Sahara Sparks 2024 pushes for skill development in digital age

DAR ES SALAAM: THE highly anticipated Sahara Sparks 2024 event was launched in Dar es Salaam on Monday, featuring dynamic panel discussions centred on skill development and the potential of innovation and technology.

The objective was to cultivate a workforce capable of thriving in the rapidly evolving digital landscape, particularly with the rise of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in the workplace. The event began with a panel discussion on “AI and the Future of Journalism,” conducted in partnership with the Tanzania Media Foundation (TMF).

Participants, including journalists, AI enthusiasts and media stakeholders, explored the transformative impact of AI on journalism. This dialogue session was part of a series of events leading up to the main Sahara Sparks 2024 event, scheduled for Friday and Saturday at Mlimani City in Dar es Salaam.

Themed “People Skills Future,” the high-level event will feature discussions on various pressing issues in skill development and strategies for leveraging emerging technologies to create sustainable employment opportunities.

At a press conference, Director General of the Tanzania Commission for Science and Technology (COSTECH), Dr Amos Nungu praised Sahara Ventures for spearheading this important dialogue on People Skills and the Future.

“Every year, over 800,000 young people enter the labor market, yet our capacity for skills development, as outlined in the Third National Five-Year Development Plan (FYDP III), remains inadequate.

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We need development partners to complement the government’s efforts in building a skilled workforce while leveraging technology to create a sustainable tech-entrepreneurship ecosystem,” Dr Nungu stated.

Sahara Venture CEO Jumanne Mtambalike added, “As we lead the conversation on People Skills and the Future in the digital age, we have strategically aligned our discussion topics with prioritised sectors in the National Skills Development Strategy, such as agriculture, agro-economy and information and communication technology (ICT).

Our thought-provoking panels aim to drive systemic interventions in the labor market during this digital era,” he said The climax of the event will include sessions on EdTech, envisioning Digital Tanzania 2050, AI and the Future of Work, growing businesses in emerging markets and discussions on startup and corporate engagement.

Sahara Sparks serves as an expansive thought leadership platform, uniting stakeholders from the private sector, startup ecosystem and investors.

Additionally, the event provides tech startups from various sectors an opportunity to showcase their innovative solutions. Startups expected to present their offerings include those focused on EdTech and agriculture.