By: Nana
Appiah Acquaye
Kenya’s Special Envoy on
Technology, Ambassador Philip Thigo, has called for a stronger connection
between education, practical artificial intelligence (AI) skills and economic
opportunities for young people, as AI reshapes the future of work.
Speaking at Jomo Kenyatta
University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT), Thigo joined students,
researchers, industry leaders and innovators for a discussion on AI and the
Future of Work, convened by JHUB Africa and Nation.dev.
In his remarks, Thigo
challenged participants to look beyond the future of work and begin shaping the
work of the future.
“What if we stopped asking
young people what qualifications they have and started asking what problems
they can solve?” he asked.
Thigo said AI was changing
how people learn, create, produce and demonstrate value. He noted that, with
nearly nine in 10 working Kenyans in informal employment, there was a need to
explore how AI could improve productivity, strengthen entrepreneurship and
create new economic opportunities.
He said connecting learning
to earning would require relevant curricula, AI-equipped teachers, practical
skills, industry partnerships and opportunities for young people to demonstrate
what they can build.
He also emphasised the
importance of safeguards and critical thinking, stressing that AI should expand
human agency rather than diminish it.
Thigo expressed appreciation
to Dr. Lawrence Nderu and JHUB Africa, Juan Carlos Mauritz and Nation.dev,
JKUAT, Muchiri Nyaggah, Sofie Hillbom, Deputy Head of Mission at the Embassy of
Sweden in Kenya, and industry and innovation partners for their contributions
to the discussion.
He said young Africans must
have the agency and opportunity to create the work of the future.
