Vice President Gaolathe Explores AI-Driven Youth and Skills Development Partnership with Japanese Firm at TICAD9

Vice President Gaolathe Explores AI-Driven Youth and Skills Development Partnership with Japanese Firm at TICAD9. Vice President and Minister of Finance, Ndaba Nkosinathi Gaolathe, held discussions with Japanese technology company AIBOS Co., Ltd. during the Ninth Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD9). The engagement centered on opportunities to strengthen youth empowerment, digital reskilling, and innovation in Botswana.

AIBOS, which specializes in artificial intelligence and IT solutions, shared its experience in developing educational and school management systems designed to support digitalisation in the education sector. The company has also pioneered youth-focused programmes in programming and software development, recruiting talent from high school and university levels.

Vice President Gaolathe highlighted Botswana’s interest in innovative approaches to capacity building, particularly those that can align with national development priorities. He noted his interest in the company’s employee management system, already implemented in Uganda, which enhances performance monitoring and accountability.

For Botswana’s entrepreneurs and businesses, the discussions signal growing opportunities in the technology and education sectors, with potential for partnerships in reskilling initiatives, digital platforms, and innovation ecosystems. The focus on youth aligns with national efforts to build a skilled workforce capable of driving economic diversification.

AIBOS representatives indicated their willingness to explore Botswana further, with a planned visit later this year to engage relevant stakeholders on partnership opportunities. This presents local enterprises with the chance to collaborate on AI-driven solutions that address both local challenges and broader regional needs.

As Botswana continues to position itself as a hub for innovation and knowledge-based industries, the engagement at TICAD9 reflects the country’s commitment to attracting global expertise while creating pathways for entrepreneurs and businesses to participate in the digital economy.