100 youths selected for 2-year free ICT training in Kisumu

One hundred youths have been selected to train for free and develop skills and talents in Information Communication Technology (ICT) and the digital space.

The free training targets to nurture talents and build a world-class workforce of Web App developers, data engineers, Artificial Intelligence experts, video game developers and blockchain and cyber security experts.

The scholarship is being offered through a partnership between Zone 01, United Cities and Local Governments of Africa (ULCGA), the County Government of Kisumu and Lake Hub, a Kisumu-based IT company and 01 Talent Africa.

Speaking during the launch of the programme, Kisumu Governor Anyang' Nyong'o said the project aims at building world-class competencies among the youth and preparing them for immense opportunities in this field.

Nyong'o said they have set up a Zone 01 Hub at the Kisumu Rotary Vocational Training Centre and provided fifty computers and a Local Area Network (LAN) infrastructure including chairs and desks for eighty students.

In addition, Konza Technopolis, he said, has agreed to donate 20 desktop Computers to this project. According to Nyong'o, some 13,000 young people applied for the training and the Hub interviewed 420 and selected 96 applicants, out of whom 60 per cent  are from Kisumu County.

He said the training will be based on a peer-to-peer and teacher-less learning model that enables learners to acquire world-class coding skills over 2 years.

"For the past 8 months, we have selected the most talented ICT literate youths from across the seven (7) Sub-Counties. Because of their commitment to this project, we will train them for free for 2 years at the Zone 01 Hub before releasing them to the job market."

He stated that the benefits of the programme go beyond empowering the youth with skills to leverage employment opportunities because it will offer the youths the opportunities to network and engage with established firms in the industry.

Nyong'o further noted that they have no doubt the programme will change the fortunes of the youth because ICT now controls all aspects of life, providing newer, better, and quicker ways for people to interact, network, seek help, gain access to information, and learn.

According to the ICT and E-Government Secretary Mary Kerema, the programme is a good initiative and the government recognises the importance of technical education in the transformation of the economy.

Kerema noted that the national government was ready to engage Zone 01 and other partners to scale up the initiative to reach all 47 counties.

"The Ministry of ICT and the Digital Economy was on course in scaling up internet coverage in the country to ensure that as many Kenyans as possible join the E-commerce bracket," she said adding that they were setting up ICT hubs in every constituency to ensure that people are trained to benefit from the numerous opportunities available online.