While Africa is bustling with talented young people, poor STEM education uptake limits access to a wide range of job prospects, particularly non-traditional ones.
This is according to Charmaine Houvet, senior director of government strategy and policy at Cisco Africa, a US-based technology company specialising in networking equipment and digital communications infrastructure.
Houvet shared the details with ITWeb Africa in recent interview after the company released its recent AI and the Workforce in Africa whitepaper, which discusses the continent's AI workforce readiness.
The paper outlines a strategy for governments, industry, and civil society to close the AI skills gap. It recommends incorporating AI into school curricula and to modernise digital infrastructure.
The Cisco whitepaper was produced in collaboration with Carnegie Mellon University Africa.
It also highlighted that the continent's AI talent pool falls far short of the 230 million jobs that require digital skills by 2030.
Fewer than 25% of African university students study STEM subjects and just 30% of STEM students are female.
The Cisco executive explained her company sees emerging technologies like generative AI, edge AI, and quantum computing as transformative for Africa's education and job markets.
She indicated that generative AI will personalise learning and provide new opportunities in the AI industry, while edge AI will bridge infrastructure gaps, enabling localised learning and increasing demand for edge computing engineers.
Further, Houvet said though still in the early stages of development, quantum computing will fuel advanced research and necessitate the expertise of quantum information scientists and cyber security experts.
“When young people lack consistent access to the internet, computers, and digital tools, they are often unaware of the diverse and evolving job landscape beyond their immediate environment,” she said.
Houvet continued: “Consequently, many youth may default to more visible or traditional career paths, not because of a lack of aptitude for STEM, but due to a lack of informed choice stemming from limited digital exposure to the full spectrum of modern professions that STEM education underpins.”
The expert underlined the importance of developing and implementing AI policies on jobs and skills, highlighting African countries' economic potential.
She explained: “AI policy provides clarity and confidence. It sets standards for skills training, aligns education with industry needs, and creates safeguards for citizens. Done well, it can unlock growth, and Africa’s economy could gain an estimated $2.9 trillion by 2030 from AI adoption.
“Our report, recommends phased action: short-term on-the-job training incentives, medium-term curriculum integration, and long-term infrastructure modernisation.
“Governments must keep pace by reviewing policies regularly and updating them as technologies evolve.”
Looking ahead, she believes that even in the least digitally connected locations, AI has the ability to transform Africa.
Houvet went on to say while the region's overall share of the global AI market is currently low; there is ample possibility for expansion.
“Readiness for AI is uneven across the continent. Again our report indicates that countries like Egypt, Mauritius, South Africa, and Rwanda are leading in digital adoption, while many regions still face challenges such as limited connectivity and a small AI talent pool.”
“Despite these obstacles, the engagement of young Africans is a promising sign; 78% already use AI tools weekly. This strong interest can drive future growth if harnessed effectively,” she concluded.
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