Gov't asked to collaborate with private entities to skill the youth

The government has been asked to continue collaborating with non-government organizations and other private entities that skill the youth with technical and digital skills most especially the girl child in a bid to reduce the current high levels of poverty.

Speaking at an event where MTN Uganda was graduating 112 youth in digital skills under its Girls Tech program, the Resident District Commissioner for Kasangati Town Council Kyaze Frank said majority of the young girls across the country are unemployed due to a lack of such skills. 

He was however optimistic that if the government works together with other entities to ensure that girls acquire technical and digital skills, they will be innovative to create their jobs.

“It is my humble appeal to my government that it puts the extra effort into institutions like these especially skilling the girl child, if we had such centers spread throughout the entire country this would go a very long way in helping at least to curb the crime and unemployment rate”

Josephine Nassiwa, Manager, of Wholesale Accounts at MTN Uganda re-echoed the company’s commitment to ensure that the youth are digitally equipped, a venture that eases their success, and further called for joint efforts to the cause.

“We call upon more stakeholders to join us in this noble cause. By providing digital tools and skills training, we can bridge the gap and create a more inclusive digital economy, reinforcing our aspiration that Together, We’re Unstoppable”, she added.

Smart Girls Foundation Chief Executive Officer Jamila Mayanja, one of the partners on the project applauded graduates for their efforts in enhancing their skills relevant in the modern era.

“Beyond this graduation, keep learning and remain disciplined in new endeavors,” she noted, adding that the training center is now attracting learners countrywide, signaling the youth’s growing appetite for technical skills”, Mayanja explained.

Meanwhile, this was the third cohort of trainees under the MTN Girls in Tech program, graduates completed a one-month intensive training, mastering essential software tools such as Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint at Smart Girls Foundation.