The Airtel Africa Foundation is collaborating with the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), Cisco, and the Rwanda Information Society Authority (RISA) to enhance national capacity and digital skills.
According to the organisations, the collaboration aims to bridge the digital divide and promote digital inclusion by providing free internet access and digital skills training to underserved communities in Rwanda through the Digital Transformation Centres (DTC) initiative, in support of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
RISA disclosed that 900 million people on the continent remain unconnected. The Authority highlighted the importance of going above and beyond to guarantee that no one falls behind.
It further stated that the effort puts the Eastern African country one step ahead by intentionally involving the kids.
According to RISA, the DTCs will play a revolutionary role in educating young people about how to use AI.
Furthermore, the strategic relationship supports the state's goal of becoming a knowledge-based economy and complements national initiatives such as Connect Rwanda, which encourages smartphone and digital service access in underserved areas.
The ITU will provide digital skills training content to DTCs, as well as other ITU regional capacity development initiatives It will also offer networking opportunities aimed at increasing digital literacy and inclusivity, allowing access to knowledge and best practices.
Airtel Africa Foundation, through Airtel Rwanda, will provide free routers, Wi-Fi, and data packages to DTC locations, ensuring effective training delivery and access to digital educational platforms.
“This partnership is a powerful example of what happens when government, private sector, and international organisations come together to empower communities,” commented Sujay Chakrabarti, Airtel Rwanda managing director.
Dr Emmanuel Mannaseh, regional director for ITU added: “This initiative lays the groundwork for broader regional collaboration, as we aim to expand this work to other DTCs across Africa.”
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