Accelerated job creation through infrastructure development needed for Africa’s development
Africa has been called upon to provide employment opportunities for its youth if it is to harness their potential and enable them contribute to the desired economic growth outlined in the vision of Agenda 2063.
The call was made by officials from the African Union (AU), the NEPAD Agency and the African Development Bank (AfDB) at the opening of the second annual Programme for Infrastructure Development (PIDA) Week currently underway in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire.
This year’s gathering organised under the theme, “Creating Jobs through Regional Infrastructure Development,” has drawn over 250 participants and stakeholders representing Member States, private sector, development partners and project owners.
PIDA Week 2016 will showcase and validate the relevance of regional infrastructure (PIDA) projects and the impact thereof on the socio-economic development of Africa and particularly on job creation for the youth, according to a press release copied to ghanabusinessnews.com.
“PIDA should play an important role in narrowing the gap between job creation and unemployment. To that end, public decision-makers and private sector management are urged to actively undertake training and skills acquisition in infrastructure development, particularly in building roads, rail systems, power generation and power transmission systems in order to enable young Africans to be well prepared for the implementation of complex programmes such as PIDA,” H.E. Dr. Elham M.A. Ibrahim, AU Commissioner for Infrastructure and Energy was cited as saying in the release.
The release also cited NEPAD Agency CEO, Dr Ibrahim Assane Mayaki as saying that if Africa is to be successful in increasing the number of regional and domestic infrastructure projects and their impact, changes are needed in mind-set, policy pronouncements and programme implementation.
He indicated that there is a need to continue with the positive streamlining of trans-boundary infrastructure projects as highlighted in PIDA and complementary initiatives.
“Africa stands to benefit from its critical human resources, the young people, who must be nurtured to enable their meaningful participation in national development efforts and I believe that infrastructure development is central to this,” Dr Mayaki said.
By Pamela Ofori-Boateng
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