Agri-Impact Limited, an agribusiness development firm, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) to advocate and enhance agricultural businesses among youth through technology. The partnership will help create dignified and fulfilling jobs for 326,000 young women, young men focusing especially on women, and also to eradicate the false mindset about agriculture among students. Mr Dan Acquaye, Chief Executive Officer of Agri-Impact Limited and Professor Ben Banful, Provost, College of Agric and Natural Resources, KNUST, signed the MoU on behalf of their respective institutions. Mrs Julie Asante-Dartey, Deputy Chief Executive Officer of Agri-Impact Limited, speaking to the media said the agreement would scale up youth involvement in agriculture, build their capacity and be ambassadors of agribusiness. She said the partnership would also help leverage the electronic-learning platform of the University to train over 500 youth, who would use I nformation Technology and Communication (ICT) to create enterprises in the agribusiness industry. Mrs Asante-Dartey said it was important for students to have the passion of creating businesses in agriculture to secure a lifetime job, adding that it would help reduce the high level of unemployment faced by the youth. 'The training is to help students become entrepreneurs and ambassadors of agriculture', she said. The Deputy CEO said, the project would be a four-year development in rice, soya, poultry and tomato production. She said with the aid of the University, students would have an effective value chain to work together and increase productivity, smooth market access and enterprise efficiency. She expressed the hope that after four years, the project would generate at least $200 million revenue every year to help cut down importation by 10 per cent. She said the idea of partnering the University was to involve academia in the project to develop policies on agribusiness for effective implementation. P rofessor Robert Aidoo, Dean, Agribusiness and Intergrated Supply Chain Management, KNUST, emphasised on the importance of collaboration between the two entities in meeting the demands of agribusiness development among Ghanaian youth, especially young men and women. He said the University recognised the MoU as an important step to working together to bring agricultural businesses to the doorstep of Ghanaian youth by ensuring that stakeholders worked to achieve success in the agricultural sector. Source: Ghana News Agency The Principal Secretary for State Department for Technical, Vocational Education and Training (TVET) Esther Mworia has advised the youth to engage in practical knowledge and hands-on skills that are directly applicable to the job. Mworia said TVET institutions were crucial because they major in offering practical skills and competence to the youths and stakeholders that enable them to become self-reliant and to create employment. Mworia added that in today's rapidly changing and fast-paced world, traditional education does not always equip an individual with skills that enable them to thrive in their careers. 'These TVET programmes often collaborate with industries to ensure that graduates are ready for jobs and possess the ability demanded by the employers,' said the PS. The PS made the remarks in a speech read on her behalf by the Director of TVET in the Ministry of Education John Tuwei during the official opening of the 15th Higher Education Expo and Career Fair 2024 held at Kenyatta International Conf erence Centre in Nairobi. The Expo that will run from February 29 to March 1, 2024, creates a space where all youths could transition from TVET institutions to the job market. The PS highlighted that the theme of 2024 is to educate, equip and empower which encapsulates the focus on future skills needed for the labour market in the 21st century. Mworia said that the State Department for TVET is currently implementing competency-based education and training which focuses on 70 per cent industrial training and 30 per cent classroom training. The PS said the 70 and 30 per cent models have an element of viewer training that ensures that trainees were mostly in industry, were gaining knowledge in classrooms and were also angled to give trainees absolute skills required in the industry. Mworia noted that the traditional skills alone are no longer sufficient, adding that the advent of the 21st century has brought a new set of skills that are crucial for individuals to succeed in their chosen fields. 'These fiel ds are not confined to technical expertise but rather encompass a broader range which includes critical thinking, creativity, collaboration, communication and digital interest,' she said. The PS said the ability to adopt innovation is vital in this era for constant technological advancement as TVET focuses on gaining 21st-century skills. 'TVET must also pay attention to mental health, as competitive nature and pressure to succeed can take a toll on an individual. Stress, anxiety and burnout are increasingly prevalent affecting trainees and professionals,' she added. PS Mworia encouraged education institutions and workplaces to create an environment that prioritizes mental health, promotes work-life balance and offers resources for managing stress and seeking help when needed. She urged entrepreneurs to educate, equip and nurture Kenyan youth to thrive and drive in their careers. Speaking at the event, the Chief Executive Officer Kenya School of TVET Edwin Tarno said that the institution would ensure all youths transit to TVET to acquire skills and create job opportunities after completion. He singled out Data Analyst, Artificial Intelligence, Data Scientists and Analysts, Remote and Hybrid work specialist, E-commerce and digital marketing professionals, software developers, Cyber Security, Renewable energy technicians, Environmental Science, Logistic and Supply Chain Manager are some of the jobs which will be in demand by 2025 and urged the youth to pursue them. Source: Kenya News Agency
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