Don’t waste time studying history – Kenya VP Ruto
What you need to know:
- Singer Eddie Kenzo scooped an award of performing arts and music beating Rema Namakula. The singer reminded the youth how his dream was not deterred by the misfortunes that surrounded his life in childhood.
- President Museveni whose message was delivered by Prime minister, Dr Ruhakana Rugunda, urged the youth to utilize the prevailing peace to develop themselves through innovation and technology.
KAMPALA. Kenya Deputy President, William Ruto, has urged African leaders to stop teaching children history but rather divert resources on promoting innovations, science and technical education.
Mr Ruto who was the chief guest at the Jonnie Walker Young Achievers awards in Kampala on Saturday, said it is useless to teach children Europeans who arrived at mountains and rivers centuries ago.
“In the course of life, creativity, innovation and enterprise pay even more. Unless our education is reformed to emphasise innovation, science and technical education, the development of African will remain a dream. Of what amount does one earn from knowing when Vasco Dagama arrived at mountain Malindi,” Mr Ruto said.
Mr Ruto who was invited by Reach A Hand Uganda (RAHU), the awards organisers, bagged the lifetime prize in recognition to his development and education contributions in Kenya and Uganda.
Citing an example of Kenya’s President, Uhuru Kenyatta and him who have championed technical education in their country, Mr Ruto said Africa should focus on education systems that are innovation oriented.
“Unless young people are equipped with the science of preproduction, production, art and design they cannot be developmental. It is for this reason that President Kenyatta and I have for the last six years turned what was ignored and underfunded technical education sector into the centerpiece of our skills giving program. Today we boast of several national polytechnics and we have over 180000 students in these technical colleges,” Mr Ruto said.
The Vice President applauded RAHU for honouring him with an award but also for spearheading a ceremony that recognises the youth’s hard work in fields of enterprise, innovation, science and technology.
“I am deeply honoured to be your 2018 recipient of life time award. The organisers made reference to my work I have done in my country Kenya. I accept this recognition from you because it is a privilege and as Africans we must learn to celebrate and validate our own rather than wait for external applauses because that is a liberating mindset that I fully endorse,” he said.
Singer Eddie Kenzo scooped an award of performing arts and music beating Rema Namakula. The singer reminded the youth how his dream was not deterred by the misfortunes that surrounded his life in childhood.
“I was a street child for 13 years but that did not stop me from achieving my music dream. I am now filling stadiums in Uganda, African and Europe. I am the first Ugandan to do an international hit and over 200 million people on YouTube have watched it. Be determined you will achieve your dream,” Mr Kenzo said.
President Museveni whose message was delivered by Prime minister, Dr Ruhakana Rugunda, urged the youth to utilize the prevailing peace to develop themselves through innovation and technology.
“All those nominated and winners of these Young Achievers awards are focused on problem solving. It is young people saying we have problems but we are not going to look on. You are bringing solutions to problems. There is no doubt you the young people will transform this country,” Dr Rugunda said.
