Officials and Business Leaders Urge Students to Develop Entrepreneurial Skills and Contribute to Society

During a state visit to Tanzania on June 9, Singapore President Tharman Shanmugaratnam spoke to around 600 students and faculty at the University of Dar es Salaam, warning that Africa faces an unprecedented employment gap: the World Bank projects 500 million young Africans will enter the workforce over the next decade, but only about 165 million will find formal jobs. He argued that schools must instill in young people not just skills but a belief that they can contribute meaningfully to society, which he said is key to reducing youth emigration. He also highlighted Singapore's education model, which prioritized polytechnics and technical institutes over university expansion, as a potential reference point for Africa. Meanwhile, in Kalaburagi, India, Assistant Commissioner Shikar Mugha inaugurated a placement drive at Sharnbasva University, urging engineering graduates to explore entrepreneurship rather than relying solely on corporate jobs, citing examples of peers who built enterprises employing thousands. Entrepreneur Krishnaji Kulkarni echoed this, sharing how he started a business with ₹10,000 after failing to find suitable employment and eventually built a company employing over 500 people. Both events, though geographically and institutionally distinct, converge on the theme that youth empowerment, entrepreneurial confidence, and purpose-driven education are critical to addressing employment challenges in developing economies.