Microsoft Pledges To Train 4million Africans In Digital Economy

In a move to empower the next generation of African leaders and entrepreneurs, Microsoft has pledged to train 4 million Africans in digital skills over the next three years. This announcement was made by Microsoft’s President for Middle East and Africa, Samer Abu-Ltaif, during the company’s Africa Transformation Summit in Nairobi, Kenya.[Image: Samer Abu-Ltaif, Microsoft’s President for Middle East and Africa]The training program, which is part of Microsoft’s global digital skills initiative, aims to equip Africans with the skills needed to succeed in the digital economy. The program will focus on developing skills in areas such as artificial intelligence, data science, and cybersecurity.*Registration and Eligibility*The training program is open to individuals, entrepreneurs, and small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) across Africa. To register for the program, interested individuals can visit the Microsoft Africa website and fill out the registration form.*Benefits for Individuals*The Microsoft digital skills training program offers numerous benefits for individuals, including:- Enhanced employability: The program provides individuals with the skills needed to succeed in the digital economy, making them more attractive to potential employers.- Improved entrepreneurship skills: The program equips entrepreneurs with the skills needed to start and grow successful businesses in the digital economy.- Increased earning potential: According to Microsoft, individuals with digital skills can earn up to 30% more than those without.*Benefits for Governments*The Microsoft digital skills training program also offers numerous benefits for governments, including:- Economic growth: The program can help drive economic growth by equipping individuals with the skills needed to start and grow successful businesses.- Job creation: The program can help create new job opportunities in the digital economy.- Improved digital infrastructure: The program can help governments develop the digital infrastructure needed to support the growth of the digital economy.*What to Expect from the Training Program*The Microsoft digital skills training program is designed to provide individuals with the skills needed to succeed in the digital economy. The program will cover a range of topics, including:- Artificial intelligence: The program will provide individuals with an understanding of artificial intelligence and its applications in the digital economy.- Data science: The program will provide individuals with an understanding of data science and its applications in the digital economy.- Cybersecurity: The program will provide individuals with an understanding of cybersecurity and its importance in the digital economy.The Microsoft digital skills training program is a game-changer for Africa. By providing individuals with the skills needed to succeed in the digital economy, the program can help drive economic growth, create new job opportunities, and improve digital infrastructure. We encourage individuals, entrepreneurs, and SMEs across Africa to take advantage of this opportunity and register for the program today.Excerpts:Microsoft Pledges To Train 4million African Youths in cyber security, and artificial intelligence (AI) technologies.Lillian Barnard, president of Microsoft Africa, revealed the plan today during the company’s AI Tour 2025 in Johannesburg, South Africa.Barnard said in a presentation titled ‘AI is driving transformation’, the technology represents a new era for Africa, which has a significant youth population, with 60% under the age of 35.She went on to say AI will transform Africa, and leveraging the power of emerging technologies is no longer a pipe dream for businesses seeking growth.To this end, she said: “We have set an ambitious target to deliver future ready skills to four million African youth for digital, cyber security and AI technologies.“By providing skilling opportunities and access to industry recognised certifications, our youth will be well positioned to compete on the global stage.”According to Microsoft, the programme targets a wide range of audience, with the aim of broadening participation in the digital economy.Aligned to this initiative, Microsoft has introduced a free to learn AI Skills Navigator portal where people can take an assessment to guide them on their AI knowledge journey – the objective is to help individuals and organisations build AI skills.“The programme is not just about employment but fostering a culture of innovation. Digital skills are the foundation of modern innovation,” said Barnard.She emphasised the need of working with ICT training providers, government, non-governmental organisations, and public and private sector groups to expand the AI skilling project.Furthermore, Microsoft said the World Economic Forum’s Future of Jobs Report 2025 highlights a severe skills gap, with more than 60% of companies recognising it as a key hurdle to economic transformation by 2030.The research highlights the critical need for upskilling and reskilling to meet the demands of emerging roles in technology, AI and the green economy.Barnard said: “By 2030, the continent could become a more significant player in the global economy, drawing on AI to revolutionise industries and boost productivity.“Together, by delivering on the promise of AI, we can chart a course for Africa to become the next global economic powerhouse.*Regardless of your descent , age or gender , you can stay ahead of the curve by acquiring world-class certifications in ICT, Cyber security , Data science , ML and Ai etc from trusted and reputable e-learning platform like Learnworld by using this link https://get.learnworlds.com/gq5e2swd1xu4