Africa has an advantage over the rest of the world in that a massive proportion of its population is under the age of 25. Yes, an enormous proportion, according to The Demographic Profile of African Countries. Young people who can, and must be trained in technology – the fastest-growing industry.

Young and talented Africans around the globe have over the years, shown to be smart, innovative, and diligent in all they do, ranging from academics to vocational skill acquisitions, businesses. They can also prove their worth in the tech industry. We as Africans need to invest heavily in skilling young people in the field. We must do so at universities and training institutions, as it is critical to take Africa into the Fourth Industrial Revolution. An advantage we have is that we have a massive population under the age of 25.

The potential for economic and technological growth in Africa is clear. Yes, many African countries still face challenges related to infrastructure, security, and education, to name but a few. Nevertheless, Africa has a robust entrepreneurial climate, with innovative ventures such as O’Bounce, Interswitch, Twiga, Kobo360, and Andela as the outcomes. These ventures cut across education, fintech, agriculture, healthcare, logistics, and travel. The majority of these tech firms are being founded and owned by young and passionate Africans in the tech industry.

Training and investing in young, and talented Africans in the tech industry, and those who are interested would have a significant impact on their lives, and the African community as a whole. These training(s) can be paid or free; paid training(s) can be sponsored by already big tech companies or government agencies. At the same time, free training(s) can be sponsored by tech NGOs such as Quest4Tech and Youth for Technology Foundation (YTF).

African youths are capable, and will someday lead the tech future of our world.