By: Ifeanyi Odoh - Country President, Schneider Electric East Africa

In a time when the global spotlight is firmly set on Africa, countries have the opportunity to truly accelerate their adoption of electrification, industrial development and renewable energy deployment.

However, the above will not be possible without the right people.  And looking closer at East Africa, a region that is experiencing tremendous growth, the time has now to start investing in our people.

Indeed, our future will not be built by technology alone but by the people that install, maintain, operate it and ultimately innovate around it.

This is why investing in practical, industry-relevant skills development is central to Schneider Electric’s work across East Africa.  It also forms part Schneider Electric’ global ambition; having already equipped over one million people with energy management skills, we are now aiming even higher, skilling three million people in electrification and sustainability by 2030. 

In Kenya, for example, the Schneider Electric Franco-Kenyan Centre of Excellence (CoE) at PC Kinyanjui Technical Training Institute in Nairobi has been designed to equip young people with the practical capabilities needed to participate in the energy economy of the future.

Established through collaboration between Kenya’s State Department for Technical and Vocational Education and Training, the French Ministry of National Education and Youth, Schneider Electric Kenya, the Schneider Electric Foundation, and PC Kinyanjui Technical Training Institute, the CoE unites practical training with advanced technologies.

It equips young people for today’s jobs and tomorrow’s opportunities; however, its true impact is seen when technical training opens doors to careers.

From technical education to creating opportunity

One example is Kennedy Oseluh, an alumnus of PC Kinyanjui Technical Training Institute, who completed his diploma in Electronics Engineering in 2017. His journey illustrates why skills development needs to be continuous and closely connected to the evolving needs of industry.

After completing his studies, Kennedy entered the electrical field, gaining experience in areas including electrical installations. As the demand for solar energy began to grow, he recognised an opportunity to build on his existing technical foundation and returned to PC Kinyanjui Technical Training Institute’s programme in electrical and solar TVETtraining to develop specialist knowledge in solar installation.

Today, that additional training has helped him build his own business, Large Power Solutions, where he works with a team of around 10 people delivering solar installations for residential and commercial customers.

This  is what a skills pipeline should ultimately achieve, not only preparing graduates for their first employment but providing them with the confidence and capabilities to adapt as technology evolves.

The multiplier effect of skills

Kennedy’s initial technical education gave him a foundation and additional training in solar technologies enabled him to respond to a changing energy landscape. That knowledge helped him establish a business and provide employment to others in the field of energy.

This is the multiplier effect we should be aiming for through skills development; the goal is not simply to produce graduates but to create a smoother path to employment, entrepreneurship and continued professional development.

And importantly, this journey should not stop when a student leaves an institution. Our responsibility as industry is therefore to help create a culture of lifelong learning, one where technical education provides the foundation, industry exposure provides context, and continuous development enables people to keep pace with change.