What if the next global innovator is not sitting in a Silicon Valley office, but in a TVET classroom in Ghana?
UNESCO-UNEVOC emphasizes that “TVET institutions need to prepare learners for changing occupational tasks and skill demands.” Its 2026 guidance on AI and TVET highlights the importance of equipping young people with relevant skills to use AI responsibly while keeping human creativity, safety and agency at the centre. UNESCO-UNEVOC: Integrating AI in TVET
This message came to life at American Corner Agbogba on 12 August 2026, where 49 students from the Applied Technology Institute (ATI) participated in an interactive session, “Using AI to Create Solutions: How Youth Can Drive Global Change.”
The session was facilitated by Joshua Odoi, who introduced students to practical ways they can combine AI with their existing technical and vocational skills to solve problems, develop businesses and create opportunities.
The programme opened with remarks from Estella Hilda Anaman, Coordinator of American Corner Agbogba, who emphasized the importance of equipping young people with the knowledge and skills needed to remain relevant in an increasingly technology-driven world.
Making AI Practical
Students explored how AI can support different areas of TVET. A fashion student could use AI for design ideas and marketing, while an automotive student could use it for research, customer service and business development.
An engaging icebreaker, “If AI Were Your Assistant,” got students thinking about how they would use AI in their everyday lives while highlighting the importance of responsible human decision-making.
The discussion encouraged students to move from asking “What job can I get?” to asking “What problem can I solve?”
This initiative forms part of the ongoing goal of Mobile Web Ghana and the U.S. Embassy Ghana, through American Corner Agbogba, to expose and equip Ghanaians—particularly young people—with AI knowledge and digital skills that can help them remain competitive and relevant in the rapidly changing global economy.
The programme also encouraged participants to think beyond Ghana. With digital tools, a skilled young entrepreneur can market products, provide services and collaborate with customers anywhere in the world.
UNESCO similarly highlights AI’s potential to strengthen TVET through skills development, career guidance, entrepreneurship and alignment with changing labour-market needs. UNESCO: AI and Digital Tools for TVET
The session concluded with a simple challenge:
“Don’t only ask, ‘What can AI do for me?’ Ask, ‘What problem can I solve with the skills I already have, using AI as a tool?’”
For the 49 students, the session was a reminder that their technical skills, combined with AI, creativity and entrepreneurship, can become solutions with impact far beyond the classroom.
