The youth in Taita Taveta have reason to smile following plans by the national government to establish a futuristic digital innovation hub in Voi.
The good news was delivered by Dr. Muhktar Abdi Ogle, the secretary for strategic initiatives at the executive office of the president during youth peacebuilding, mentoring, youth leadership, and entrepreneurship event at Voi.
The innovation hub is angling to tap into the digital space to create job opportunities and incubate entrepreneurial skills among the largely unemployed youth population.
Dr. Ogle further stated that the hub will cast its net wider to impart knowledge on investment, self-realization, self-esteem, and mental health among the youths who bear the brunt of scanty employment opportunities.
The Voi innovation hub will have its gun trained on reaching the grassroots youths to shore up their potential and contribute to job creation and improve livelihoods at the village level.
The proposed hub will anchor on harnessing collective capabilities from marginalized youth demographics, incubating them before releasing them back to society to invent and implement practical solutions to problems that bedevil all aspects of life at the village and ward levels.
The pool of activities targeted for incubation will revolve around the 17 global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which the national government has given priority and financial boost in the 2021/22 budget.
The national government has also supported the youth agenda through the Kenya Youth Empowerment & Opportunities Project (KYEOP), which has empowered millions of Kenyan youths with industry-specific skills and various forms of funding.
ICT and digital-savvy skills hold a crucial place in the efforts to create more job opportunities for youths in Kenya.
By Arnold Linga Masila
