On the bright and early morning of Day 2 of the BeDoCare Conference, participants streamed in with curiosity and anticipation, eager to discover the insights and nuggets of wisdom the day’s discussions would offer.

The day was opened by Fr. Javier Del Castillo, Vicar General of the Prelature of Opus Dei in Rome. He reflected on three key dimensions of St. Josemaría’s legacy: the family as the first school of love and forgiveness; professional work as a vocation of service to the common good; and care as the most humanizing response to fragility. At the heart of each, he emphasized, is the call to listen deeply, to be personally present, and to recognize that every life is not only good but also necessary.

Following his powerful speech, Prof. Africa Ariño delivered a passionate address on how companies can strengthen their competitiveness in the global context, drawing from her experience in Africa. She emphasized that for the continent to thrive, it must leapfrog by investing in sectors such as agriculture, energy, and financial services that multiply its impact. Prosperity, she noted, must be driven by purpose, ensuring that value remains in Africa while enabling people to rise together with business.

Having drawn lessons from Gift: A Legacy of St. Josemaría, an invitation to Be and Do good as we Care, as well as insights on Africa’s path to global competitiveness, the day transitioned into a more focused discussion on the theme of “Work.” This began with an engaging panel session on Shaping Leaders for the Evolving Job Market and Startup Ecosystems Led by Young People.

Panel Discussion: Future of Work

An important and timely conversation unfolded as panelists explored how to shape leaders for the evolving job market and strengthen startup ecosystems led by young people.

Guillaume Fandjinou, Directeur Général Adjoint, emphasized the urgency of the challenge: “We have an obligation to ensure our youth are engaged in meaningful work. If we fail to address this challenge, time becomes a ticking bomb. Education must align with the needs of the job market, striking the right balance between what we train our youth in and what the economy demands.”

Adding to this, Prof. Enase Okonedo, Vice Chancellor of Pan-Atlantic University, Nigeria, emphasised that building a strong and thriving ecosystem requires two essentials: access to financial resources and the right skills. Yet she also invited reflection: “What is the ultimate purpose of what we are doing? Is it directed toward the common good?”

Regina Mukiri, Head of Community Impact & Engagement at Standard Chartered, reminded participants that Africa is surrounded by pressing social challenges, but within them lie opportunities. Our task is to identify these problems, create sustainable solutions, and drive meaningful impact for the common good. Africa’s youth carry immense potential to shape a brighter tomorrow. If we channel and harness this strength, the future holds limitless possibilities.

Following the insightful panel discussion, participants spent the afternoon in four parallel workshops. These sessions provided a space to dive deeper into emerging issues affecting society and the future of work, while also exploring how individuals can engage with practical ideas and innovative approaches to create meaningful impact.

Parallel Workshop 1: Workplace: Efficiency Across Corporate and Public Sectors 

With the current generation and those to come, the onus is on us to guide and ensure they understand the realities of the workplace. The discussion emphasized the importance of aligning programs with market needs and asked a critical question: Are we preparing youth with skills that are truly relevant? 

“What we teach and instill in our students today is what they will give back to society in the years beyond,” said Marie Noelle N’Guessan. “This is why we must do better, as individuals, institutions, and organizations, in shaping and preparing the next generation.”

Elizabeth Macharia, from the Commonwealth, highlighted the essential skills that today’s youth need to succeed in an evolving world. She emphasized the importance of technical skills to prepare them as competent professionals, alongside competence in emerging technologies, particularly in the era of AI, where being tech-savvy is crucial. She also stressed the need for green and sustainability skills to ensure young people can protect and sustain resources for the future. 

Entrepreneurial and management skills were identified as equally vital, enabling innovation, business leadership, and even the ability to build and manage side hustles. Beyond technical expertise, she underscored the value of soft skills such as critical thinking, problem-solving, communication, collaboration, teamwork, adaptability, and lifelong learning. Emotional intelligence and self-awareness were also presented as key traits for navigating relationships and challenges effectively. 

In addition, Cedrick Tombola emphasized that true sustainable performance is impossible without integrity. He reminded participants that ethics and integrity must remain at the heart of youth leadership, guiding every decision they make.

