African professionals attending the Global Luban Workshop in Ningbo have urged their governments to adopt lessons from China in addressing insecurity and rising unemployment across the continent.
The two-week program, hosted by Ningbo Polytechnic University, focused on vocational training, technology transfer, and industrial upgrading. Delegates from across Africa said the Chinese model demonstrated how innovation, structured policies, and community engagement can transform economies and societies.
“If we want to reduce unemployment and insecurity, Africa must deliberately invest in technological advancement. That is the lesson we are taking from China,” said Siaka Gomez from The Gambia.
Shandulo Maphorisa of Botswana highlighted the importance of technology in governance and workforce participation. “Technology is not just about machines, it is about improving people’s lives and making societies safer,” he said.
From Sierra Leone, Musu Monica-Dean stressed the need for a cultural shift: “Africa must reorient its people. Without a change of attitude, even the best technology will not achieve results.”
Echoing this, Ugandan participant Nandala Banabas said nation-building must guide Africa’s future. Tanzanian delegate Evance Frederick praised the workshop’s practical impact: “This program has shown us how innovation and structured policies can transform industries and create jobs. It’s an experience we should replicate back home.”
Nigeria’s Yahaya Ndambabo added that African nations should adapt strategies to their own realities: “Every African country must develop approaches that reflect its unique context while learning from global best practices.”
The workshop combined classroom learning with company visits and cultural exchanges in Ningbo and Shanghai. An interpreter working with the African group said the delegates showed “remarkable eagerness to learn and adapt.”
Our correspondent reports that the initiative has become a model for how Africa could harness vocational education and technology transfer to foster long-term development.
African Delegates call for Chinese-Inspired Solutions to Insecurity, Unemployment
