Ruto: Africa Must Generate 30m Jobs Annually to Accommodate Growing Workforce
Gilbert Ekugbe
President of the Republic of Kenya, Dr. William Ruto, has stated that Africa must create approximately 30 million new jobs to accommodate the rapidly expanding workforce on the continent.
Ruto stated this at the opening of Africa Climate Summit Ministerial Conference in Nairobi.
According to him, the target are not just numbers, but represents 30 million opportunities to build Africa’s future, adding that 30 million dreams can be fulfilled through climate-proof avenues of growth.
He explained that Africa’s foremost asset is its young and growing workforce, educated, skilled and motivated to pursue industry, innovation and enterprise.
He stated that trillions of dollars globally are looking for ‘green investment opportunities’ as the pressure to tackle the climate crisis heightens, pointing out that Africa holds the key to accelerating decarbonisation of the global economy.
Ruto added that by 2025, the mining of battery-critical minerals like nickel, lithium, and cobalt is estimated to generate around $11 billion in value, urging African governments to take the next step and engage in value-added activities such as refining these minerals into industry-grade metals which he said the value could quadruple to $50 billion.
“And if we consider the end-to-end value chain for electric vehicles, including the battery pack and all other components, the market value skyrockets to an astonishing $7 trillion,” he added.
He said these figures are clear demonstrations that Africa can no longer afford a minimalist ‘short-termist raw-material-based approach, stressing that the time has come for Africa to break out of the shackles of low ambition.
“We must now begin to aim higher and strive for more, and better outcomes. And as we work towards capturing more economic value from these opportunities, we are not just building a resilient and prosperous continent; we are also contributing to a more balanced and stable global economy. We are not just a continent rich in resources, we are a powerhouse of untapped potential, eager to engage and fairly compete in the global markets,” he said.
He however, stated that the overarching goal for the Summit is to chart a green growth pathway for the African Continent, setting the stage for Africa to lead the globe towards a more ecologically responsible global industrialisation, catalysed by financing that is accessible, adequate, and affordable.
“I therefore call upon all of us here to use the next three days to explore options as to how we can optimize Africa’s abundant human and natural resources to leapfrog towards a low carbon economy while opening new opportunities for climate finance, trade, investment, innovation, resilience, and green jobs,” Ruto said.
Also speaking, the Cabinet Secretary, Ministry of Environment, Climate Change and Forestry, Soipan Tuya, the climate change debate has entered a new era, saying that it is no longer just about tackling an environmental or development problem, but about addressing climate change in the context of justice.
