Vodacom’s Digital Skills Hub to Empower African Youth
Vodacom Group has launched a transformative initiative to upskill 1 million young Africans by 2027, partnering with major tech giants like Amazon Web Services (AWS), Microsoft, and Skillsoft. The Digital Skills Hub aims to provide digital training to youth across eight African countries: South Africa, Ethiopia, Tanzania, Mozambique, Lesotho, Egypt, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), and Kenya.
Addressing the Digital Skills Gap in Africa
According to the International Finance Corporation (IFC), over 230 million jobs in Africa will require digital skills by 2030, yet the continent faces a significant gap in supply and demand for digital expertise. Vodacom’s initiative seeks to close this gap by empowering the next generation of innovators and enabling Africa’s digital society.
Vodacom Group’s CEO, Shameel Joosub, highlighted that many African nations suffer from unemployment, gender inequality, and limited access to education, healthcare, and essential services. “These challenges inform our purpose and drive our strategy to connect for a better future, leveraging digital technologies to drive inclusion for the betterment of people,” Joosub said.
Providing Access to Self-Paced Digital Skills Training
The Vodacom Digital Skills Hub will offer self-paced digital skills training to individuals aged 18 to 35, complementing Vodacom’s existing free e-learning platforms. Matimba Mbungela, Vodacom’s Chief Human Resources Officer, emphasized that the initiative aims to address Africa’s digital skills shortage, nurture young talent, and drive the continent’s digital future, while enhancing empowerment in an inclusive digital economy.
Inspiring Careers in STEM
Vodacom aims to inspire the next generation to pursue careers in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) by offering engaging and practical digital skills training. One of the initial programs available through the hub is AWS Educate, which provides beginners with a comprehensive library of self-paced online courses covering topics like cloud fundamentals, artificial intelligence, and machine learning.
Supporting Africa’s Digital Future
Vodacom’s announcement comes amid a growing movement by tech companies and African governments to equip the continent with the digital skills necessary for its future. In September 2024, Google and the Zambian government partnered to establish an Artificial Intelligence Center of Excellence at the University of Zambia, reinforcing the need for robust digital skills initiatives across Africa.
