By Kage Njoroge
The youth have been advised to embrace technical education which will empower them with skills employers are after at the workplace.
According to Dr. Judy Njoki Makira, a lecturer at Embu University, with a change of attitude young people could solve the increasing unemployment challenges by undertaking training to acquire the skills.
Dr. Makira was speaking during a graduation ceremony of trainees who had taken short courses at Mukangu Youth Polytechnic in Kiharu, Murang’a County.
The don stated that the labor market was currently interested in workers who had capabilities and technical skills required to drive productivity at work stations.
She observed that dynamics had rapidly changed in the work ecosystem since workers with technical skills were in high demand as opposed to white collar jobs which were diminishing due to changing work pattern.
“The new trends are fostered by the emergent technologies which have revolutionized application of skills and knowledge in the industry,” said Dr. Makira.
She outlined skills such as making of detergents, hair dressing and beauty, Information & Communications Technology (ICT) applications, value addition of agricultural produce, painting, welding, baking and milk processing among other marketable skills.
Dr. Makira who was among the sponsors of trainees at Mukangu Youth Polytechnic in Kiharu, Murang’a county, urged the graduands to use the acquired knowledge to create self-employment opportunities and businesses.
The doctor-cum-lecturer pointed out that trainees could start their own ventures by using little financial capital and grow them into big investments.
“The skills acquired provide services of high demand and opportunities which may lead to a set-up of thriving enterprises,” said Dr. Makira.
She argued that such skills, knowledge and technology had the potential to provide solutions to the youth unemployment problem and trigger new investment platforms in the country.
