3 Reasons African Youths Should Learn Technological Skills

As the world develops every day, the reliance on technology to solve problems and carry out activities increases.?

Technological skills, also known as technical skills are the specialized knowledge and expertise required to perform specific tasks and use specific tools and programs in real-world situations.?

The demand for digital and technological skills is increasing, and Africa needs to think big about digital development to avoid technology literacy and digital backwardness. A study by the International Finance Corporation (IFC) shows that by 2030, about 230 million jobs across the continent will require some level of digital skills. If Africa utilizes digital technologies, it will lead to unlocking new pathways for rapid economic growth, innovation, job creation, and access to services.

In this article, I will be showing you 3 reasons why African youths should learn technological skills.

• It makes them employable: The rate of unemployment in African countries is high. Learning a technological skill will help African youths to get jobs anywhere because we live in an increasingly digital world.

A shortage of skilled talent in Africa is one of the most important challenges faced by tech companies working in the continent. According to Coline Dimbour, EU Affairs Advisor at Orange — one of the world’s largest telecommunications operators, which is currently present in 18 countries in Africa and the Middle East. “For our business, we need specialists in specific services like data analytics and machine learning, which are difficult to recruit in many African countries,” she said.

There are so many job opportunities in the tech space and African youths are backward technologically. There is a need to support and encourage them to maximize this opportunity by upskilling, to remain employable.

• It will bring business growth and development in Africa: With the shift in economic markets, from a local to a global arena, technological skills are very important for African businesses in order not to be left behind. This will help African businesses to develop brand visibility and build a global audience. It will also help them to compete with other brands in the world, boost customer satisfaction, and bring excellent and speedy delivery to target objectives and goals.

Agribusiness managers, for instance, will need to use financial software to track income and expenses. Office workers will need to use innovative software programs to make online presentations. Tourism operators will also use digital marketing tools that can grow their businesses and lots more. For instance, in the healthcare sector, you will notice that one major challenge is the provision of medical facilities in remote parts of African countries. But with access to mobile devices and applications, doctors can through telemedicine, have contact with people in remote places and have patients attend clinics virtually, and that is the power of digital transformation. These will help to bring development and growth to businesses in Africa.

• It will boost Africa's economy: Technological skill is the lever that Africans can use to catch up with the rest of the world. Africa’s GDP is plus or minus 3 percent of the global GDP, so our economy in Africa is still small. It has been projected that by 2050, 40 percent of the world’s youth is going to come from Africa, and this will be the demographic dividend of Africa. The truth is if jobs are not created for these youths, they will become a social time bomb that is waiting to explode.?

The beauty of digital skills is that if the youths are equipped with them, they will not only have the opportunity to work with the skills in Africa but can have the opportunity to work anywhere in the world and be paid in foreign currency. So with that, Africa can export skills to foreign countries. Also, Africa has a responsibility to train its youths in digital skills and help them to take advantage of the available digital skill jobs to contribute to the global economy. This will boost Africa's economy greatly.

In conclusion, African youths are the demographic dividend of Africa, and learning technological skills will enable the continent to compete in the global economy for digital opportunities, reduce unemployment, and bring business growth and development.