Safaricom Ethiopia and Co Jointly Launch Software Deve’t Training Program
ADDIS ABABA – Safaricom Ethiopia, Japan International Cooperation Agency, and Gebeya Talent joined hands to launch a joint Software Development Training Program that aims to bridge the tech skills gap in Ethiopia.
The six-month program will train 50 university graduates who have already undergone computer science and STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering & Mathematics) courses.
Safaricom Ethiopia is a co-builder of the curriculum designed to meet industry requirements for businesses in the tech ecosystem.
“Together with JICA and Gebeya, we’re empowering the next generation of tech leaders and innovators,” said Masahiro Miyashita, Chief Strategy Officer of Safaricom Ethiopia, announcing the program.
The program, which runs from September 30 this year to March 30, 2024, will offer an intensive curriculum in which the trainees will receive specialized training in Mobile Application Engineering, Back-end Engineering, DevOps Engineering, and Fundamentals of Software Engineering.
The online Candidate registration date is set for 15 September 2023. It will be followed by an online exam and interview for eligible applicants to screen out the participants. Tuition costs will be partially covered by JICA and upon completion of the training, trainees will receive a certificate and further support to get access to job placements.
“This program will help to create a more skilled workforce and a more competitive economy, and it has the potential to make a real difference in the lives of Ethiopians,” said Morihara Katsuki, head of the JICA Ethiopia Office.
Gebeya Talent is the training institution partner of the program while the Digital transformation initiative of JICA, Safaricom Ethiopia co-building the curriculum.
CEO of Gebeya, Amadou Daffe said that the program aligns with the firm’s “mission of empowering individuals with the skills they need to excel in the tech industry.”
“The primary goal of this collaboration is to accelerate Ethiopia’s digital transformation, paving the way for an inclusive digital economy that supports sustainable development and bridge the skills gap in the market,” Amadou said.
The initial program will serve as a pilot for the trio’s ambitious plans to scale the initiative to train a much bigger number of graduates and expand it to regional cities after 2024.
