STORY: Kenya rallies African nations to harness youth-led innovation, unlock growth
SHOOTING TIME: Nov. 27, 2024
DATELINE: Nov. 30, 2024
LENGTH: 0:01:49
LOCATION: Nairobi
CATEGORY: SOCIETY

SHOTLIST:
1. various of innovators at the conference
2. SOUNDBITE (English): WILLIAM RUTO, Kenyan President
3. various of innovators introducing innovations

STORYLINE:

Kenyan President William Ruto on Wednesday called on African nations to leverage youth-led innovation and entrepreneurship to stimulate growth and tackle the endemic challenges of poverty, disease and unemployment.

Speaking at the fourth edition of Kenya Innovation Week in Nairobi, the Kenyan capital, Ruto stressed that creating a robust innovation ecosystem will help Africa leapfrog to the next frontier of growth and transformation.
   
SOUNDBITE (English): WILLIAM RUTO, Kenyan President
"The wealth of knowledge, creativity and innovation in the young people of Kenya is demonstrable. If you go out here and you see what they are doing from TVETs (Technical and Vocational Education and Training), from universities, from different other institutions, it is clear that we have a wealth of talent. And because the future is going to be tech, and the future is going to be urban, and the future is going to be technology-led, it is an appropriate place for us to invest now."

From Monday to Friday, the 2024 Kenya Innovation Week was held under the theme of "Re-imagining Africa's Future," featuring panel discussions, boot camps, interactive workshops and exhibitions.

The five-day event showcased Kenya's thriving innovation ecosystem that has attracted venture capital, unleashing new jobs for the youth and transforming key sectors like agriculture, manufacturing, health and energy, the Kenyan president said.

While reaffirming Kenya's commitment to becoming a global innovation hub, Ruto noted the country is keen to share experiences and best practices with other African nations in their quest to grow their knowledge-based economies.

He stressed the significance of innovation in realizing the African Union's Agenda 2063 besides positioning the continent as a hub for foreign direct investment in the digital economy.

According to Ruto, tapping into public and private sector financing will be key to commercializing a large pool of youth-led innovations in the continent, eliminating the unemployment crisis and fostering social cohesion.
   
"We should leverage technology and innovation in order to create opportunities, bridge the yawning gap of economic inequality and drive our nations to prosperity," Ruto said.

He added that by facilitating the seamless flow of cutting-edge innovations, African countries will reap from enhanced cross-border trade in goods and services alongside industrial progress.

Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from Nairobi.
(XHTV)