What Mechanism Can We Use To Identify, Nurture, And Promote Talents In Remote Areas Of Africa?

African nations may not have the best economies in the world. However, one thing they have in abundance is youth with incredible talents. Sadly, the majority of them feel trapped in rural areas without the right amenities to help them blossom. Harnessing and managing talent is difficult in Africa’s remote areas. Without the right resources, it is hard to tell what someone can do in the first place.

Regardless of the seemingly overwhelming lack of basic amenities and resources, some young Africans are creating mind-blowing innovations from scrap. For example, there was the story of a young Nigerian that creates drones and flying cars. Also, there is the story of Samuel Zila who believes that the lack of funding should never stop your dreams. From North to South Africa, you will find similar stories. The big question is how can we identify and nurture talents in Africa’s remote areas?

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How can we identify and harness talents?

Identifying and nurturing talents in Africa’s rural areas should take a multi-faceted approach. In fact, any successful process should involve a public-private partnership. None of the sectors alone can pull it off working in isolation. Each of the sectors has a role to play as you can see below.

Public sector

Providing basic amenities like rural electrification, motorable roads and portable drinking water are some of the key roles of the government. The absence of these amenities makes Africa’s rural areas inhabitable. Thus, the majority of talent scouts tend to ignore such places when conducting their screenings. Therefore, creating the right environment will facilitate the discovery of crude talents in rural areas. Also, African governments should set aside funds to support talented individuals to either bring their ideas to reality or to scale them up.

Private sector

Every now and then, we see a reality TV show that aims at discovering talents. There is one for musicians, cooks, dancers, inventors, and so on. Sadly, most of these shows don’t hold auditions in rural areas. Also, the requirements for some of the auditions are usually too high, thereby discouraging rural dwellers. Perhaps, it is time that organizers of talent hunt rethink their audition parameters and centers. We believe that if the government play their role well, this decision should become easier.

Rural communities

Western intrusion is causing Africans to lose their communal way of life. In the past, African families had little or no boundaries. Children from different families play and eat together. This made it easier for almost everyone to know each other’s strengths and weaknesses. Thus, if anyone had a special talent it was easy to spot them. Maybe, African rural communities need to revive this spirit. However, they should take it a step further by working with community leaders, organizations, and government to promote talented individuals.

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Nurturing African talents

What many young talented African youths lack the most is not funding but mentoring. Obviously, not all innovations are feasible or marketable. Talented youths need someone to guide them to refine their talents. Currently, there is an overemphasis on academic qualifications in Africa. Thus, talented rural dwellers who due to financial constraints could not get a certificate are ignored by employers.

Both the government and private establishments should deliberately carve out positions for talented individuals regardless of their certification. However, it shouldn’t stop there. These talented individuals should get the same remuneration as their peers in the same position. African nations should make deliberate attempts to provide a level-playing environment for all. The people we leave behind today would be the menace we would have to contain tomorrow.