The African Development Bank aims to create 25 million jobs within Africa through its ‘Coding for Employment’ initiative, by developing and launching the digitally enabled workforce. The coding for Employment program in partnership with Facebook, Microsoft and the Rockefeller Foundation was launched in February 2018.
AFDB launched 130 Centers of Excellence within Africa as part of its initiative. The program aims to link 75% of the trainees with employment, while 25% will become entrepreneurs. Academic institutions in Nigeria, Kenya, Rwanda, Senegal and Cote D’Ivoire pioneered the training program in November and 4 institutions were selected in Nigeria; Ahmadu Bello University, Covenant University, Gombe State University and University of Nigeria, Nsukka.
The “Hour of Code” sessions under the Coding for Employment program began in Computer science departments in Covenant University and Gombe State University (GSU) in December 2018. Students and young people from neighboring communities made up the 62 participants in the one-day classes at Covenant University.
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While GSU recorded 545 participants within three days. The participants who had little or no knowledge of technology received certificate of participation and about 95% of them expressed interest in the next level of digital skills and was scheduled for a course in early 2019.
Yemi Orimolade, one of the facilitators and senior communication manager at Microsoft Philanthropies, the corporate philanthropy subsidiary of the technology firm, said the turnout was massive, and that the enthusiasm was palpable.
Dr Bala Modi, Acting Director of ICT at GSU said, “It’s been an amazing start for the Coding for Employment programme in Nigeria,” said Uyoyo Edosio, ICT and youth development expert at the African Development Bank. “Across the country, we are observing pent-up demand for basic computing capabilities and digital skills. Africa’s youth will drive the digital transformation of African economies in the emerging fourth and fifth Industrial era.”
This initiative is part of the Bank’s technology development programs and investments to support numerous national development plans and align with its high 5 priorities, which is to Integrate Africa, Industrialize Africa and Improve the Quality of Life for the People of Africa. The Coding for Employment program is a major pillar of the Bank’s Jobs for Youth in Africa (JfYA) strategy (2016 – 2025), that intends to create 25 million jobs across the continent, developing and launching Africa’s next generation of digitally enabled youthful workforce.
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