UNESCO-UNEVOC Head Friedrich Huebler has commended Nigerian social entrepreneur and Founder of Bankable Wisdom, Precious Azuonwu, for his contribution to the organisation’s global World Youth Skills Day 2026 dialogue.

Azuonwu participated as a youth speaker at UNESCO-UNEVOC’s international webinar on July 15, 2026, held under the theme, “Skills for a Shared Future”.

His participation followed an international call for youth speakers issued through the UNEVOC Opportunities for Youth network. Following the nomination process, Azuonwu received an official invitation from UNESCO-UNEVOC’s International Centre for Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) in Bonn, Germany, to participate in the global discussion.

The invitation also included a preparatory briefing to align speakers and refine their contributions ahead of the webinar.

In a letter following the event, Huebler expressed appreciation to Azuonwu for his contribution to the international dialogue.

“Your insights, experiences, and perspectives brought authenticity and inspiration to this year’s global dialogue,” Huebler wrote.

He particularly acknowledged Azuonwu’s contribution to discussions on the skills young people need to navigate a rapidly changing world, including technical, digital and social-emotional skills.

Huebler also noted the importance of ensuring that young people remain central to international conversations on skills development, expressing hope that Azuonwu would continue contributing to efforts to build an inclusive, peaceful and sustainable future.

The World Youth Skills Day dialogue brought together youth representatives, educators and development practitioners from countries including Nigeria, Japan, Vietnam, the United Arab Emirates, Germany and Colombia.

Discussions focused on the knowledge, values and competencies young people need as artificial intelligence, technological disruption, climate change and changing labour markets reshape the world of work.

Representing Nigeria, Azuonwu drew on his experience leading Bankable Wisdom, an African education and workforce-development organisation focused on digital skills, AI literacy and youth employability.

During the discussion, he argued that technical competence alone would not be sufficient for young people entering an increasingly technology-driven labour market.

According to him, employers are placing greater value on communication, adaptability, collaboration, empathy and ethical judgement alongside digital capabilities.

“Technical skills may help a young person access an opportunity, but human-centred skills often determine whether they grow within it. As technology evolves, our ability to communicate, collaborate and build trust will become even more valuable,” he said.

Azuonwu also challenged the perception that the rise of artificial intelligence would make technical education less relevant.

He argued that AI should be used to strengthen human capabilities rather than replace human judgement, particularly among young people developing the skills needed for the future of work.

“Young people should not simply consume AI-generated answers. They should understand how these systems work, question their outputs and apply them responsibly to solve real problems,” he said.

The UNESCO-UNEVOC recognition comes after Azuonwu completed the UNDP timbuktoo Get Ready 4 EdTech Incubation Programme, a pan-African venture-building initiative for selected education technology startups.

Through the programme, Bankable Wisdom worked on strategies aimed at helping African small and medium-sized enterprises adopt artificial intelligence for business growth, productivity and digital transformation.

Azuonwu’s participation in the UNESCO-UNEVOC dialogue adds to his involvement in international discussions around digital education, workforce development and AI literacy.

Through Bankable Wisdom, he has led initiatives that the organisation says have reached more than 75,000 young Africans with digital skills, workforce-readiness and entrepreneurship education.

The organisation’s work seeks to connect education with employment and economic opportunity, particularly as African economies adjust to rapid technological changes.

Reacting to the recognition, Azuonwu said the acknowledgement reinforced his commitment to promoting education systems that prepare young people not only for employment but also for leadership in a digital economy.

“Young people are not merely beneficiaries of development; they are partners in designing it. We need education systems that do more than award certificates. They should equip young people with digital skills, AI literacy and the confidence to create opportunities, build businesses and contribute meaningfully to society,” he said.

He added that Africa’s competitiveness in the digital economy would depend on education systems capable of combining technical competence with human-centred skills, including collaboration, ethical leadership and lifelong learning.

Azuonwu said the growing influence of artificial intelligence made it increasingly important for young people to understand technology critically and use it responsibly.

For him, the future of education is therefore not simply about teaching young people how to use new technologies, but equipping them with the judgement and adaptability required to work effectively alongside them.

Precious Azuonwu is a Nigerian social entrepreneur, entrepreneurial coach and Founder of Bankable Wisdom, an African education and workforce-development organisation focused on digital skills, AI literacy and youth economic opportunity. His work centres on helping young Africans move from learning to employment through technology education, entrepreneurship support and inclusive innovation.