Sixty youth have been passed out after attaining digital and technical skills under the MTN Foundation youth skilling programme.
The MTN Foundation youth skilling programme, which is implemented by Ubunifu systems, is aimed at empowering youth with practical ICT driven solutions to challenges in society.
The programme, which kicked off in December 2020, received nearly 2,000 applications but only targeted 100 youth from university graduates, small and medium enterprises and young innovators.
Speaking at the graduation ceremony held virtually early this week, the MTN General Manager Corporate services and Legal, Ms Enid Edroma, urged the youth to use the skills attained to improve their society.
“These graduands are not your ordinary people. They were picked out of 1,900 applicants for the training. This was not a chance occurrence because within each one of you are certain special qualities that helped identify you as the right candidates,” Ms Edroma said.
“And these include, the passion, resilience and positive outlook to life and its challenges,” she added.
The MTN youth skilling programme focused on four thematic areas; agriculture, health, education and youth empowerment.
Ms Edroma said Covid-19 has accelerated the advancement and adoption of technology.
She, however, noted that there are still gaps that need to be plugged especially in the lower education segments.
“There are areas that can still be better for instance primary and secondary education. It would be nice to see that segment also move into the digital space which will demonstrate the value of digitisation,” she said.
Mr Brian Mbasa, the senior manager MTN Foundation, said the objective of the programme is to empower youth to establish businesses, which will have a trickle-down effect on society.
He explained that this is the first of many editions of the MTN youth skilling programme as a new edition will kick off in January 2022
Mr Sylvester Nyombi, the brand and communications manager at Ubunifu systems, said the programme enjoyed a diversity of youth having drawn people from 86 districts, with a high level of female participation and inclusion of persons with disabilities.
Nagawa Hajara, one of the female graduates, said she has attained various skills which have been instrumental in aiding her establish her agribusiness training centre.
The graduation ceremony was graced with various dignitaries from the ICT sector such as Micheal Niyitegeka, International Computer Driving Licence (ICDL) Africa country director and Kenneth Muhangi, advisor at ministry of ICT, who awarded certificates of excellence to the graduands.
The guest of honour, Ms Sarah Mateke Nyirabashitsi, the Minister of State for Youth and Children Affairs, commended MTN and Ubunifu systems for the initiative, saying that this has contributed a lot to improving the quality of labour in the country.
She also said that despite existence of similar government programme, geared towards skilling the youth for example the youth livelihood program, there is still need for extra support from the private sector.
“Demand for affordable credit to support the youth to establish viable businesses is very high compared to the available funds I therefore appeal to the private sector to keep supporting us and implementing government programs,” she said.