President of Dangote Group, Aliko Dangote, has called on developing nations to lay emphasis on technical and vocational education as a tool for accelerated industrial development and growth.

Speaking at the Global Education First Initiative Anniversary & Learning for All Round Table held in New York, the United States, Dangote said that developing nations need a paradigm shift in their educational system in order to spur technological development.

He stressed that the same strategy was successfully adopted by the Koreans and Asian Tigers in transforming their economies, giving developing African countries a workable roadmap for achieving even better results.

Dangote, who also identified women as critical demographic of the population, called for increased intervention in girl child education to positively impact women productivity and subsequently grow the economy. He also called for the training of the youths who are the future leaders to have the skills that will equip them for leadership.

Speaking on the activities of Dangote Group in promoting leadership amongst the youth, he stated that the Group has sponsored over 70 outstanding young African professionals to the World Economic Forum, providing them with opportunity to interact with leading global businessmen and statesmen and acquiring skills to provide the right mix of leadership needed to help solve perceived loopholes and challenges in the domestic economy.

Dangote explaining his Group’s commitment to leadership and education said “… we are equally committed to building generations of young global leaders who are empowered to take responsibility for their own lives and for making a difference in the world. At Dangote Group, we believe that youths are the future leaders. We believe that youths should be empowered to lead. We believe that empowered youths are great leaders! That is why we are committed to the empowerment of youths.”

•Photo shows Dangote.