Church Of Jesus Christ Of Latter-day Saints Pushes Skills, Education For Youth

Elder Clark G. Gilbert, a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, has emphasized that West Africa's large and youthful population could become an economic asset if young people have access to quality education, relevant skills, and opportunities to contribute productively to the economy.

The Church's online higher education program, BYU-Pathway Worldwide, has been instrumental in expanding access to education across the region. With almost 40,000 students across all of West Africa, the program offers courses in various fields like accounting, project management, and healthcare management. Students can begin with job-skills certificates before advancing to associate and bachelor's degrees.

Elder Gilbert stressed that education should be connected to opportunity for young people to realize their potential. He pointed out that while talent is distributed equally, opportunities are not, a disparity that he observed while interacting with African missionaries who faced limited opportunities in their home environments.

By expanding access to education, particularly through BYU-Pathway Worldwide, the Church aims to narrow this opportunity gap. The program's curriculum and assessments mirror those of the Church's universities in the United States, making it affordable and accessible to students in West Africa.

Elder Gilbert stated that the program's goal is to equip graduates with both academic knowledge and practical competencies, enabling them to be immediately useful in the workplace. He highlighted that education can create opportunities, particularly through digital education, which allows graduates to seek remote jobs beyond their immediate geographical markets.

This approach has already yielded results, with some BYU-Pathway graduates securing remote jobs with employers outside their countries, thereby earning income while remaining in Africa.

The Church leader underscored that education should foster the holistic development of the individual, encompassing communication, leadership, work ethic, and the ability to collaborate and develop others. The ultimate objective, according to Elder Gilbert, is to produce young people who are not merely employable but also capable of contributing positively to their families, communities, and economies.