On Wednesday, 24th September 2025, the grounds of Kisii University came alive with energy and purpose as Jacob’s Ladder Africa (JLA) officially launched the Green Careers Caravan (GCC), a flagship program months in the making and set to redefine how young people engage with Africa’s green economy.
The day began with a courtesy visit by JLA’s Co-Founder and CEO, Sellah Bogonko, to Prof. Dr. Nathan Oyori Ogechi, the Vice Chancellor of Kisii University, who reaffirmed his full support for the initiative. He pledged that Kisii University would provide all necessary backing to ensure the Caravan’s success.
At the Old Auditorium, the opening ceremony welcomed students, faculty, and dignitaries, including national and county government representatives. The event was graced by Sellah Bogonko (CEO, JLA); Ms. Consolata Adhiambo Alawo (Assistant Director, State Department of Higher Education & Research, representing the Principal Secretary for Higher Education); Dr. Akuku (Chair, Green Careers Caravan Committee); and Dr. Cleophas Okioi (Chief Officer, Environment, Kisii County), among others.
In her keynote, Sellah Bogonko underscored the vision driving the Caravan when she remarked, “Africa’s promise will only be realized when our young people are empowered with relevant skills, networks, and opportunities to actively shape the future. The green economy is the pathway to transforming Africa’s workforce.”
Speaking on behalf of the government, Ms. Consolata Alawo emphasized the importance of embedding green skills in education,“By integrating climate education and green skills into our curricula, we are preparing a generation that is both adaptive to climate realities and proactive in leading sustainability. In the words of the late Professor Wangari Maathai, ‘You cannot protect the environment unless you empower people.’ Today’s launch is about that empowerment.”
The auditorium filled to capacity as 1000+ students engaged in lively sessions exploring pathways in Africa’s green economy throughout the day.
- Green Careers Session: Dr. Jeremiah Rogito, a climate and soil health specialist with AGRA, inspired students with his journey into climate-smart agriculture, encouraging them to see food systems as an option for a dynamic career.
- Green Entrepreneurship Session: Entrepreneur Gloria Kisilu (CEO, The Shaba) and JLA’s Lydia Akinyi shared candid insights into entrepreneurship challenges. A spirited Green Shark Tank allowed students to pitch innovations and receive expert feedback.
The afternoon shifted to youth-led conversations and debates:
- Green Jobs Town Hall: Moderated by Sellah Bogonko, student panelists Matilda Nzuki, Jeremy Murgor, Samuel Odero, Nelly Karuchio, and Nixon Ouma engaged peers in frank discussions on opportunities and systemic challenges facing young people in the green economy.
- The Great Green Debate: Kisii University student leaders debated the motion “Agri-innovation is the Future of Youth Employment in Rural Kenya.” With passion and sharp arguments, the team opposing the motion emerged victorious demonstrating the depth of student perspectives on pressing issues.
Beyond dialogue, the day was animated by spoken word performances, music, dance, and giveaways, creating a vibrant atmosphere where inspiration and creativity flowed freely.
The Caravan introduced students to ELEV8, JLA’s digital platform designed to move youth from awareness to action in the green economy. Through ELEV8, students gain:
- Practical Green Skills via market-relevant courses.
- Powerful Connections, linking them to mentors and employers.
- Real-World Experience through placements and hands-on projects.
It also introduced them to JLA’s green entrepreneurship incubator program, greenlabs, that aims to nurture entrepreneurial mindsets and skills amongst African youth and increase the pool of market-ready startups operating at the nexus of impact and profit, ensuring readiness for revenue generation or investment.
These platforms ensure the Caravan is not a one-off event but a sustained journey of growth and opportunity.
The day wrapped up with students challenged to:
- Register for ELEV8 and greenlabs platforms.
- Follow the Caravan journey on social media.
- Join the growing youth network shaping Africa’s green transformation.
Kisii University was just the beginning. The Green Careers Caravan will travel next to Jaramogi Oginga Odinga University of Science and Technology (JOOUST), Taita Taveta University, and Embu University in October 2025, before expanding to 11 more universities in 2026.
Over the next five years, the Caravan will reach all 42 public universities in Kenya, directly engaging 150,000 students and reaching five million youth digitally, laying the foundation for Africa’s green workforce of the future.
