NAIROBI, Kenya, Oct 23 – US-based non-governmental organization GFP International has set up its African headquarters in Nairobi as part of efforts to bridge the continent’s widening industrial and manufacturing skills gap.
Led by its Founder and Executive Director, Eng. Michael J. Vallez, the organization plans to collaborate with African governments, learning institutions, and private sector players to build a pipeline of skilled professionals to drive industrial growth.
“Africa is the birthplace of humanity, yet it has not fully participated in the industrial revolution. Our mission is to change that by equipping Africans with world-class technical and industrial skills,” said Eng. Vallez, who also serves as CEO of African Skills and Development Ltd.
To tackle the shortage of skilled tradespeople, GFP International is establishing Welding and Manufacturing Centres of Excellence across Africa, targeting key sectors such as energy, mining, agriculture, shipbuilding, and power generation.
The NGO has also launched a $100 million African Welding School and Training Fund to finance modern training facilities and offer youth internationally recognized certifications.
GFP’s Nairobi base will coordinate regional programs aligned with Kenya’s Vision 2030 and the African Union’s Agenda 2063, both of which emphasize industrialization and workforce development.
The organization says its long-term goal is to create thousands of skilled jobs and help position Africa as a global manufacturing hub.
By Eric Malala
