Nairobi: The government has been asked to invest heavily in training the youth on Artificial Intelligence (AI) to help the country catch up with other developed countries.
According to Kenya News Agency, former Prime Minister Raila Odinga stated that if the youth in the country could be imparted with AI skills, they would be in high demand in the global job market. Odinga emphasized the potential of AI to generate wealth and help the nation catch up with countries that are currently ahead in technological advancements.
The former Prime Minister, speaking during the graduation ceremony of over 200 students at the Siaya Community Digital Hub, pointed out the economic disparities between Kenya and South Korea. He noted that while both nations had similar economic standings in 1963, South Korea’s economy is now forty times larger due to its investment in youth and infrastructure, which attracted investors.
Odinga highlighted Africa’s youth implosion, with 75% of its population under the age of 35. He indicated that this demographic trend could either be a curse or a blessing, contingent upon how the youthful population is managed. He stressed the importance of equipping the youth with requisite skills and knowledge to motivate them for development and prevent societal issues such as delinquency and drug addiction.
He urged Kenya to emulate countries like India and China, which have successfully trained their populations and created environments conducive to attracting investors. Odinga cited China’s achievement in moving 500 million people out of poverty into the middle class within 50 years as an example that Africa could follow by focusing on training and infrastructure development.
Additionally, Odinga called on the government to consider nuclear power to address the country’s energy shortages. He proposed that a nuclear power plant capable of producing 5 megawatts could solve power issues and attract investors by reducing production costs. He recalled his tenure as Minister for Energy, where he advocated for the peaceful use of nuclear energy to address energy challenges.
The graduation ceremony also featured Siaya Senator Dr. Oburu Oginga, the founder of the hub, who announced that some graduates would be employed at the hub’s Business Outsourcing Center, which targets both local and international job opportunities.