By E K Bensah Jr.
It is a month to the week when an UNECA meeting, with specific focus on Ghana’s readiness for AU’s Freedom of Movement Protocol (FMP), was held in Accra, revealing that Ghana urgently needed a skills audit as part of its readiness for FMP. It was revealed, also, that West African migrants from the ECOWAS region were contributing to the Ghanaian economy, but Ghana needed to urgently-identify what skills were missing from the Ghanaian workforce that could be complemented by migrant ones. Additionally, what skills could be exported to the sub-region and beyond.
With respect to skills portability, the report uncovered that Ghana has yet to adopt a comprehensive national qualifications framework, although a framework for TVET has been developed.
In order to address these issues, the report recommended that Ghana ratify the AU FMP Protocol, given its infrastructure-readiness, and conduct a skills audit to assess existing and needed skills. It also accentuated the need for stronger stakeholder collaboration and coordination, as well as cross-border mutual recognition of skills in both the formal and informal sectors.
While acknowledging the challenges, participants also pointed to key achievements that could be leveraged towards facilitating the implementation of the AU FMP Protocol in Ghana. Participants noted that Ghana’s implementation of TVET was an important step towards addressing the skills gap.
Of critical importance was the highlighting of the role of the Commission for Technical Education and Training as the regulatory body for educational institutions and agencies and the Ghana TVET’s role in aligning research with industry and business needs.
*Enter the Afrocrat*
A week earlier, specifically on AU day, the AU agency responsible for promoting and implementing the Africa Mining Vision, the AMDC, held a side event in Namibia promoting the concept of an Afrocrat.
As per the AMDC, an Afrocrat is supposed to be a professional bureaucrat who holds a significant position of authority, and plays a role in decision-making processes; policy-formulation aimed at sustainable extraction and development of mineral resources in Africa.
This same agency has launched a curriculum for gemstone exporters following a week-long meeting in Lagos, Nigeria under the Africa Gemstone & Jewellery Conference (AGJEC).
Following the announcement of the launch of the *African Gemmological and Jewellery Curriculum (AGJC)* committee at AGJEC-Lagos, Interim Director of the AMDC, Dr Marit Kitaw, accentuated the import of this initiative as a crucial pathway for Africa. “This initiative ensures that the goals of AGJEC are achieved from the grassroots level, through an African-tailored education in gems and jewellery, in alignment with the 2024 African Union Theme: Educating and Skilling Africa for the 21st Century” she said.
She underscored that, in line with AMDC’s mandate to implement the African Mining Vision (AMV), the center is committed to empowering women in mining through its gemology and jewelry skills initiative. This program provides women with the knowledge and skills to add value to their gemstones, improving their ability to access international markets.
*Africa Skills Week*
Fast-forward to the week of 14th October, when the maiden edition of the African Skills Week had commenced.
As ASW drew to a resounding close, one could not help but wonder whether the week had helped trigger a revolution beyond one’s expectations.
Although the multiplicity of side events alone had been instructive, there’s no gainsaying the critical and ancillary role AU Development Agency – NEPAD (AUDA-NEPAD) has played in mobilizing minds and conversations around a skills revolution.
In one foul swoop, it almost seemed like the Universe had conspired to remind Africa and the world about the preponderance of paying greater attention to skills, and its alignment to industry and jobs.
For AUDA-NEPAD’s Dr Symerre Grey-Johnson, Director of Human Capital and Institutional Development, “‘Educating an African Fit for the 21st Century’—captures a vision close to our hearts.” Speaking on Day 1 of ASW on a panel, he maintained “At AUDA-NEPAD, we believe TVET is key to tackling youth unemployment & underemployment.”
He continued “by equipping young people with practical skills in agriculture, manufacturing, tech, and renewable energy, we empower them to shape Africa’s future. This isn’t just personal growth—it’s an investment in sustainable development across the continent.”
Grey-Johnson stated this while accentuating the importance of “closing the skills gap & improving our occupational standards framework”
For his part, he explained that the continent needs “more investment in skills—and more skills to maximize every investment.”
*African Skills Revolution*
Another highlight from ASW for AUDA-NEPAD was the appropriately-named African Skills Revolution Competition.
Organized by AUDA-NEPAD and Humana People to People, while showcasing the transformative impact of Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) on Africa’s socioeconomic growth, they announced its winners.
From seven countries, the competition revealed ten young entrepreneurs who took home the top honors, demonstrating exceptional skill, passion, and innovation in their respective fields.
The winners include:
Aline Niyomubyeyi (Rwanda)
Huda Arbab (Kenya)
Jonathan Shauri Kalibatha (Rwanda)
Omar Malak Abshir (Somalia)
Raina Augustus (Namibia)
Victory Naleh Befii (Nigeria)
Retiana Tiyamike Phiri (Zambia)
Adaugo Felix (Nigeria)
Célio Monteiro José (Mozambique)
Ochieng Benedict Onyando (Kenya)
Launched during the African Union Year for Education 2024, the objective of the competition was to reshape perceptions of TVET by highlighting its immense potential to equip young Africans with skills to drive change and tackle local and global challenges.
AUDA-NEPADA’s Symerre Grey-Johnson added, “These young people are driving progress in their communities, showing us what’s possible when they have the right opportunities.”
For AUDA-NEPAD, the Africa Skills Revolution initiative represents an opportunity to reverse the narrative of undervaluation of TVET, and promote it as a powerful driver of progress, while also addressing misconceptions.
The movement aims to empower Africa’s youth to thrive professionally and contribute to sustainable development.
Even more importantly, as the Africa Skills Week ends with a stentorian roar in empowering African youth, 2024 will certainly go out with a bang on how far Africa, the African Union and its institutions, AUDA-NEPAD in particular, have come in veritably-creating the Africa we want!
#AfricanSkillsWeek
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