Youth in Africa have been challenged to pursue engineering as one of the key professions that will translate to more development and innovative sustainable growth on the continent. The call was made during a High-Level Workshop of the 10th annual UNESCO Africa Engineering Week in Nairobi, where experts noted the increasing relevance of engineering in finding lasting solutions to African challenges.
Decreasing Interest in Engineering Among Younger Generations
Eng. Maureen Mwaniki, Huawei Kenya Director of Public Affairs and Policy expressed concern on the declining interest in engineering as a profession, especially among the youth and women. "The continent is facing a situation where there are a lot of older, more experienced engineers, but not enough young candidate engineers entering the profession," added Mwaniki.
She said this while insisting on the need to encourage more young people to choose engineering as a career, citing that the future of the profession dependent on youth engagement. With fewer youth enrolling in STEM programs, the engineering sector faces a potential shortage that could impact Africa's ability to innovate and grow.
The Role of Engineering in Africa's Future
Engineering can and does play a vital role in addressing some of the most high-priority needs of the continent, including infrastructure development, clean energy access, and climate resilience. Mwaniki emphasized how these challenges have presented young engineers with a unique opportunity to influence Africa's course toward sustainable development.
The growing needs in infrastructure, clean energy, and climate resilience actually create an unrivaled opportunity for engineers in shaping Africa's path toward sustainable growth. Yet more effort is needed in attracting younger people-let alone more women-into the profession, she added.
Empowering Women Engineers
Huawei has launched various initiatives such as Seeds for the Future and the ICT Competition, aimed at closing the gender gap in engineering. Such initiatives avail a great avenue for exposing women engineers to advanced technologies while equipping them with relevant skills to create solutions for their countries. Empowering women in engineering will go a long way in ensuring that Africa has a more inclusive and diverse human resource base, better positioned to answer the technological and developmental needs of the continent.
Engineering Africa Week: The UNESCO Africa Engineering Week brings together government representatives, industry leaders, and academia to discuss and develop policies and partnerships that could accelerate engineering education and innovation. Held annually, the event is scheduled to increase awareness among the general public of the essential place engineers play in society, while encouraging and informing the youth that engineering might be a good career prospect for them.
Hosted this year by the Ordem dos Engenheiros de Angola in Luanda, Angola, this event is organized in collaboration with UNESCO, the World Federation of Engineering Organizations, and the Federation of African Engineering Organisations. It encompasses the 8th Africa Engineering Conference, the 7th Africa Women Engineers Forum, and the Young Engineers Forum. The discussions will touch on all aspects of sustainability, innovative infrastructures, and how to implement AfCFTA to its acceleration.
Engineering for Sustainable Development
The theme of Engineering for Sustainable Development this year underlines the technical solutions needed to deal with the challenges of climate change, infrastructure development, and digital transformation. The discussions really bring out how engineering lies at the core of finding sustainable solutions for Africa's most significant challenges and, in fact, positions the profession as a cornerstone going into the future.
Conclusion: Urgent Call for Youth in Engineering
As Africa continues to evolve, its success will largely depend on the ability to innovate and provide sustainable solutions that address growing needs. Engineering, with its capacity for problem-solving, is foundational in this undertaking. Encouragement of youth and especially women in STEM activities and engineering careers secures a future for Africa when innovation-driven development, sustainability, and global competitiveness become real.
It is this dream that the next generation of engineers will build, shape into a reality-a reality for Africa, a better future for the people across the continent, and maybe more.