One hundred youths have secured a chance to train for free and hone their skills and talents in Information Communication Technology (ICT) and the digital space.

The free training offered through a partnership between Zone 01, the United Cities and Local Governments of Africa (ULCGA), the County Government of Kisumu, and Lake Hub, a Kisumu-based IT company, targets to nurture talents and build a world-class workforce of Web App developers, data engineers, Artificial Intelligence experts, video game developers, and block chain and cyber security experts.

The cohort selected through a competitive process will train for two years, after which they will be put on a three-year contract to work in their various areas of specialisation.

Zone 01 is a revolutionary tuition-free programme based on peer-to-peer learning with no traditional teachers and lecturers.

Speaking during the launch of the programme, Kisumu Governor Prof. Anyang Nyong’o said the initiative targets to build world-class competencies amongst the
youth to prepare them for immense opportunities in the ICT and digital sectors.

Unemployment amongst the youth, he said, was a big challenge, with currently 67% of the country’s young population unemployed, adding that the skills gained through the programme will go a long way in guaranteeing them job opportunities.

The digital space, he said, is projected to offer 20 million jobs by the year 2030, with the bulk of opportunities available in Africa, adding that the skilling and upskilling offered through the Zone 01 initiative will build a network of young men and women to take up the jobs.

The County Government of Kisumu, he said, would continue to seek partnerships to empower the youth with the requisite skills to take up opportunities in the ICT and digital spaces.

He added that the county department of ICT has established a centre at the Rotary Vocational Training Centre, which has been equipped with 50 computers, desks, and chairs, and that Konza Technopolis has donated an additional 20 desktops, whi
ch will be used to absorb the second cohort of apprentices.

Over 13,000 applications, he said, were received for the programme, adding that through strengthening partnerships, more and more youths from Kisumu and the western region stand to benefit.

ICT and E-Government Secretary Mary Kerema lauded the initiative by the County Government of Kisumu, adding that the national government was ready to engage Zone 01 and other partners to scale up the initiative to reach all 47 counties.

The government, she said, recognises the importance of technical education in the transformation of the economy, adding that ICT has been entrenched in the curriculum at all levels of education to build skills amongst learners.

She added that the Ministry of ICT and the Digital Economy was on course to scale up internet coverage in the country to ensure that as many Kenyans as possible join the e-commerce bracket.

‘We are setting up ICT hubs in every constituency to ensure that our people are trained so as to benefit from the
numerous opportunities available online,’ she said.

Other initiatives, she added, include Ajira Digital, where the youth have been trained on securing work online, and the Jitume centres, which are being rolled out across the country to provide spaces for the youth to work online.

‘The government is putting up facilities across the country to enable the youth to get into the digital space. We are setting up 1,470 digital hubs and even funding startups to ensure that our youths are occupied and do not engage in alcoholism and drug abuse,’ she said.

Source: Kenya News Agency