World Skills Zambia is scouting for K100 million to successfully host the World Skills Africa Competition to be held in Livingstone in April 2025.
In 2022, Zambia won the bid to host the World Skills Africa Competition which will see 1,500 participants from across Africa attending the event which will be hosted at the Livingstone Institute of Business and Engineering Studies (LIBES) next year.
The Technical Education, Vocational and Entrepreneurship Training Authority (TEVETA), which is under the Ministry of Technology and Science, houses the World Skills Zambia secretariat.
Technology and Science Minister Hon. Felix Mutati has asked the private sector to partner with World Skills Zambia and raise the K100 million kwacha needed to host the continental event.
Mr. Mutati says President Hakainde Hichilema has been recognised as a champion in skills development and it will be befitting to successfully host the event in the country.
Speaking at a media breakfast in Lusaka this morning, Mr. Mutati also asked industry players to offer internships and attachments for Zambian youths who will participate in the World Skills Africa Competition.
"There is no way one can be successful unless they practice. So we are asking Captains of industry to allow our youths to do attachments, placements and internships at your companies. They need to sharpen their skills," said Mr. Mutati.
And Immediate Past President of the Engineering Institution of Zambia Abel Ng'andu says the private sector must work with government to ensure that Zambian participants for the World Skills Africa Competition are well mentored.
Mr. Ng'andu says skills development is an expensive venture and it needs alot of support from non state actors.
Meanwhile, Project Manager for the World Skills Africa Organising Team Precious Lisulo says hosting the World Skills Africa Competition will raise Zambia's profile.
Ms. Lisulo says the event is a prestigious one and Zambia will do everything possible to make it successful.
20 skills will be competed for at the World Skills Africa Competition and Zambia has confirmed participation in all the categories.