Delivered keynote lecture to youth drawn from 12 African countries as part of the African Tech Challenge (@ATC_Tech ), a forum designed and sponsored by AVIC Innovation Holding Limited (AVIC INNO). The forum, which runs for 5 weeks, is designed to meet the industrialization needs of Africa, with a primary focus on training and competitions in conventional mechanical machining and CNC Turning. Through intensive hands-on training, ATC effectively helps participants to rapidly improve their technical skills. My address focuses on “Tech skills for innovation, entrepreneurship and job creation for the youth.” Today’s economy demands a dynamic blend of traditional industrial skills and modern digital competencies to drive productivity, innovation, and employment. To provide African youth with a broader range of skills, ATC also trains participants in Mechatronics, APP programming, Reading and Drafting of Construction Drawings, Mechanical Engineering CAD, as well as carpentry, rebar work, and concrete work. The session was joined by Amb. Lynette Mwende, Kenya’s Deputy Head of Mission in China, who emphasized on the role such forums are playing in advancing the Government of Kenya’s development agenda. The future belongs to this who can design, build and innovate.