We're in the middle of a huge digital change. Around the world, people are using technology in new ways – Agriculture is tech, businesses are after AI, and factories are using robots. This is changing the way we work and DigiSkills Training HUB is continuously studying how this "Digital Revolution" is changing things.

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Emerging technologies are changing many industries, and people will need new, more advanced skills. In addition to the unemployed groups, many more are being laid off. However, we don't know exactly how fast or how much things will change, though it’s rapid with AI.

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What we do know is that we need to change how we learn. Instead of just going to school for knowledge, we need to focus on Digital Skills and the use of Artificial Intelligence to maximize productivity. They are the skills people need now and for the jobs of the future.

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One thing we haven't looked at enough, especially in developing countries, is the need for digital skills and the key role it plays today in economic development.

These skills will help young people succeed in a world that's changing very quickly because of technology. We know digital skills are important – like being able to read and write – but we need to understand how many people need these skills and how best to teach them.

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As an organization, SSA relooks at digital skills training in Africa, especially in Sub-Saharan Africa. 

​Digital skills are already in high demand around the world. A significant portion of jobs require these skills, and that demand is growing faster here than in many other parts of the world.

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However, there's a significant gap between the supply and demand for digital skills at all levels – from basic to advanced. Sub-Saharan Africa faces a critical challenge with high youth unemployment (8.9% in 2023, reaching 47.5% in Southern Africa) juxtaposed with a rapidly growing demand for digital skills (over 230 million jobs by 2030 in SSA), while simultaneously exhibiting a significant digital skills gap where African countries rank poorly and only 11% of tertiary graduates have formal digital training, highlighting a severe mismatch in the labor market. -IFC, BCG Report

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Investing in people is crucial. A skilled workforce drives economic growth and improves lives. Traditional education systems often fall short in preparing young people for this evolving landscape. There's a pressing need for digital skills, alongside soft skills like problem-solving and critical thinking. Skillset Africa directly addresses this need.

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We believe that Africa can, in itself, be a hub of highly skilled young people who will utilize technology and digital skills to solve problems that are common in the region and other parts of the world. Now our aim is, most importantly, to help every connected party to this project appreciate and commit to supporting skills development in Africa, including investment in digital skills training.

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Emmanuel Okwan, CDMA

Founder, DigiSkills Training HUB