By Eyasu Zekarias
In a significant move to support Africa’s industrial growth and tackle youth unemployment, China, the African Union (AU), and the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) have launched a new vocational training seminar in Addis Ababa. This initiative is part of the broader “Luban Workshop” program, designed to improve workforce skills and meet the continent’s urgent demand for qualified labor.
The “Overseas Seminar on Vocational Education Management Capacity Building for the Luban Workshop” represents a practical effort by Chinese President Xi Jinping to uphold commitments made at previous China-Africa Cooperation Forum (FOCAC) meetings. The program aligns with the African Union’s Agenda 2063, which prioritizes human capital development as a foundation for sustainable industrialization.
In his opening remarks, Ambassador Jiang Feng, Head of the Mission of China to the African Union, stressed that human resource skills and technology are the primary drivers of competition and development in the modern era. “The friendship between China and Africa has been tested in practice,” he said, noting ongoing successful cooperation in industrialization, agricultural modernization, and talent development. Ambassador Feng highlighted that China has trained over 100,000 Africans through various initiatives and emphasized the philosophy, “It is better to teach fishing than to give fish,” underscoring the focus on sustainable skills transfer.
Sophia Ashipala, Head of Education Division at the African Union Commission, detailed the continent’s daunting demographic challenge. She pointed out that while 10 to 12 million young Africans enter the labor market annually, only about 3 million formal employment opportunities are created. Ashipala warned that by 2025, around 121 million youths may face unemployment or lack access to education, employment, or training (NEETs). She highlighted the importance of partnerships like the Luban Workshop in equipping young workers with skills in green technology, digital innovation, and technical fields crucial for Africa’s sustainable development.
Named after Luban, an ancient Chinese master carpenter, the Luban Workshop platform combines professional education with hands-on training. It provides advanced equipment and expert instructors to nurture top technical talent. Currently, 17 Luban Workshops operate across Africa, with plans to establish 10 more, aiming to foster self-reliance and accelerate industrial progress on the continent.
This strengthened China-Africa vocational training collaboration not only addresses pressing employment challenges but also paves the way for deeper industrial and technological cooperation between the two regions.
