The Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) has expressed its desire to equip 650 million African workers with digital skills by 2030 while concurrently generating millions of jobs for the continent’s youth. This goal was announced by Claver Gatete, ECA Executive Secretary, at the 2024 ECA Africa Business Forum which took place this week in Ethiopia.
The forum in Addis Ababa served as a convergence point for cooperation between public and private sectors. Tech giants like Google were present to highlight the collaborative efforts needed to accomplish the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and Agenda 2063: The Africa We Want.
Gatete underscored Africa’s potential to become a worldwide powerhouse for innovative solutions, given the appropriate investment in science and technology. He underscored the importance of artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning as pivotal tools in addressing societal and economic problems.
Acknowledging the significant increase in the availability and use of broadband and mobile money, Gatete emphasized that these achievements are just the tip of the iceberg in comparison to Africa’s potential. He proposed narrowing the digital skills gap for 650 million workers by 2030 whilst generating millions of job opportunities for Africa’s youth.
Doron Avni, Google’s vice president for emerging markets, endorsed the substantial influence of AI and its potential role in fostering sustainable and equitable growth in Africa. He recommended widespread AI education and governmental investment in this sector.
