Boitekanelo graduates challenged to tackle youth unemployment

Deputy Provost Academic Services, Dr Gabalape Sejie, said the country needed graduates who could go beyond seeking employment and instead use their knowledge and skills to develop solutions to pressing national challenges. Sejie noted Botswana and the rest of Africa needed professionals who could turn knowledge into innovation and meaningful change. “Look beyond simply fulfilling a role.

Ask what can be improved,” Sejie implored the graduates when delivering a message to the Class of 2026 at the college’s graduation ceremony. “Look for solutions. Create opportunities. Serve people well,” he added. Sejie noted that graduates were entering a professional environment shaped by rapid technological advancement, economic uncertainty, and climate change, requiring them to remain adaptable and continuously develop their skills. He said artificial intelligence was reshaping professions and the nature of work, making critical thinking, sound judgement and ethical conduct increasingly important. Here in Botswana, he said, global developments were compounded by challenges including youth unemployment, the need for economic diversification, healthcare demands, and the strengthening of institutions.