(SDG 9: Industry, Innovation & Infrastructure)
We talk about innovation a lot in Africa and there’s good reason to be excited.
From fintech to climate tech, youth led startups are solving real problems and attracting global attention.
But here’s a hard truth: ideas alone don’t drive innovation. People do.
And if the people behind the ideas aren’t equipped to sustain them, we’re building a house on sand.
SDG 9: Industry, Innovation & Infrastructure isn’t only about broadband and roads.
It’s also about the skills, systems, and mindsets that allow innovation to scale.
According to a 2023 African Union report, over 60% of African startups fail within the first 3 years. One of the top reasons? A shortage of local talent with the skills needed to build, manage, and grow these ideas.
The World Economic Forum has called the skills gap in Africa one of the biggest threats to innovation and industrialisation.
At Skilled For Work , we’ve seen the gap up close. Many learners are engaging with tools like Slack, Notion, or Miro for the first time. Yet these are foundational for digital collaboration, product design, and remote innovation.
That’s why we embed talent development into every layer of our program.
Not just the “what” to learn but the “how to think,” “how to work in global teams,” and “how to solve problems creatively under pressure.”
These are not side skills. They are the true infrastructure of innovation.
To unlock SDG 9 in Africa, we need more than entrepreneurship competitions and incubators. We need a shared commitment to developing the builders, not just funding the products.
🔹 Governments must integrate digital and workplace skills into national youth strategies, technical education, and job readiness initiatives.
🔹 Funders and VCs must allocate resources toward team development not just product market fit.
🔹 Universities and skills academies must teach real world innovation practices, including design thinking, digital collaboration, and remote project execution.
🔹 Tech hubs and accelerators must expand their focus beyond funding and into mentorship, soft skills, and operational depth.
Because a continent with ideas and no skilled implementers won’t go far.
We cannot build sustainable industries if we ignore the builders.
Dr Aderinsola Adio Adepoju
Sustainability | Innovation & Entrepreneurship | Global Opportunities | Employability Skills