Retired Geita Regional Commissioner Gabriel Robert has urged young Tanzanians to acquire technical and vocational skills, saying formal training could improve their chances of securing jobs or starting businesses in the growing mining sector.
Mr Robert made the call after visiting the Vocational Education and Training Authority (VETA) pavilion at the ninth National Mining Technology Exhibition being held at the Dr Samia Suluhu Hassan Exhibition Grounds in Geita Municipality.
He said the increasing involvement of young people in mining made it important for them to acquire professional skills that could help them work safely and productively while creating opportunities for self-employment.
“I have seen the important work VETA is doing by taking young people and giving them skills that can enable them to become self-employed or secure employment,” Mr Robert said.
He said vocational training should be viewed as an important pathway for young people seeking opportunities in sectors driven by technology, including mining.
“People who have trained at VETA benefit from the skills they acquire because they are prepared to participate in the economic struggle through the technological knowledge they receive,” he said.
Mr Robert urged Tanzanians, particularly young people, not to dismiss vocational education, arguing that changes in technology were creating new demands in the labour market.
“My advice to Tanzanians is not to underestimate VETA. They should go and study and acquire skills. The world has changed because of technology,” he said.
He said VETA-trained youth could use their skills to establish businesses or compete for employment opportunities instead of relying on informal knowledge alone.
Mr Robert also challenged VETA to keep updating its training programmes through research so that graduates acquire skills that match changing technological and labour-market demands.
“My advice to VETA is to continue conducting research and improving its training programmes so that young people can continue acquiring relevant technological skills and benefit from vocational education,” he said.