From skills to systems: Why AI education alone isn’t enough for economic growth

By Paul Nesta Katende

In Uganda, 64% of youth face underemployment despite technical training. This is a reminder that education alone is insufficient. The core issue here lies in the misalignment between skills development and job creation. 

Without systems that connect training to real employment opportunities, upskilling risks becoming an exercise in futility, exacerbating economic leakage rather than fostering growth.

AI education and up skilling must be strategically synchronised and effectively linked to job creation initiatives to foster meaningful and sustainable economic impact.

This challenge is not unique to Uganda. At the recent Global AI Summit on Africa, data revealed a troubling paradox: while AI training programs across the continent have surged by 300% since 2020, youth unemployment remains stubbornly high at 23%. 

The root cause of this? Structural barriers, misaligned curricula, weak private-sector linkages, and inadequate funding for AI-driven startups.

Stepping into the Kigali Convention Centre for the Global AI Summit, I sensed history in the making. This was no ordinary tech conference, it was a bold declaration of Africa’s readiness to lead in the age of artificial intelligence. 

Global leaders, innovators, and policymakers converged to explore how AI could redefine Africa’s future. The energy was electric, the discussions visionary, and the stakes immense.

For Uganda, and Africa at large, AI presents both unprecedented opportunities and formidable challenges. One truth emerged clearly: for AI to work for Africa, strategic investments in digital infrastructure and regional collaboration are non-negotiable.

A key takeaway from the summit was the urgent need for robust digital foundations. AI’s potential cannot be realised without high-speed internet, skilled professionals, and an enabling environment for innovation.

While Uganda has made strides in expanding broadband access, growing its ICT sector, and advancing digital literacy, gaps still persist, particularly in rural areas.

Experts stressed the importance of modernising data ecosystems and establishing cloud platforms tailored to local and regional markets. For Uganda, this means creating spaces where AI technologies can be developed, tested, and deployed. 

Public-private partnerships will be critical. At Otic Foundation, our collaboration with the Ministry of ICT and National Guidance on AI skills development underscores how such alliances can drive progress.

AI’s true transformative potential lies in continental scalability. The African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) offers a unique framework for harmonizing digital strategies and amplifying AI’s impact. Imagine AI-driven innovations in Ugandan healthcare or agriculture being seamlessly adapted across East Africa and beyond.

Yet, integration faces hurdles, including fragmented policies and uneven digital infrastructure. Uganda must champion regional cooperation, advocating for policy alignment and resource-sharing to ensure AI solutions benefit the entire continent.

Globally, AI sparks fears of job displacement, but Africa’s demographic reality demands a different approach. With over 70% of Uganda’s population under 30 and unemployment a pressing concern, AI should be leveraged to transform and not replace the workforce. According to the President, the ICT sector employs 46,000 people.

This number will skyrocket with the adoption of AI.

Uganda’s youth are its greatest asset. Equipping them with digital skills can position them at the forefront of Africa’s AI revolution. At Otic Foundation, we have trained over 3,500 Ugandans in AI-related competencies through initiatives ongoing now like the National Free AI Skilling Initiative (NFASI). 

This is a modest but vital step. Our ambition is to skill 3,000,000 Ugandans by 2030. Embedding AI education from primary schools to universities will be a plus.

However, we believe AI skilling alone isn’t enough. We need systems, not just skills to unlock real economic growth. Our model integrates AI skilling + job pipelines + entrepreneurship funding to create a closed-loop engine for Gross Domestic Product (GDP) impact.

Public-private partnerships will be pivotal in scaling these efforts. By nurturing homegrown talent, we can cultivate a generation capable of solving Africa’s challenges through innovation.

Leaving Kigali after two days of intense deliberation, I felt a renewed sense of optimism. Yes, the road ahead is fraught with challenges including infrastructure gaps, policy fragmentation, and resource constraints but none are insurmountable.

Uganda has laid the groundwork with its ICT advancements. Now, we must build an inclusive AI ecosystem that fuels local solutions while contributing to continental progress. 

By investing in infrastructure, fostering cross-border collaboration, and empowering our youth, we can position Africa as a global AI leader.

The Global AI Summit reaffirmed that technology’s true value lies in its ability to uplift lives. As Otic Foundation continues advancing AI education and innovation, we remain committed to a future where AI drives prosperity for all Africans.

Upskilling is not enough. We must build ecosystems and the time to act is now. When Africa triumphs in the AI era, we all triumph.

The writer is the Founder and CEO of Otic Foundation