This is contained in a statement issued by First Secretary for Press and Public Relations, Permanent Mission of Zambia to the United Nations(UN) Chibaula Silwamba yesterday.
The minister was addressing African youths during the breakout session on “key regional priorities for youth development in Sub-Saharan Africa” during the just-concluded United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) Youth Forum 2016 in New York, USA.
Mr. Mwale urged African Governments to put the young people at the centre of their national development.
The Minister expressed concern about the mismatch between the skills that tertiary education institutions were imparting in students and the requirements of the labour market.
“We have young people that graduate from universities and colleges but do not have the right skills that are required on the market. The education system is kind of misplaced,” Mr. Mwale said. “What is needed is the right education to provide the right skills that are required. One of the best ways to eradicate poverty in Africa will be through the provision of the right skills to our youths.”
Mr. Mwale urged African youths to be innovative and turn the natural resources into finished product.
He said improving the manufacturing industry would reduce Africa’s dependence on imports.
“We have enough resources to produce sufficient goods and services within Africa and provide job opportunities for every young person on the continent,” said Mr. Mwale. “We need young people to engage with the Government.”
The Youth Forum 2016 under the theme: “Youth Taking Action to Implement the 2030 Agenda” attracted over 1000 participants, including 21 Ministers, international organisations’ leaders, UN agencies, civil society leaders and youths from across the globe at UN Headquarters on 1st and 2nd February, to chat the way forward on youths’ participation in the implementation of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
That is a great observation Mr Mwale, now that you have identified the gap of skills mismatch, can you please help bridge that gap by implementing what you have talked about. Youths are an engine to economic growth of every country, therefore, empower them so that they can move this country forward.
Any prudent government worthy its salt would have thought so first. You don’t need the UN to tell you what to do for the youths of your own country.
“We have enough resources to produce sufficient goods and services within Africa and provide job opportunities for every young person on the continent fyonyoo…fyonyoo…fyonyoo,”
so what are you doing about it ??????
These *****s should go. He is calling for youth development skills now when the PF government is clocking 5 years in power this September. The only notable skills they have given to date is through their cadres hacking most opposition members with pangers and machetes. #PFMustGo.
Merely clever talk. We want action. What is your government doing, besides stealing the very money that would have been available as capital for such ventures?
1. is this just rhetoric or what?
2. Wrong audience, should be directed to yourself and the PF govt
3. is he trying to indirectly ask for money which unfortunately would end up in the wrong hands anyway