PS State Department for  Labour and Skills Development, Geoffrey Kaituko  officially launched the World Youth Skills Day at the University of Nairobi today.

This year's theme being "skilling teachers, trainers, and youth for a transformative future", he urged the youth to embrace employable skills and take advantage of the opportunities presented by the World Youth Skills Day Conference, Expos and career fairs.

To celebrate the World Youth Skills Day, the State Department has collaborated with various stakeholders, in convening the Skills Up Africa conference, exhibition, career fair and roadshow in order to:

 * Provide an enabling environment for exchange of ideas with national, regional and global skills experts on the youth skills required for the future.  

 * Reflect on good practices that skills development stakeholders can adopt to develop and scale up the skills required for the future.

 *  Provide a platform for the youth to showcase their innovations and talents and connect them with potential employers and mentors. 

 * Highlight the role of skilled youth in addressing current and future national, regional and global challenges.  

 * Promote linkages, partnerships and collaborations among stakeholders in the skills development ecosystem.

The PS commended all the stakeholders for their support and committed to work with them to ensure that there is a coherent, coordinated, and all-inclusive participatory approach for linking industry to education and training.  

In attendance was DVC (Academic Affairs) University of Nairobi Julius A. Ogeng, Carol Njuki, Country Director ILO, Gideon Murenga, Regional TVET Coordinator, GIZ, representatives from COTU, FKE, KNQA among other Senior government officials.