Prof. Bitange Ndemo Urges Youth to be Watchful for Tech Job Opportunities in the New Era

Currently, the world, Africa included, is going through a fastened Digital Transformation. This transformation also encompasses the 5^th mobile phone generation, and the 4^th Industrial revolution.

The 5^th mobile generation is set to come to Africa this year and that is why there is a lot of talk about 5G mobile connection. In Kenya, Safaricom is at the forefront of rolling out 5G connection even as Kenyans are still getting accustomed to 4G. This is a fastened digital transformation, fast-tracked by the occurrence of the COVID-19 pandemic.

At the Pwani Innovation Week by Swahilipot hub, Professor Bitange Ndemo, a Professor of Entrepreneurship at the University of Nairobi’s Business school, delivered a talk on the role of emerging technologies in job creation of the future.

Prof. Ndemo is known for the time when he served as the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Information and Communication which was between 2005 and 2013. He played an active role in bringing technological development to Kenya.

In fact, Hon. Michael Onyango, CEO and Founder of The 4gotten Bottomillions (4BM), a trusted WhatsApp Network Platform, terms Prof. Ndemo as the father of internet in Kenya. It was at the time that Prof. Ndemo worked as the PS for Ministry of Information and Communication that the internet made its breakthrough in the country.

Prof. Ndemo urged the youth present at the event to be watchful of the new changes that are coming with digital transformation for job opportunities and to really grab the opportunities. He further urged them to learn all that they can about the new era so that when the time comes they are not left out.

“In this new era, there can be a lot of things that you can do. You need to take this opportunity, or else someone else will come in and benefit from this. Kenya is your country and the opportunities that will be here are yours to take,” Prof Ndemo said.

“Be assured that there are people who are learning about the new technologies right now. You need to take also jump on the bus, go and learn about 5G, the fourth industrial revolution, Machine learning, Data analysis and all those new technologies coming to the world. That is where you will get job opportunities in the future,” he added.

This has been the main message at the Pwani Innovation Week, for the youth to take opportunities that will arise with the new era, the digital era, the technological era.

The Pwani Innovation Week by Swahilipot hub made a come back this year after missing in 2020 and 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The event organisers have promised that the event will continue being held yearly, as was before the pandemic.