Tech4Dev, Microsoft, partner to train 5000 youths on digital skills

5000 young people living in Delta State are set to get proficiency in intermediate technology under the Emerging Markets Model Initiative (EMMI) organised by Technology for Social Change and Development Initiative (Tech4Dev) in partnership with Microsoft and the state government.

The 12-month program begins with a three-month intensive intermediate training program in cyber security, software development, and product design from June to September 2022.

The EMMI is a multi-year, multi-stakeholder private-public-non-profit partnership designed by Microsoft for the purpose of building the capacity of key government Ministries, Departments, and Agencies to offer sustainable, scalable reskilling and employment services aligned to the local labour markets.

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The objective of the program is to offer youths an opportunity to grow their careers, improve employability and create sustainable businesses from within the state while it will help the civil servants improve their productivity and also help to sustain the government’s technology drive.

“This is a program that has been in the pipeline for a while and I want to thank Microsoft and the Delta State Government for making this possible. I believe this project will help position the beneficiaries for the future of work and they will greatly impact their environment,” said Joel Ogunsola, founder and director of Tech4Dev, Joel Ogunsola.

The Delta State government as strategic partners with Tech4Dev and Microsoft on the project will provide beneficiaries with laptops to help with the ease of learning.

A total of 66 youths and 34 civil servants who sailed through the rigorous examination process are part of the first batch of the upskilling program which will see them become master trainers responsible for redelivering the initiative across the state.

“This is an amazing opportunity for every participant to get the needed career upskilling which will help them be better in their chosen profession. I am happy the youths are also benefiting from this project as it will greatly impact the state moving forward,” Kingsley Emu, Delta State Program Coordinator.