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Not long ago, I met Yusuf, a young online delivery rider. Fresh out of secondary school, he had been unable to join the university because of financial constraints. Rather than allowing that to define his future, he adapted.
He had previously earned a living as a boda boda rider, relying on customers he picked up at the stage. But after acquiring a smartphone, he began using digital platforms to access delivery jobs.
Today, he completes up to 30 deliveries a day, significantly more than the five to ten passenger trips he previously managed. His smartphone has not just changed how he earns a living; it has expanded his opportunities and strengthened his belief that he can continue to build a better future.
Yusuf's story is inspiring, but it should not be an exception. This year's World Youth Skills Day under the theme Skills for a Shared Future reminds us that access to digital tools, financial services and future-ready skills can transform lives. Yet too many young people remain excluded, not because they lack talent or ambition, but because they lack the access and opportunities needed to participate.
