Zambia is set to host the inaugural Industrial Skills Week Africa on September 9–10, 2025, in partnership with the African Union Development Agency – New Partnership for Africa’s Development (AUDA-NEPAD). The event aims to provide a continental platform to foster dialogue, build partnerships, and advance actions that place skills at the center of Africa’s industrial transformation.
Technology and Science Minister Felix Mutati highlighted the event’s focus on addressing the skills gap, describing it as a growing mismatch between industry needs and the workforce’s current capabilities. He noted that this gap continues to limit productivity, innovation, and employment across key sectors, including manufacturing, mining, agro-processing, pharmaceuticals, and green industries.
“Zambia is proud to host this inaugural event,” Mutati said. He added that the conference will highlight the nation’s youth, training institutions, and the wave of innovation emerging across the continent.
AUDA-NEPAD CEO Nardos Bekele-Thomas emphasized that Africa’s industrial ambitions cannot succeed without substantial investment in skills development. She called on governments, private sector actors, and training institutions to work together to ensure the workforce meets the demands of a rapidly industrializing continent.
The two-day gathering will feature workshops, panel discussions, and networking sessions aimed at equipping policymakers, industry leaders, and educators with practical solutions to close the skills gap. Organizers expect the event to accelerate Africa’s industrialization by creating a pipeline of skilled professionals ready to drive economic growth and innovation.
By hosting Industrial Skills Week Africa, Zambia positions itself as a hub for industrial skills development and a key contributor to Africa’s broader economic transformation.