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First ′Skills for Africa′ students graduate in Kenya

SAP (Skills for Africa) embarked on a training programme aimed at bridging the demand for specialised ICT skills in Kenyan companies while also increasing youth employment in July 2013.  The first group of 52 students were presented with SAP Certification at a graduation ceremony held at Multi-Media University in November 2013. The 52 were fully sponsored by SAP through the programme. Also sponsoring the programme are the Kenya Ministry of Information Communications & Technology through the ICT Authority and Multi Media University.
 
The students who passed the certification have consequently been matched with job internships with SAP customers and partners, who are some of Kenya’s leading companies such as Bidco, Mumias Sugar Company, Kenya Airports Authority among others, as well as SAP’s leading East African partners.
 
“We are looking forward to achieving the goals set out in the Kenya Vision 2030. These goals, however, will not be attained on schedule unless we rationalize our education and training in line with the vision 2030 dream. All sectors now require ICT skills to effectively compete. To do this we must produce young people who are market ready,” said Dr Fred Matiangi, Cabinet Secretary in the Ministry of ICT. The initiative comes against the backdrop of pressing demand for technology solutions as well as the need for the right talent to be developed in Kenya specifically with a view to employability.
 
The graduates were awarded after going through an 8-week long intensive SAP module training by expert trainers from Africa. The training was followed by certification exams in four SAP modules. A total of 81 young graduates embarked on the training in July after they were selected in a competitive process that saw more than 1,000 applications received from across the country. The candidates were trained on a course outline that covered technology, business, finance, logistics as well as critical soft business skills.
 
The Skills for Africa programme idea was conceived in Kenya by ICT Authority and SAP East Africa and was officially launched in September 2012. Bright students from disadvantage backgrounds and women are considered for the training.
 
“SAP Africa recognises that addressing education and skills training is one of the best ways to deal not only with skills shortages facing the technology industry, but also help address Africa’s chronic youth unemployment issue,” said SAP Africa Chief Executive Officer Pfungwa Serima. “We recently signed a collaboration agreement with the World Bank to amplify our efforts to develop world-class IT and business skills, and it’s great to see this first crop of young Kenyans successfully coming through the SAP Skills for Africa certification process.” SAP has committed to support the program that cost US$ 19,000 per student by training at least 100 graduates each year for the next four years. The company has subsequently rolled out the programme in a number of African countries.
 
“We are delighted to have graduated the first Skills for Africa graduates. As Multi-Media University we are committed to ensuring excellence in technology skills. We do this by equipping our students with the most up-to-date information,” said Prof Walter Oyawa, Multi Media University, Vice Chancellor.
 
Meanwhile, Dr. Fred Matiangi emphasized on the digital migration dates saying that the dates for the migration were still the same and no changes had been made. The first phase that will take place on 13th December 2013 for the Nairobi residents still remains unchanged. He said that the country has enough set top boxes to see the nation through the migration process adding that the reason why he wanted the this to take place quickly was because as a nation we need to widen the spectrum so as to build up LTE network this is only possible through digital migration.