Vodacom Group has launched an ambitious digital education initiative targeting one million young Africans across eight countries by 2027. The telecommunications company has partnered with industry leaders Amazon Web Services, Microsoft, and Skillsoft to deliver comprehensive digital training through its Digital Skills Hub.
The program spans South Africa, Ethiopia, Tanzania, Mozambique, Lesotho, Egypt, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and Kenya. This initiative responds to the International Finance Corporations projection that Africa will need digital expertise for over 230 million jobs by 2030.
Vodacom Group CEO Shameel Joosub addresses the pressing challenges facing African nations, including unemployment, gender inequality, and limited access to education. The Digital Skills Hub aims to leverage technology for inclusive development across the continent.
The program offers self-paced training for participants aged 18 to 35, complementing Vodacoms existing e-learning platforms. Chief Human Resources Officer Matimba Mbungela emphasizes the initiatives focus on developing young talent to advance Africas digital economy.
AWS Educate features prominently among the initial offerings, providing training in cloud fundamentals, artificial intelligence, and machine learning. The curriculum targets science, technology, engineering, and mathematics skills through practical, engaging content.
