Osman A. Ayariga, Chief Executive Officer of the National Youth Authority, has warned that unequal access to digital skills and training could deepen economic inequality across Africa if urgent steps are not taken to expand ICT infrastructure and modernize learning systems.
Speaking at the Continental Youth Symposium on “African Youth at the Frontier of Technologies, Innovation, Sovereignty and Jobs in the Digital Age” in Tangier, Morocco, he said young people across the continent are already actively participating in the digital economy.
“Across Ghana and Africa, young people are already learning to code, doing digital marketing, building online businesses, and using technology to solve local problems, often informally,” he noted.
However, he cautioned that access to opportunity remains uneven, with many young people unable to benefit fully from digital transformation due to gaps in training systems and infrastructure.
He warned that if left unaddressed, the digital divide could translate into a wider economic divide across the continent.
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“We must scale what works: innovation hubs, community ICT centres and digital training programmes that reach peri-urban and rural areas. Otherwise, the digital divide will become an economic divide,” he said.
Osman further stressed that access alone is not enough, calling for reforms in digital education to ensure young people are trained beyond basic tools and platforms.
He highlighted the need for updated curricula that include cybersecurity, ethical data use, product design, and digital business models, alongside expanded ICT access.
The symposium brought together youth leaders, policymakers, development partners, and representatives of the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA) and the Pan-African Youth Union to discuss skills development, innovation ecosystems, and the future of work across Africa.
Source: Starrfm.com.gh
