By our Correspondent
The Africa-based Power Learn Project (PLP), in partnership with AdanianLabs Nigeria and Job Red, has concluded plans to train 300,000 software developers in Nigeria in the next five years.
This intrinsically strategic firm, which intends to achieve this through its N1 MillionDevs4Africa Programme also aims to train one million software developers across the continent by 2027.
Thus, according to the organisers, the programme pilot scheme would train 2000 software developers in Nigeria for four months with the goal of equipping 300,000 learners in Nigeria over the next five years.
This is as Nigeria would be the fifth country in Africa, after Kenya, South Africa, Zambia, and Tanzania, to benefit from the N1MillionDevs4Africa programme, while there are plans to also launch in four more countries, Rwanda, Uganda, and one country each in West and North Africa in the next few months.
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Clarifying and commenting on the project, the Chief, Growth & Operations Officer of the Power Learn Project, Mumbi Ndung’u, said: “Digital Sector Skills Gap Report’ indicates that Nigeria’s digital economy holds the potential to create jobs and reduce the rate of unemployment. However, to fully harness the sector’s potential, there is a need for the country to invest in digital and soft skills.
According to him, “With many courses in Nigerian universities becoming less marketable in the work world and students lacking employable skills when seeking opportunities, acquiring digital skills is the right direction for achieving digital inclusion.
Also, for personal growth and access to job opportunities across the local and international tech ecosystems, students need to migrate to online study platforms to pursue their educational aspirations,’’ he said.
As a programme launched in April 2022 in Kenya, PLP is a pan-African impact organisation with the vision of driving transformative change for the youth in Africa by empowering them with relevant technology capacity through providing quality and decentralised tech training. PLP aims to kick-start software careers with entry-level, fully funded training, using free data access and self-paced learning management in over 16 weeks.
Significantly, the course ranges from programming languages such as python, dart programming, flutter, blockchain 101, databases, data science, and entrepreneurial skills. The learners will then have opportunities for hands-on practical experience through a proof of work module.
Additionally, learners will earn a certificate upon successfully completing the course and join a community of young skilled Africans ready to take on digital opportunities. They will also be equipped with life skills such as financial literacy, health, and well-being with our partner, AfyaRekod.
Meanwhile, the Chairman of the Power Learn Project Board, John Kamara, said that: “We are focused on equipping young Nigerians and African youth with digital skills. We realise that technology is key to economic growth through industrialisation and human capital development. COVID has allowed everyone globally to leverage technology across all sectors of the global economy, be it in health, agritech, edutech, fintech, e-Commerce, manufacturing, or telecommunication.
