Youth of today and a prosperous future

Discussions and initiatives surrounding young talent and youth development are a testament to the global movement to nurture young minds in favour of propelling the digital transformation forward.

In a world so dominated by technology, young people are our most valuable asset. Not only are millennials the world's largest adult generation - they are also the most educated, the most technologically versed, and the most entrepreneurial generation. What's more, according to a recent HSBC Private Bank report, millennial entrepreneurs in the Middle East are especially hard-working, with an average work day of 12.5 hours - more than 2.5 hours above the global average for the rest of their generation.
What's more, millennials came of age in an era characterised by digitalisation on every front. They grew up with smartphones and the Internet at every turn, and as such, they are more knowledgeable and more comfortable with technology than any other generation. As the technological transformation presses onward, their digital prowess becomes invaluable - and for, organisations and governments leading this transformation, millennials offer an inherent value proposition.
In the digital era, investing in our youth is investing in our future. It's no coincidence that young people are flocking to technology hubs and innovation nerve centres like Silicon Valley, where their skills are most applicable and most valued. In places like these, millennials' inexperience lends their minds to be moulded: rather than a weakness, it is an advantage. And in the UAE, where technology flourishes and young people abound, the export of tomorrow is the youth. Initiatives surrounding the smart city future and the knowledge-based economy depend heavily on the cultivation of young talent; and in achieving the country's ambition to become a global technology hub, harnessing the skills of a large millennial population will be vital.
By extension, in building a sustainable future both industrially and economically, stakeholders in governments and enterprises alike must recognise the potential of younger generations to drive innovation and solutions in their national, regional, and global communities. In line with this, the UAE government has launched initiatives designed to nurture young talent. One such initiative is the One Million Arab Coders programme, which seeks to help one million young Arab programmers hone their digital and coding skills to better prepare them to enter a technology-centric workforce.
Another initiative that aims to empower young people in the UAE is the Emirati Startup Challenge. Hosted by du, the competition encourages Emirati students from universities across the country to pursue their entrepreneurial endeavours and acquire the necessary skillsets to succeed. Through initiatives like these, the government and corporate entities in the UAE are enabling a culture of innovation and entrepreneurship among the nation's millennials. By fostering creativity and dedicating the necessary resources to help young people achieve their dreams, the UAE has become an incubator for ambition.
From the first female Emirati air traffic controller to the founders of companies like Careem and Cobone.com, young people in the UAE have the resources and support they need to make their mark in a digital world. By integrating the young, fresh minds of a generation of technology natives with the seasoned know-how of older generations, organisations will bridge the gap of technological dexterity and move closer to achieving their goals.
Discussions and initiatives surrounding young talent and youth development are a testament to the global movement to nurture young minds in favour of propelling the digital transformation forward. As leaders from countries near and far increasingly speak about the value of the youth in achieving sustainability, maintaining competitiveness, and driving economic impact, governments and organisations around the world are beginning to invest more time and resources into the talents and ambitions of their young people.
To leave the world's youth without the information and resources they need to maximise and realise their potential is to forfeit an entire generation's valuable ideas, visions, and creations. In 2018, as we make global and regional strides towards devising the technologies of tomorrow, it will be imperative to invest in our youth and all they have to offer. Organisations and governments with a focus on developing young minds in a technology-dependent world will come to the forefront of the digital transformation, leading the charge towards a smart and sustainable world.
The writer is deputy CEO for teleco services at du. Views expressed are his own and do not reflect the newspaper's policy.