GE Africa has today in Nairobi launched the first Africa Learning Advisory Board that will provide thought leadership and support for both GE Africa and the continent’s talent development.
The Board which brings together approximately 20 members drawn from GE, Africa, Europe and North America with a primary focus on local technical and engineering skills development across Africa.
GE Africa has aggressive growth plans for the continent focused on local innovation, partnerships and investing in its local presence in the power, healthcare, rail transportation and oil and gas.
“This board is a first for GE and testament to our commitment to developing skilled talent for GE and Africa now and for the future. “This is a partnership that leverages GE’s long history in training and skills development; homegrown knowledge and experience from African academia and the best in practice from across the globe,” said Jay Ireland, President and CEO of GE Africa.
Kenya’s Cabinet Secretary, Industrialization and Enterprise Development, Adan Mohammed said: “My ministry is fully aware of the vital role that technical skills will play in the future of this country especially as we venture into the world of extractive mining and gas exploration. The move by GE is a step in the right direction. As a government, we are committed to offer high quality education and technical training to our youth to enable us create more job opportunities and grow our economy.”
Oweti Wambayi, Director Technical and Vocational Training said: “To achieve this, my ministry has put in place plans for the expansion of technical training institutions as well as the development of an all-inclusive curricular that embraces the latest technology in skills development for our technical institutions.”
The Advisory Board is chaired by Professor Emmanuel Atoo Ajav, Dean, Faculty of Technology, University of Ibadan, Nigeria. He said the composition of the board is largely from experts in Africa and this is a testimony that Africa is ready.
GE Africa is a global leader in skills development spending $ 1 billion annually on training and education programs around the world. GE’s roots in Africa are over 100 years old with the company recently opening its Africa Headquarters in Nairobi in 2011. It has also set up new offices in Senegal, Tanzania, Ethiopia, Mozambique and Cote D’Ivoire.