African governments must address the legacy of colonialism and underfunding within their education systems to fully utilise the continent's young talent, according to public health expert Dr John Nkengasong. He noted that despite Africa being the world's youngest continent, with 70% of its population under 30, a disconnect between educational institutions and employers means a rising number of graduates are not adequately prepared for the workforce.
Dr Nkengasong, an executive director for education at the Mastercard Foundation, emphasised the need for immediate investment and leadership to create universities that can advance globally. He stated that no country has developed without a strong higher education system driving research, innovation, and critical thinking. He suggested revitalising the current theory-based education system, for instance, by integrating policymaking skills into science degrees.
The Cameroonian virologist, who has worked in public health policy for Africa for three decades, including at the World Health Organization and leading the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, highlighted countries like Singapore and South Korea as examples of successful educational overhauls. He also cited the newly launched Africa Higher Education for Transformation prize, which will award $500m to 150 universities over the next decade, as a way to encourage innovation and research focused on local needs.
Dr Nkengasong argued that political will and investment from African governments are crucial to align university curricula with employer demands. He urged countries to view higher education as a national interest and an investment in human capital, rather than merely a social sector. He attributed the deep-rooted causes of the education-employment gap to colonial-era systems and past impositions from organisations like the International Monetary Fund, which led governments to deprioritise higher education spending.