George Asamani
MANAGING DIRECTOR of Project Management Institute (PMI), Sub Saharan Africa, George Asamani, has urged African leaders and leaders around the continent to make investments in various sectors of the African economy as a way of empowering the youth to be become effective change makers.
Speaking at the recently held 8th PMI annual conference held in Nairobi, Kenya, Mr. Asamani intimated that the creativity and potential of the African youth can be harnessed for sustainable development on the continent.
“The [African] youth represent a significant human resource that can’t be ignored. Their energy, creativity, and potential can be harnessed for sustainable development, including addressing climate change. To empower African youth to be effective change makers, investments should be made in education, capacity building, and training in project management”, he noted.
According to Mr. Asamani, “To address this shortage [project management professionals], countries and organisations should invest in building the capacity of project managers through education, training, and certification programs. This includes supporting universities and institutions that offer project management courses and promoting continuous professional development for project management practitioners,” added Asamani.
He added that the best way to accelerate capacity building is through partnerships with bodies that actually need project management talents and are driving the growth of the continent. That includes governments and multilateral organisations.
In addition to the three-day event, a full-day PMI Africa Conference Youth Edition was also hosted at the University of Nairobi.
“Providing a platform for the youth to express their views demonstrates our commitment to youth engagement and empowerment. The youthful panel and line-up of speakers added to the student’s knowledge and skills and afforded them the opportunity to network”, Mr. Asamani stated.
In a statement read on his behalf, Ghana’s Minister for Works and Housing, Francis Asenso-Boakye, stated that: “As we look ahead to Agenda 2063, let us be guided by the principles of African unity, self-reliance, and sustainable development. We must embrace the opportunities presented by our rich cultural diversity and harness the innovative spirit that resides within our continent.
We will continue to prioritize infrastructure development, foster an enabling environment for private sector investment, and work tirelessly to enhance regional economic integration. As the Minister for Works and Housing, I can assure you of the government’s unwavering commitment to this cause.”
BY Nii Adjei Mensahfio