Since Rwanda is a knowledge-based economy in this day and age, young people are encouraged to pursue cognitive and soft skills that will set them apart in the market and contribute to the creation of 1.5 million jobs by 2024.
This was reiterated by the Rwanda Development Board’s Head of the Strategic Capacity Development Department, Nzabanita Viateur.
Nzabanita was speaking to a group of young people who had gathered for a conference to discuss the future of work and entrepreneurship in Africa.
The conference was put on by Amplyfy’s Learnible Global division on November 26, 2022, and it was attended by young people from all over the world.
Nzabinata acknowledged at this conference that in order to plan for the future, one must look at what was and what is.
He stated that Rwanda has transitioned from a traditional to a modern economy, and that the country is now a knowledge-based economy that young people must adapt to and take advantage of.
He believes that in such an era; cognitive and soft skills are important for young people to develop.
The ability to think and process information in order to solve problems and overcome challenges is referred to as cognitive skills.
Nzabanita was referring to the soft skills that are required for the successful implementation of any activity.
These can include marketing abilities, networking skill sets, interpersonal skills, communication abilities, and many more.
Nzabanita stated that as young people innovate and learn, they should also pair it with skills that will help them stay competitive in the market.
“The world has changed, and the future is extremely uncertain. We must always innovate,” he said, “and combine the knowledge that industries require with the skills to quickly adapt to the labor market.”
He went on to say that studies have shown which skills are now in demand on the market on a regular basis.
“Studies have revealed a number of skills that will help us succeed in that era, including STEM-related skills, ICT-related skills, digital literacy and computation skills, as well as soft skills, cognitive skills, and creative skills,” he said.
“You will not succeed if you do not know how to market and brand yourself. Soft skills and cognitive abilities are critical to your future success as an entrepreneur.” He continued.
There was a time when all you needed to get a job was to go to college and get a degree, but today’s job market demands practical skills rather than fancy degrees.
Matter of fact, in this day and age, having a degree is not the only requirement for remaining marketable. It is critical that young people pursue skills that will be useful as we transition to a more different world than we are accustomed to.
Malik Shaffy, the country director of the African Management Institute, who was in attendance, emphasized this.
He also advised young people to think about their skills and what they bring to the table because these are the things that are expected of them in these times when certain industries value practical skills over years of experience.
“In the past, people would look for years of experience and master’s degrees when recruiting, but that is no longer the case,” he said “Some sectors are interested in what you can do and what you bring to the table.”
The head of the RDB’s Strategic Capacity Development Department claims that these abilities will help young entrepreneurs maintain their inventions and innovations, assisting in the achievement of the 1.5 million jobs goal by 2024.
He emphasized that this objective will be accomplished through cooperation with important parties, such as young people and the private sector, who will be “the consumer of these skills.”
