The agreement between SAP and the World Bank to consolidate skills development efforts in Africa has bore its first fruits as the first group of 81 students, from Kenya, have graduated form the skills for Africa training certification.
The training that was working in partnership, signed in September 2012, with the Kenyan Ministry of Information and Communications Technology (ICT), along with other ICT authorities in Kenya and the Multi Media University is aimed at enhancing the employability for graduates form disadvantaged backgrounds.
The eight week course covered areas in Business, Logistics and Finance gave students experience as they were given a taste of the real environment through internships with SAP customers and partners who are some of the leading brands in the country including; Bidco, Mumias Sugar Company, Kenya Airports Authorities among others.
Dr. Fred Matiang’i, Cabinet Secretary, Ministry of ICT said: ” 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 wit the vision 2030 dream. All sectors now requore ICT skills to effectively compete. To do this we must produce young people who are market ready.”
SAP’s initiative comes at a time when the demand for technology solution as well as great talent is needed to be developed in Africa. The skills for Africa programme , part of a larger effort focusing on five countries that was launched by SAP in May, begun pilot preparation in Kenya in September 2012.
