October 20, 2023
By Ahmed Yusuf, CEO of Hormuud Telecom
Somalia is a country ingrained by the footprints of migration. The civil war forced many of us to leave, including myself in the 1990s. When I returned to Somalia in 2002, I joined Hormuud Telecom with the intention of using technology to rebuild our country.
Widespread digital connectivity has meant that Somalis at home and abroad are more connected to our homeland than ever. Our diaspora community is made of two million people across the world, and as Somalia becomes more stable, we are seeing many return.
Beyond the reintegration of Somalis, securing Somalia’s future as a stable and prosperous nation also hinges on becoming an attractive destination for newcomers. A more diverse workforce will bolster our national skill pool and increase our economic vitality.
The role that the private sector has played — and must continue to play — in this cannot be underestimated. Over the past two decades, it has been particularly important in rebuilding essential infrastructure and providing thousands of jobs.
Research from the Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs (MoLSA) indicates that there are already 25,000 migrant workers in Mogadishu. Continuing to tap into the potential of labour migration will help us to invigorate other high-growth sectors, such as the blue economy and construction.
But we need to invest in homegrown skills too. Our young people constitute 70% of the population and will be a key factor in Somalia’s development. With two-thirds of them aspiring to migrate abroad in search of livelihood opportunities, it is crucial we make Somalia a vibrant and exciting destination for them and their futures.
The private sector can enable this through offering employment, investing in skills training, and encouraging local production.
At Hormuud Telecom and through the Hormuud Salaam Foundation (HSF) we are already doing this. In 2010, we established Hormuud University, which is now providing over 3000 students with high-level education in the engineering and technology fields.
And HSF provides a variety of skills training programmes — most recently a five-day training course for tutors at the AI Nor School for the Blind.
As Somalia increasingly steps into the international arena, it is important that we prioritise nurturing homegrown talent and building a strong migrant workforce. With help from the private sector, it is this synergy that will transform Somalia into a hub for innovation.