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Friday, October 02, 2020 / 08:37
AM / by AfDB / Header Image Credit: Twitter; @AfDB_Group
The African Development Bank, the government of
Nigeria and Microsoft (link is external) on Monday launched the Digital Nigeria eLearning Platform (link is external), to provide marketable
digital skills to the country's youth.
The platform offers courses in web development,
content creation, and data science, among others. The platform also uses
gamification techniques to teach problem solving, collaboration, creative
thinking and basic coding. The platform will be continually updated with new
courses and leverage partnerships to provide training certifications. Within 24
hours of launch the platform recorded over 16,000 user registrations. Nearly
6000 of registrants had completed at least one training course and earned
a certificate
Content will be accessible via a web site and a
mobile app.
The platform will leverage the African Development
Bank's Coding for Employment initiative and build linkages between the public
and private sectors to create 9 million jobs in Africa's digital economy in the
next ten years.
"We are championing a paradigm shift that lays
emphasis on skills...This is a growing trend across the globe. The digital
literacy and skills pillar recognizes the fact that citizens are the greatest
assets in any economy, including the digital economy. It will support the
development of a large pool of digitally literate and digitally skilled
citizens," said Isa Ali Ibrahim Pantami, Nigeria's Minister of Communication
and Digital Economy at the launch.
Ebrima Faal, Senior Director for the Bank's Nigeria
Country Department, said the new normal had accelerated the demand for digital
services and fourth industrial revolution technologies across all sectors.
"From artificial intelligence, the internet of
things, social media communication, digital learning platforms, augmented and
virtual reality, drones, 3D printing and so much more - the world has undergone
a massive disruption. The African Development Bank is committed to supporting
the Nigerian government to realize a fully integrated digital agenda," Faal
said.
Ghada Khalifa, Middle East & Africa Director
for Microsoft Philanthropies, also attended the launch.
"Microsoft Philanthropies is committed to creating
inclusive economic opportunities in light of the economic crisis created by
COVID-19. We are investing in building the capacity of 5 million African youth
by 2025, and excited about our collaboration with the African Development Bank
and the Ministry of Communications and Digital Economy in Nigeria with the
launch of the Digital Nigeria platform to provide Nigerians with access to
digital skills to meet the demand of the job market," she said.
The Digital Nigeria eLearning Platform is a key
component of the Digital Nigeria programme, which aims to empower innovators
and entrepreneurs with the requisite skills to thrive in the emerging digital
economy.
The Digital Nigeria programme aligns with the
African Development Bank's strategic agenda to create 25 million jobs in
agriculture, information communication technology (ICT) and other key sectors
by 2025, and to equip 50 million African youth with competitive skills.
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