African governments need to shake off the legacy of colonialism and underfunding if their education systems are ever to harness the vast potential of the continent’s young talent, says the public health expert Dr John Nkengasong.
Africa’s young demographic – it is the world’s youngest continent with 70% of people aged under 30 – is seen as its greatest asset. But a lack of cohesion between education institutions and employers means graduates in Africa, whose number is rising, are not well prepared when they start work, Nkengasong says. In an interview with the Guardian, he says students should be primed to address the continent’s socioeconomic problems, whether through influencing public health policy or technological innovation.
