Africa-Press – Kenya. President William Ruto has said that the African continent should strategically invest in its workforce to grow.
The President said the continent is presented with gifted human capital that can drive its transformation.
He added that Africa must fix itself in a lane that will see the exploitation of skilled, educated and productive manpower to sustainably accelerate the continent’s economic growth.
“We must jointly with other countries and partners design a sound framework that will consciously nurture and invest in human capital that yields high returns. But we will also have a chance to transform our population explosion and youth bulge into a demographic dividend,” he said.
The President said he was convinced that if Africa pursues the right mix and sequence of policies, it will overcome traditional and emerging crises.
Ruto said that it will help position Africa as the young, green continent of the future and the global driver of a new industrial revolution.
He was speaking on Wednesday at the Julius Nyerere International Convention Centre in Dar Es Salaam during the Africa Heads of State Summit on Human Capital.
The theme was “Accelerating Africa’s Economic Growth: Boosting Youth Productivity by Improving Learning and Skills”.
The summit was hosted by the President of Tanzania Samia Suluhu.
It sought to reactivate the timely investments in education and health to drive productivity, stimulate job creation and unlock Africa’s immense untapped economic potential.
Other leaders present included Presidents Lazarus Chakwera (Malawi), Julius Maada (Sierra Leone), Filipe Nyusi (Mozambique), Carlos Vila Nova (São Tomé and Príncipe), Andry Rajoelina (Madagascar), Prime Ministers Gervais Ndirakobuca (Burundi) and Félix Moloua (Central African Republic).
Others were Hamza Abdi Barre (Somalia), Vice Presidents Jessica Rose Epel Alupo (Uganda), Mutale Nalumango (Zambia), and World Bank Regional Vice President for Eastern and Southern Africa Victoria Kwakwa among others.
President Suluhu asked Africa to amplify investments in social services such as education and health to improve productivity.
She said there was a danger of the continent being occupied by the crises it is facing and overlooking investments in key areas such as the workforce.
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