Mutati hits high note, calling youth participation in continental skills competition
TECHNOLOGY and Science minister Felix Mutati has fine tuned his tenor voice to chorus a call for youths across the country to compete against the best in Africa as Zambia gears up to host the World Skills Africa Competition in Livingstone next year.
This competition is more than just a game; it’s a turning point for Zambia. It’s a chance to showcase the nation’s commitment to fostering a generation of highly skilled young people, ready to drive the country’s economic development.
Imagine hundreds of competitors facing off in everything from bricklaying and auto mechanics to hairdressing and graphic design.
The stakes are high, but the rewards are even greater.
Winners will not only be crowned Africa’s Skills Champions, but they’ll also launch themselves onto the international stage, their talents recognised and celebrated worldwide.
So, as Zambia gears up for this epic skills showdown, one question lingers: which young Zambian will rise to the challenge and claim their place among Africa’s elite?
Mutati said the competition will provide a platform for young Zambians to showcase their skills and gain exposure to international best practices.
In an interview with Kalemba yesterday, Mutati said participation in competitions sharpens youths’ skills and fosters a competitive spirit essential for their personal and professional growth.
“Competition is one of the practicals of lifting up the skills level. Kids when exposed to competitions, they will sharpen up the skills to produce the best.”
“Your mentality changes when you know you are going for a competition, you work hard. So it will benefit young boys and girls, youths and institutions who will take part,” reiterated Mutati.
The event, expected to attract over 1000 delegates from across Africa and the world will not only elevate Zambia’s profile in skills development but also integrate the country further into the world.
Mutati said the competition will help spotlight Livingstone as a tourism destination thereby stimulating economic growth in the region.
And it will also presents an opportunity for Zambia to enhance its infrastructure and showcase its capabilities on a global stage.
Mutati said the competition calls for all individuals including the differently abled and different organisational affiliation.
World Skills Zambia project coordinator Precious Lisulo emphasized the competition’s aim to empower winners through skill development opportunities, urging participants to register at the TEVETA secretariat.
And TEVETA Director General Cleophis Takaiza highlighted the importance of skills exchange for innovation and stressed the need to recognize the value of skills alongside academic qualifications.
By Catherine Pule
Kalemba, April 19, 2024
