(Ecofin Agency) - To fight youth unemployment in Africa, Swiss group Nestlé will train 300,000 youth by 2018. “We are going to create more than 3,000 internships and apprenticeships in African countries by the end of 2018. During the same period, we will offer qualified work experience to more than 300,000 African youth aged below 30 years,” said Paul Bulcke, CEO Nestle.

Regarding to Nestle’s initiative, Cote d’Ivoire’s prime minister, Daniel Kablan Duncan, who was present during the announcement said it comes right on time as unemployment is growing exponentially. “While African economic growth has stayed strong for roughly a decade, it has not been able to develop productive capacities and transformational changes within its economy, which are crucial elements in creating job opportunities as well as laying the groundwork for poverty reduction,” he said. He added that the battle against unemployment, private sector’s contribution through job creation and training is more than welcomed.

Let’s recall that Africa currently has one of the world’s greatest youth percentages – 70% of its population has less than 30 years.

Aaron Akinocho