(Left) Majda Lahlou Kassi, vice president and head of Ericsson West Africa & Morocco and Hassan Jaber - AXIAN Telecom CEO.

AXIAN Telecom, a pan-African telecom group, has signed yet another agreement to uplift young people across the continent.

This follows yesterday's announcement that Ericsson and AXIAN Telecom had signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to explore prospects for partnership to digitally upskill young people in the African countries where both businesses operate.

This collaboration draws benefit from Ericsson's Educate program, which is part of the company's Connect To Learn effort. Together, the companies hope to provide access to high-quality educational content while also developing critical modern digital skills for the future workforce.

Ericsson's Connect to Learn program has already reached more than 485,000 students in 43 countries, and this collaboration aims to increase digital inclusion through education.

For AXIAN, the Ericsson arrangement follows a recent collaboration with the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) Africa Programme's education project in Ivory Coast.

The MIT-Africa Programme, which aims to promote education in the region, created the MIT-Africa International Mathematical Olympiad (IMO) program.

This endeavour is an important part of MIT's Global Teaching Lab program, which allows students to go to African countries and coach local teams for competitions like the IMO and Pan-African Math Olympiad. Axian Telecom is financing the MIT Africa IMO program in the Ivory Coast.

In demand skills galore

Now, with the Ericsson Educate platform, students can now study about 5G, Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, Internet of Things, Automation, Cloud computing, and telecommunications.

By completing these courses, students will acquire in-demand skills in today’s digital economy and earn digital credential badges showcasing their achievements.

During a visit by AXIAN Telecom to the Ericsson Imagine Studio in Kista, Sweden earlier this year, both companies’ leadership teams reaffirmed their shared vision of advancing digital inclusion through education, laying the groundwork for this strategic collaboration.

AXIAN Telecom said the partnership builds on previous successes, including the successful Connect to Learn collaboration with AXIAN Telecom’s subsidiary Yas Sénégal, launched earlier this year with the Senegal Ministry of National Education.

This program created a digital educational ecosystem in five public elementary schools, paving the way for further initiatives like this MoU.

Navigating digital life

Hassan Jaber CEO of AXIAN Telecom commented: “Our partnership with Ericsson marks a transformative step in fostering digital education across Africa. By combining AXIAN Telecom’s deep understanding of the needs and dynamics of local communities with Ericsson’s educational platforms, we are equipping students with tools to navigate and lead in the digital age.

“Together, we are empowering a generation of innovators who will drive Africa’s progress. This exciting collaboration aligns with the recent launch of our unified brand for our mobile businesses - Yas - a brand designed to resonate with youth and embody a positive, optimistic affirmation of saying YES to every opportunity.

“Yas marks a significant milestone for the AXIAN Telecom Group, showcasing our achievements across Africa to date while underscoring our strategic vision for sustainable growth.”

Majda Lahlou Kassi, vice president and Head of Ericsson West Africa & Morocco, added: ‘Education is the cornerstone of progress, and by empowering students with essential digital skills, we are not only unlocking their individual potential but also contributing to Africa’s long-term socioeconomic development."