On the heels of SAP Africa’s recent announcement of an agreement with the World Bank to consolidate skills development efforts in Africa, SAP Africa today announced that the first group of students, from Kenya, have successfully graduated from the Skills for Africa training certification.

The training that has been conducted in partnership with the Kenyan Ministry of ICT, incorporating Kenyan ICT authorities and Nairobi’s Multi Media University, is aimed at enhancing employability for graduates from disadvantaged backgrounds.

The six-week certification training that was hosted at Multi Media University in Ongata Rongai, covered technology, business, finance, logistics as well as critical soft business skills.

Graduates from the course have been matched with job internships with SAP customers and partners, including some of Kenya’s leading companies, like Bidco, Mumias Sugar Company and other leading SAP partners in the region.

This initiative comes against the backdrop of the pressing demand for technology solutions, as well as the need for the right talent to be developed in Africa specifically with a view to employability.

The Skills for Africa programme, part of a larger effort focusing on five countries that was officially launched by SAP in May, began pilot preparation in Kenya in September 2012.

The East Africa chapter targeted 75 students of which 66 are graduating as fully certified consultants who are now highly competent and trained in a variety of business and ICT skills key to success in today’s competitive job environment, including SAP certification.

“SAP Africa recognises that addressing education and skills training is one of the best ways to deal not only with skills shortages facing the technology industry, but also help address Africa’s chronic youth unemployment issue,” says SAP Africa CEO Pfungwa Serima.

“We recently signed a collaboration agreement with the World Bank to amplify our efforts to develop world-class IT and business skills, and it’s great to see this first crop of young Kenyans successfully coming through the SAP Skills for Africa certification process.”

“We are looking forward to achieving the goals set out in the Kenya Vision 2030. These goals, however, will not be attained on schedule unless we rationalise our education and training in line with the 2030 dream,” comments Dr Matiangi, ICT Cabinet Secretary.

“All sectors now require ICT skills to effectively compete. To do this we must produce young people who are market ready.”