By Emmanuel Onyango, DAR ES
SALAAM Tanzania
African leaders gathered in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania last week agreed on a seven-point declaration that could chart the future of youth contribution to development.
The Human Capital Development
Summit was about gaps in employment opportunities, especially for those coming
out of school.
It brought together more than a dozen leaders and development partners from
across the continent.
According to a declaration
read by Tanzania President Samia Suluhu on Wednesday, all leaders agreed that
human capital development was critical for achieving sustainable and inclusive
growth in Africa.
“Investment in human beings
through quality education, healthcare, nutrition, job creation and skills
development are necessary for improved social and economic outcomes,” President
Samia said.
However, massive effort and
coordinated financing is needed to strengthen the quantity, efficiency and
impact of investment in people.
The declaration borrows heavily from the UN Sustainable Development Goals and
African Union’s Agenda 2063.
“Challenges that are impeding
youth productivity including low access to quality education and skilled
development, high adolescent’s fertility, drugs and substance abuse and child
marriages”, said Malawi President Lazarus Chakwera.
“We have to make sure that
education and skills development, science, technology and innovation health and
nutrition are central area to focus on.”
Malawi’s 2018 population
census showed as many as eight in ten people, in a population of 17 million,
were aged 35 or below.
Mozambique President Filipe
Nyusi said his government was taking steps to improve the number of women in
the labour force through compulsory basic education and practical training.
“If we invest in human capital
and believe in gender equality, we will be able to overcome many challenges
that face us,” he said.
Kenya President William Ruto called for collaboration.
“We have a chance to transform
our population explosion and youth bulge into a demographic dividend,” he said.
The Kenyan president Africa
was a green continent of the future where its young people are the global
driver of a new industrial revolution.
The São Tomé and Príncipe President Mr Carlos Vila Nova, said half of his
country’s population is aged under 35 years, something he said may be good or
bad.
“If the youth workforce is not
used well, it will become a problem, so what we need is to implement strategic
policies that will enable us to benefit from the dividend of human capital,” he
argued.
Sierra Leone president Mr
Julius Maada Bio they have launched deliberate policy to ensure parents send
girls to school.
“And they have been doing well
in classes than boys. On average, out of 12 students who pass exams, eight are
female students,” he said.
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