NAIROBI, Kenya, Aug 15 – Prime Minister Raila Odinga has advised the youth to take education seriously to be able to acquire knowledge, inculcate the forms of proper conduct and technical competency needed to open doors of opportunities.
He said that it is only through education that the society can get the desired change and have a generation of virtuous individuals who can positively contribute to the development.
He spoke on Monday at Kenyatta University while responding to questions during the second Equity Bank Education and Leadership congress where over 3,200 beneficiaries attended.
The PM said that the country has a talented young population that looks curious and determined to take the country to the next level.
Mr Odinga noted that the government will keep expanding the education and investing more funds in the sector to ensure growth of the nation.
”As a government, we are determined to see to it that these young Kenyans attain their dreams through education”, he said.
He told the congress that over the past two decades, the State has supported students largely through the loans disbursed through the Higher Education Loans Board.
But he was quick to note that government support is not adequate because of the overwhelming demand.
”Loans by government are limited. They also mean each recipient graduates with a debt to pay”, he said.
At the same time, he noted that expanding education opportunities for Kenyans cannot be done by the government alone and called the private sector to supplement government’s efforts by investing in the sector.
He thanked Equity Bank through its chief executive officer Dr James Mwangi for providing scholarships to bright and needy students.
The PM cited China as one of the countries that empowered the youth academically and has reaped bountifully.
He explained that the government was keen to reap from the availability of lots of its young workers.
Mr Odinga advised young people to drop the notion that success comes easy and realise the world is full of successful men and women who succeeded after failing many times.
Responding on questions on leadership, the PM advised the youth to espouse integrity as the hallmark of success in life.
”Integrity is the most important value in leadership. Integrity opens many doors and it is a value young people ought to embrace”, he advised.
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