MTN Group has announced the launch of its flagship MTN Skills Academy in Zambia, the first of its operations to roll out this initiative, which is aimed at addressing the digital skills gap in Africa. First introduced at MWC in Kigali, the MTN Skills Academy is a free, online learning platform that will see MTN play its role to actively drive digital skills development and job creation across Africa and have at least 60% of youth and adults in our markets have at least a minimum level of proficiency in sustainable digital skills by 2025.
As a starting point and in recognition that the Digital Skills Gap Index reports 12 of the world’s 20 countries with the weakest digital skills being in Africa, this online learning platform provides young people with access to world-class training and resources in digital and financial literacy, work readiness, mentorship and job placement services. The MTN Skills Academy is delivered in line with the AU’s digital transformation strategy ambitions.
A strategic priority of MTN Group’s Ambition 2025 strategy is to create shared value. In this instance, the launch of the MTN Skills Academy will enable the Group to leverage its operations to enable digital inclusion and transform lives in Africa through the provision of much-needed digital training to the communities within which it operates. This launch is a further demonstration of the Company’s commitment to building a sustainable future for Africa by creating economic opportunities for young people and driving the growth of the digital economy on the continent.
The International Finance Corporation reports that by 2030, approximately 230 million jobs will require digital skills, yet the continent is far behind in reaching these numbers. The MTN Skills Academy is designed to address this critical shortage. It will initially focus on offering online training in digital and financial skills, work readiness, mentorship and job placement, with plans to expand to include in-person training and on-the-job training in the future.
The Academy is designed to be flexible and adaptable, allowing it to respond to changing demands for digital skills and provide young people with the training and resources they need to succeed in the digital economy. By continually evolving and improving the program, MTN can ensure that the academy remains a valuable resource for students and helps to bridge the digital skills gap in Africa.
The launch event for the MTN Skills Academy in Zambia took place on April 25th, with a range of stakeholders and partners in attendance. Interested individuals residing in Zambia may access the courses and training programs offered by the academy by visiting the website and signing up.
