As the global economy continues to suffer, World Economic Forum predict that Africa’s growth will leapfrog below 5% this year, on this regard, experts believe that equipping youth with job relevant digital skills has the potentials of arresting the situation.
Although, the World Economic Forum had predicted Africa’s growth will below 5% this year, Africa has the fastest growing digital consumer market and the largest working-age population in the world.
Meanwhile, data shows that only 99 percent of African student leave school without basic digital skills, while most African companies are affected by the lack of employees who possess the needed digital skills to fill positions.
“Today literacy should go beyond just knowing how to read and write, even beyond digital literacy- knowing how to use computers. Basic literacy for the next generation should be about coding,’ said Jean Philbert Nsengimana, Minister of Youth and ICT, Rwanda.
Consequently, the unemployment rate in Africa is attributed to lack of relevant digital skills and most companies in the region are stepping up their game in making sure that they identify and engage with the needed manpower to drive value to the country and Africa at large. One of such companies that have shown commitment is SAP, MTN, Google, and amongst others.
Earlier, Google had announced its commitment to training one million young Africans in digital skills in the next one year, a development that is expected to grow digital entrepreneurs in sub-Sahara Africa.
Google is currently backing up Livity Africa to run two training programs including ‘Digify Bytes’ to give digital skills to young people looking to develop a digital career; and ‘Digify Pro’, a 3-month immersion program for digital specialists.
However, Digify programs which have been launched in Nigeria, Kenya, and South Africa, according to Google will be scaled to reach more people in the next 12 months.
“The internet is at the heart of economic growth, and the Digital Skills Program is aimed at helping more Africans play a part in the digital economy,” said Juliet Ehimuan-Chiazor, Country Manager, Google Nigeria.
SAP, the German Multinational Software Company, is not left out in the efforts to strengthen the digital economy in Africa.
The German firm revealed that it would train more than 150,000 youth in 30 African countries this year to foster digital literacy and equip the continent’s rising generation with job-relevant digital skills, through a program branded SAP’s Africa Code Week 2016.
The SAP’s Africa Code Week will run from October 15 – 23, 2016, with thousands of free coding workshops and online training offered to children and youth aged 8 to 24.
According to SAP, Africa Code Week 2016 through a learning platform developed by the MIT Media Lab to simplify coding, the program will see students learn coding basics and program their animations, quizzes, and games.
“Digital literacy is the currency of the digital economy. Africa Code Week is a powerful way to spread digital literacy across the continent and contribute towards building the skilled workforce needed for Africa’s sustainable growth.
SAP is proud to spearhead such a meaningful initiative in partnership with more than 100 local and international organizations from the public and private sector,” commented Brett Parker, Managing Director SAP Africa.
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