Africa should address digital skills gap – Microsoft
With the African youths set to comprise one-fifth of the total workforce and one-third of the global youth workforce by 2030, the continent is poised to become a global hub for tech skills, fueled by a wealth of young talents.
Country Manager, Microsoft Nigeria, Ola Williams, noted that while the opportunity to harness this potential is immense, the continent must address the looming digital skills gap and equip its youth with the tools needed to thrive in an increasingly digital economy.
“The World Bank predicts that most demand for digital skills will come from sectors beyond ICT, driven by the rapid adoption of digital technologies across industries. An estimated 70 percentodunew of this demand will be for foundational digital skills, while 23 per cent will require intermediate proficiency, highlighting the need for widespread digital literacy programs across the continent.
He explained that several African nations are making strides to close the skills gap.
“Nigeria, for instance, has taken proactive steps with government-led initiatives to upskill its youth. But the task is monumental, requiring broad access to training and resources. Recognizing this, Microsoft launched the Global Skills Initiative in 2021, leveraging platforms like LinkedIn Learning, GitHub, and Microsoft Learn.
“Since its launch, the initiative has helped over 80 million job seekers worldwide, with more than 196,000 participants from Nigeria. Microsoft’s partnership with the Nigerian government and the African Development Bank also led to the creation of the Digital Nigeria eLearning Platform, which has seen 125,000 learners enroll and 111,000 complete courses in digital skills and entrepreneurship.
Williams explained that beyond individual digital literacy, empowering Africa’s entrepreneurs is critical. “The continent has the highest rate of new business formation in the world, with 22 per cent of the working-age population starting ventures, according to the African Development Bank (AfDB).
“Startups and small businesses not only generate jobs but also foster innovation, providing solutions to Africa’s most pressing challenges. Yet, with 10 to 12 million young Africans entering the workforce annually and only 3 million jobs being created, entrepreneurship is key to addressing the employment gap.
“Microsoft is addressing this challenge head-on. In collaboration with Nigeria’s government, the tech giant aims to upskill 5 million people, generating over 27,000 new digital jobs.
“By partnering with local telecom companies like MTN, Microsoft has also provided free tech skilling content to 4 million Nigerians. Further advancing entrepreneurial growth, Microsoft teamed up with Flapmax to launch the FAST Accelerator program, which helps startups scale through a blend of cutting-edge technology, skills development, and business support,” he added.
