28 Jul 2024

Empowering youth with skills will foster a culture of responsible global citizens determined to promote peaceful future for all.

This was said by Assistant Minister of Education and Skills Development, Ms Nnaniki Makwinja, also area Member of Parliament at the World Youth Skills day in Lentsweletau on Friday.

Ms Makwinja said young people had a crucial role in peace building and conflict resolution efforts as the world today was faced with numerous challenges that affected young people.

“These social ills do not only jeopardise individual’s future but also influence negativity on the overall stability of societies. Therefore equipping youth with necessary skills of resilience, emotional intelligence, peace building and conflict resolution to deal with pressures of live challenges is paramount,” she said.

She commended government for making major strides in implementing economic empowerment programmes that enabled youth to be job creators than job seekers, through various entrepreneurial programmes and mentorship initiatives.

“By fostering an entrepreneurial mindset, we are encouraging our youth to become active contributors to the economy and create employment opportunities for others, thus advancing President, Dr Mokgweetsi Masisi’s drive to propel Botswana to a high income country,” she added.

In welcome remarks, Kgosi Morulaganyi Makgasane expressed excitement towards the celebration of youth in the village.

“It is everyone’s responsibility to nurture and recognise young people’s potential to drive economic growth and diversification,” Kgosi Makgasane said.

Conversely, he decried delayed village development and thus implored business people to consider investing in the improvement of the village.

He also decried that most emerging youth programmes were alleged to have restricted measures and therefore implored stakeholders to give young people preference when providing services to reduce unemployment among communities.

“Elang tlhoko go thusa banana ka mananeo a puso ka morogo wa ngwana ga o tlhopiwe ditlhokwa,” he said.

Councillor for Lentsweletau West, Mr Court Tolobu urged the youth to embrace skills acquired for meaningful engagement, saying that would help reduce their dependency on government because they would be able to fend their household and sustain their lives. Ends