Parallel Workshop 2: Vocational Training

At the Microsoft auditorium, participants sat attentively during the session on Bridging Skill Gaps for Employment, which explored how vocational training programs can respond to the demands of a rapidly changing labor market, particularly for Africa’s youth.

Austin Omeno emphasized the need to balance technical expertise with interpersonal development: “As much as we train in hard skills, we need soft skills to ensure our workforce is at its optimum.” He added that education pathways must be clearly defined and that greater advocacy is needed to make vocational training attractive to young people as a viable avenue for career progression. He also stressed the importance of embedding entrepreneurship within the curriculum to encourage job creation.

Building on this point, Cecile Kianda highlighted the need to address why vocational training remains unattractive to many youth. She underscored the importance of strengthening vocational training institutions, enhancing curricula, and improving pedagogy, efforts that require close collaboration between government and industry partners.

Further enriching the conversation, Marie Noelle Tanoh emphasized that for vocational training to succeed, constructive collaboration with industry is essential. Such partnerships, she explained, ensure that training is aligned with market needs, equipping trainees with relevant skills and better preparing them for the job market.

Parallel Workshop 3: Empowering the Next Generation in Agriculture

With agriculture being a cornerstone of both Africa and the global economy, sustaining growth and development, it was imperative to hold a conversation on the future of Africa and how best to empower the next generation through sustainable solutions. Key experts and industry leaders joined the discussion, including Prof. Simon Wagura Nderitu, Director of SAFIC, Betty Kibaara from the Rockefeller Foundation, and Nino Mwanza from Centre de Production de Semences. Each shared valuable insights on how to strengthen Africa’s agricultural ecosystem.

Prof. Simon Wagura Nderitu emphasized the SAFCS strategic pillars: Data and Insights, Market Intelligence, Business Advisory, and Research & Innovation. By leveraging these pillars, he noted, Africa can harness knowledge to transform agriculture into a driver of economic growth and sustainability.

Betty Kibaara emphasized that having a strong business model is critical, it not only helps refine operations but also increases the chances of securing grants to scale and grow agribusinesses. On his part, Nino Mwanza highlighted the role of empowerment as a key driver for sustainable development, stressing that investing in people today lays the foundation for a stronger future.

Parallel Workshop 4: Youth

For the next generation who will step into leadership roles and steer Africa to the next level, youth engagement must begin now. It is through their active participation today that we can shape a stronger future. The fourth workshop focused on this vital theme: Leadership and Youth Engagement: Shaping Africa’s Future.

Quite frankly, the notion that young people are not ready for leadership should no longer be on the table. They too have a stake in the future we are shaping and holding in trust. “We need to have faith in the youth to take on leadership positions. We must support them, give them opportunities to learn, and most importantly, learn to listen to them.” — Dr. Hermann Okou

Charly Nshokano added to the discussion, urging that youth must be placed at the heart of leadership: “Let us put the youth at the center of leadership positions. Let us teach our youth positive values that set them up for ethical leadership.”

Bringing in a practical perspective, Dr. Vincent Ogutu, Vice Chancellor, Strathmore University, emphasized the importance of deliberate preparation: “To enhance ethical leadership, at Strathmore we are conducting training in leadership, ethics, and values. Let us debate with the youth on their choices, allowing us to answer difficult questions and inculcate positive values into them.” He further stressed the role of parents and education systems in preparing the next generation: young people should be given responsibilities, encouraged to participate in institutional activities, and guided with patience. Mistakes, he noted, are part of growth and mentorship. “We should engage them to the point of asking what the challenges are in their community and what they are doing to solve the problem.”

To wrap up a day that left participants’ notebooks brimming with insights and takeaways, Dr. Caesar Mwangi, Executive Dean of Strathmore Business School, delivered the closing address on the Transform Africa Network. He underscored the shared responsibility we all have in working toward the ultimate goal, transforming Africa.

Day 2 closed with a dinner at Kibondeni, offering a moment to reflect on the day’s discussions and prepare for the exciting conversations of Day 3.

Article written by: Jemmy M. Kamau