KIGALI, June 21 (Xinhua) -- With about 35 percent of the youth in Africa without access to decent work, governments need to ensure that the youth are better organized to be more productive and contribute to national development, an African Union (AU) official said Wednesday in Kigali, capital city of Rwanda.
Governments across the continent need to review their education and training programs to ensure that the youth learn relevant skills to get jobs, said Minata Samate Cessouma, Commissioner for Political Affairs at the AU Commission at the Africa Public Service Day celebrations.
The celebrations attracted more than 500 participants.
Opening the conference, Rwanda's Prime Minister Anastase Murekezi, talked of the need to empower the youth for socio-economic development.
To help African youth raise their productive capacities, governments must provide trainings that match labor market opportunities and commit to deliver public services with integrity, excellence, and professionalism, he said.
The day is celebrated on June 23 annually at national level by AU member states to appreciate the work done by the public service.
The Africa Public Service Day is also marked every two years at a continental level and hosted by one of AU member countries.
This year's event was organized under the theme "entrenching a citizen-centered service delivery culture: partnering with the youth for Africa's transformation."
Deliberations are conducted around four main themes including how to entrench a citizen-centered public service delivery by involving youth for the continent's transformation.
