Flagbearer of the National Democratic Congress, John Dramani Mahama, has urged African leaders to prioritize the development of human capital to drive economic growth.
Addressing students at the London School of Economics (LSE), Mahama highlighted the rapid changes in the digital landscape and the emergence of new job roles in Africa over the past decade.
In a Facebook post, the former president emphasized the need for education systems in Africa to evolve beyond traditional academic learning.
He called for the inclusion of vocational and technical training to align with the technological advancements of the modern era.
“Africa needs to develop the human capital required to propel our economies forward. The digital landscape, for example, was vastly different when I last spoke at the LSE a decade ago. Many job roles we see today were non-existent or just emerging in Africa. The job market is rapidly evolving, and it is imperative that our education systems evolve as well.
“We must embrace technology and innovation and expand beyond academic learning to emphasise vocational and technical training.
“The career aspirations of our children today reflect this technological evolution, and it is our responsibility to ensure that they are prepared for the future job market,” the former president said.