The President of the Reublic of Malawi, Dr. Lazarus McCarthy Chakwera, has since returned to his country from Dar es Salaam in the United Republic of Tanzania, where he attended the Africa Heads of State Human Capital Summit.
The one-day summit which attracted several heads of African States and Governments as key stakeholders among other delegates, took place from 25th to 26th July, 2023 at the Julius Nyerere International Convention Centre (JNICC) under the theme; “linking investments in human capital to economic growth and harnessing the demographic dividend, by addressing learning poverty and the skills gap for youth and women.”
Speaking during the summit, President Chakwera advocated, among his fellow African leaders, for an investment in youth to enhance their skills development in order to accelerate human capital development emphasizing that human capital development is key to achieving African Agenda 2063.
President Chakwera submitted that channeling more resources to the youth and their skills development will widen economic opportunities which will in turn make the agenda 2063 possible.
The Malawi leader said his government, will invest between 15 and 20 percent of the national budget in multiple effect ministries such as Education, Health, Labour and Youth, as a way of ensuring that the youth realize their potential, skills and contribute positively to agenda 2063.
On the sidelines the summit, the president also held diplomatic and developmental meetings with bilateral partners.
The Africa Human Capital Heads of State Summit comes in response to engagements with government focal points on the need to draw attention to the role of human capital in economic growth.
Also attending the summit were World Bank officials who have commended the Malawi leader for advocating for promotion of the human capital agenda. The World Bank Vice President for Eastern and Southern Africa, Dr Victoria Kwakwa, said Malawi has put up a grand fight in human capital investment despite challenges facing the nation.
Kwakwa made the remarks on Wednesday after meeting Malawi delegation led by President Dr Lazarus Chakwera, at Julius Nyerere Convention Centre in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.
