Safaricom Foundation is partnering with Nakuru County government to train more than 500 youths on digital skills to enhance their employability and create income-generating opportunities.
According to Team Leader at Safaricom Limited Company Clive Jabedo, the training was designed to equip the youth with various computer literacy, digital marketing, online entrepreneurship, and financial literacy skills to enable them meet the job market requirements.
The Safaricom company official explained that a comprehensive work plan and roadmap will be developed to guide the successful implementation of the initiative, ensuring impactful outcomes and sustainability.
Speaking during deliberations between a delegation from Safaricom Foundation and officials from the County’s Youth, Sports, Gender, and Inclusivity Department, Jabedo underscored the importance of the digital programme saying that it will go a long way in ensuring capacity building was done from the lowest level.
He said they were targeting to train youths from informal settlements wards including Kaptembwa, Biashara, Kivumbuni, Rhonda, and Flamingo areas with each ward being allocated 100 training slots
“We are also targeting students who are among the youths and will be trained on basic computer skills, online safety and how to behave online,” added the official.
He urged the youths to use the digital skills responsibly and increase their employability in this digital age.
Acting County Chief Officer for Youths Josephat Kimemia said the empowerment program was aimed at transforming youths into productive, responsible and digitally skilled individuals.
By providing hands-on learning experiences, Kimemia said the the initiative would bridge the digital divide in all the 11 Sub-Counties and empowers youths with the tools to thrive in an increasingly digital world.
He voiced the County government’s commitment to fostering inclusive digital transformation, especially for women and youths in rural areas and informal settlements.
“The program is a sign of commitment to sustainable development to alleviate poverty and enhance economic growth,” Kimemia pointed out.
The Chief Officer indicated that despite the youthful population being a vital asset for the County’s economic growth, unemployment remained a pressing issue that hinders their meaningful contribution to the economic growth.
He emphasized the importance of equipping young people with practical skills that would create economic opportunities and foster personal growth.
While noting that young people were vulnerable to many addictions, identity crises and abusive relationships, the chief officer emphasized the need to empower them with the right skills and opportunities to secure their future.
He said the impact of the training was expected to be profound with participants gaining the skills needed to create sustainable strategies for growth for their businesses, develop targeted advertising campaigns, and build strong communities around their brands.
Kimemia underscored the importance of digital skills in empowering women and youth, which he said would position them to thrive in a rapidly evolving global digital economy.
He affirmed that Governor Susan Kihika’s administration was dedicated to fostering partnerships that would offer meaningful opportunities for youth and women to unlock their full potential and contribute to the devolved unit’s economic growth.
“We are excited to work with the Safaricom Foundation to nurture a vibrant ecosystem of innovation and enterprise among our youth and women” added the chief officer.
Kimemia said governor Kihika had put relevant policy frameworks in place with the view of equipping youths and women with skills and opportunities they needed to succeed, thereby fueling economic growth and community development across the County.,
By Esther Mwangi and Mary Ochieng
