KAMPALA- Due to the increase in population, technology advancement and lack of proper skill set and many others factors, unemployment has become a global threat to those in leadership.
In Uganda, this takes another twist since the population of youth in the country is one of highest in the world and second to Niger, and so if drastic measures and strategies are not done there will a future national social- economic issue.
It is under this back drop that the French Embassy in Uganda together with its partners especially French owned businesses in Uganda embarked on the Job Fair and Study in France to forge a way forward. This is part of the activities that was birthed in celebration of the Francophonie month of March in Uganda.
The French Ambassador to Uganda, H.E Xavier Sticker said that they have over 40 French Companies that are offering internship, graduate training and job opportunities to those that are qualified and selected by the employers.
“We started this Job Fair last year and it is part of creating and fostering our bilateral relationships with Uganda that has existed for some good time. We are one of the biggest investors in Uganda with large multinational companies in the various fields such as Energy, construction, agriculture, hospitality, telecommunications and other spaces “Adds Sticker.
He also noted that this year they have added to the twist with the study fair that had 7 universities represented to enable Ugandans have that mobility and international aspect in their education so that they can compete on a global scale with greater aspirations.
The deputy head Africa Unit, Oumou Diakite, Marketing and Mobility, Campus France revealed that they are on campaign to increase on the number of Ugandans studying in France since they are only 69 out of 400, 000 according to the 2021 and 2022 figures.
” We want to break that barrier because we are less cheaper than studying in United Kingdom, Canada ,United States of America and other countries but most of the Ugandans don’t know because they are not informed.
They think you only learn in French but it is not the case since there are also English based models.
There are more than 45, 000 programmes and we have come with over 7 universitiies and France is the 6th ranked in the world that welcomes international students'” Explained Diakite.
She further asserted that most Ugandans are not aware about the great programmes that are in available in France yet they are very affordable and ranked amongst the best in the whole citing Mathematics as one of them.
The president Club D’Affairres Kampala (CAK), Thomas Pelletier an association of French business entities in Uganda said that they represent 60 companies and it was an Opportunity to engage with the students, graduates and job seekers in one place without moving from place to another which is expensive in the long run.
Pelletier pointed out that some of these businesses will take on the candidates for work and besides that they had several classes such as CV writing, Mock Interview sessions, French Classes as part of the activities to provide a comprehensive feel.
Among the companies and Universities that took part in the Study and Job fair included: Lapaire Africa, Total Energies, Cfao, Africa Global Logistics, Sciences Po, EM Nomarndie Business School, South Champagne Business School and many others.
