MTN unveils MTN Skills Academy to empower youth

Latest statistics from the World Bank reveal that over 75% of Uganda’s population is below the age of 30

Kampala, Uganda | PATRICIA AKANKWATSA | MTN Uganda has unveiled the MTN Skills Academy, an online platform designed to empower the country’s youth and narrow the digital gap.

The MTN Skills Academy, a flagship program of MTN Group, is part of the Digital Skills for Digital Jobs thematic area that was officially introduced during the Mobile World Congress Africa in Kigali, Rwanda, last year.

In collaboration with key stakeholders, including the Ministry of ICT and National Guidance, the National ICT Innovation Hub, ATC, and Huawei, the MTN Skills Academy aligns with Uganda’s National Development Plan III, Digital Vision 2040, the African Union’s ‘Digital Transformation Strategy for Africa,’ and MTN’s Ambition 2025, the initiative aims to create shared value and transform the East African nation into a modern society.

Enid Edroma, the General Manager, Corporate Services at MTN Uganda, who spoke on behalf of MTN Uganda CEO Sylvia Mulinge during the launch of the new initiative at the ATC Digital Community in Mukono District on Sept.07, highlighted the program’s significance in addressing the critical gap between digital skills training and job placement.

“As MTN, we are committed to driving digital solutions for Africa’s progress. With the launch of the MTN Skills Academy in Uganda, we aim to equip the country’s youth, who are at the forefront of digitalization, with the necessary skills to advance the digitalization agenda and drive the nation’s progress,” said Mulinge.

She also emphasized that the MTN Skills Academy would play a pivotal role in providing solutions to the challenges faced by Uganda’s youth, who represent the majority and yet one of the most vulnerable groups in the country.

This comes as latest statistics from the World Bank reveal that over 75% of Uganda’s population is below the age of 30. The nation also grapples with one of the highest youth unemployment rates in Sub-Saharan Africa, currently standing at 13.3%.

Furthermore, the International Finance Corporation predicts that by 2030, approximately 230 million jobs will require digital skills.

Joyce Ssebugwawo, the Minister of State for Information, Communications, and Technology, commended MTN for its ongoing commitment to innovation and its role in driving Uganda’s sustainable development through ICT.

“We acknowledge that progress can only be achieved collaboratively. I extend my gratitude to MTN for continually seeking and implementing innovations that propel our digitalization agenda forward. This project will enable our youth to tap into the vast resources that MTN offers for our nation’s development,” She said.

The launch event also witnessed the participation of renowned digitalization partners, including Huawei and ATC, who welcomed the innovation and pledged their support for the program.

MTN Group Chief Sustainability and Corporate Affairs Officer, Nompilo Morafo, stressed that the MTN Skills Academy would not only address the digital skills shortage but also contribute to sustainable economic growth in Uganda.

“This initiative will empower Ugandan youth with the essential proficiencies required to thrive in the digital economy. It will not only alleviate the shortage of digital skills but also positively impact the nation’s economic growth,” Morafo stated.

Dorothy Kabagambe Semanda the CEO of ATC Uganda said the new initiative is the start of a journey that she considers big in transforming the population.

This is a journey we have started and one we must take forward, and it will only be possible with more and more partners. It gives me great pleasure that today we will be working with MTN Uganda,” she said.

MTN Group’s commitment to empowering youth extends beyond Uganda, as the company plans to roll out the MTN Skills Academy across all its operating companies in Africa, to empower one million youths by 2025.

Already, MTN Uganda has ongoing initiatives under the MTN ACE program to empower youth to leverage ICTs for Uganda’s socioeconomic transformation.

The telecom company has overseen the graduation of the first cohort of 185 youths equipped with practical skills in digital technologies to provide innovative ICT solutions for their communities.