Smart Africa has successfully hosted the first Digital Skills Forum at the Democratic Republic of Congo(DRC).
This is a pan-African event which promotes the development of digital skills.
The event was organized through collaboration between the Smart Africa Digital Academy (SADA) and the Ministry of Posts, Telecommunications and Digital Economy (MPTEN).
The Centre Africain de Recherche sur l’Intelligence Artificielle (CARIA) and the Africa Digital Academy (ADA) also took part.
The event aims to highlight the significance of cultivating digital skills among African pupils and students.
Furthermore, the forum seeks to advocate effective strategies and programs for preparing them for the demands of the digital age.
The inaugural three-day edition was themed “Building a Digital Talent Pipeline for Africa.”
The key topics were: digital education, professional training, digital inclusion, infrastructure access, and entrepreneurship promotion.
The forum marked the launch of significant digitization initiatives, including the Smart Devices blueprint led by the Republic of Congo.
This ensures a sustainable framework for affordable devices in Africa.
Additionally, the launch of the Smart Africa Youth Chapter in Congo aims to serve as a platform for education, collaboration, and empowerment.
This helps in nurturing a new generation of tech-savvy and innovative business leaders.
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Empowering Africa’s Youth for a Tech-Driven Future at the Smart Africa Youth Chapter Event
The Smart Africa Youth Chapter aims to equip young individuals and entrepreneurs with essential digital competencies.
CEO Lacina Koné stressed the urgent necessity to address the digital skills gap.
“Lack of relevant skills in this digital age can limit opportunities for African countries to make the most of Digital technologies.
“This is because they will continue to play catch up with the rest of the world if the gap is not bridged.”
“To ensure that Africans are prepared for the digital jobs of the future, they must possess the necessary digital skills.”
“The average 4.5% increase in GDP in Africa thanks to digital technology shows that this sector is making a real contribution to the development and diversification of economies.
The event was a dynamic gathering with panel discussions, training, keynotes, exhibitions, job dates, competitions, and other engaging activities.
It also included Insightful discussions, training, keynotes, exhibitions, job dates, competitions, and various exciting activities.
The event drew over 700 participants, comprising government and international organization representatives, private sector members, students, educators, and entrepreneurs.