By Charlie Ligomeka

Machinga, October 11:  Minister of Youth and Sports, Uchizi Mkandawire has encouraged youths in Malawi to be ambitious by acquiring digital skills as the world is in a digital revolutionary era that requires adequate digital knowledge to equate themselves with fellow youths globally.

Mkandawire said this during International Youth Day commemoration at Mgodi Primary School at Nsanama in Machinga District on Friday.

The minister appealed to the youths to use digital platforms and gadgets in a way that should assist them to gain more digital skills and knowledge.

The International Youth Day is annually commemorated on 12th August, all over the world to reflect roles young people play in bringing change on global issues to achieve sustainable development, besides raising awareness on challenges young people face.   

Malawi commemorated the International Youth Day under the theme; “Youth Digital, Pathways for the Achievement of Malawi 2063”

The minister said the theme resonates well with the key priority number 3 of the National Youth Policy on Information, Communications and Technology (ICT), adding that there was need to digitally empower the youth.

“Digital empowerment is essential for the achievement of the MW2063 key strategic pillars namely Agriculture Productivity and Commercialization, Industrialization and Urbanization.

“If our youths are equipped with digital skills and knowledge, they have potential to transform key sectors of development thereby contributing to the economic growth of the country. This will turn Malawi into an inclusively wealth and self-reliant nation," he said.

Mkandawire added that digital spaces have proven to be reliable platforms for youth engagement and participation on emerging issues.

“With the growing use of mobile phones, the digital revolution is broadening pathways for youth engagement with decision makers. Through social media, young people are able to amplify their voices in matters of national interest thereby influencing development,” he added.

The minister therefore assured the youths that the Government was doing all it could to implement programmes that enhance access and utilization of digital services among young people.

He highlighted interventions that his ministry had done citing construction of ICT labs in existing community colleges in collaboration with Ministry of Labour as one way of expanding access to ICT among rural youth.

National Youth Council of Malawi (NYCOM), Executive Director, Rex Chapota said it was important to make most digital platforms accessible to the youths.

“The world is digital and we need our youths to be digital conversant. This will enable them to easily access things that affect their lives," he said.

The NYCOM Executive Director observed that many young people in the rural areas have no access to digital tools, saying there was need to do something about this so that the rural youths also have an opportunity to access the digital platforms just as their urban counterparts.

UNFPA Deputy Representative to Malawi, Dr. Ezizgeldi Hellenov, said his organization was working hand in hand with Malawi Government to achieve Malawi Vision 2063 through United Nations, Sustainable Development operation framework.

“We are working together with Malawi Government in achieving Malawi Vision 2063 and we need youths to be digitally organized. The youths need to access information that should address issues affecting their lives and education,” he added.

The United Nations designated August 12 as International Youth Day, a day set aside by governments and other stakeholders to celebrate young people and their contributions to development.

The day also reflects on various issues that affect the youths around the world.