French telecommunications firm Orange has announced the opening of an Orange Digital Centre in Botswana, a one-stop place entirely dedicated to the development of digital skills and innovation.

The digital centre is Orange’s 12th, following openings in Tunisia, Senegal, Ethiopia, Mali, Ivory Coast, Cameroon, Egypt, Jordan, Madagascar, Morocco, and Liberia.

Spread over 390 sq. m, it brings together four strategic programs of the Orange group, namely, a coding school, a solidarity FabLab - one of the Orange Foundation's digital manufacturing workshops, and an Orange Fab start-up accelerator, supported by Orange Ventures Middle East and Africa, the investment fund of Orange Group.

According to Orange, all the programs are provided free-of charge and open to everyone. They range from digital training for young people, 90% of which are practical, guidance for project bearers, start-up acceleration, and investment in these.

Working as a network, the Orange Digital Centres allow experiences and expertise to be shared between countries and offer a simple and inclusive approach to improve young people's employability, encourage innovative entrepreneurship and promote the local digital ecosystem, the company added.

Botswana’s Orange Digital Centre is officially opened and equipped to host several digital training and events.

In addition, Orange Botswana, in partnership with universities, will train students for free and roll out Orange Digital Centre Clubs, extensions of the Orange Digital Centre within some universities in the regions.

The programme is also built to advance gender equality and inclusion by promoting access for women and girls to ICT jobs.

Through digital technology, this programme focuses on the following sustainable development goals in line with the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development: (SDG 4) quality education, (SDG 5) gender equality, (SDG 8) decent work and economic growth, (SDG 9) industry, innovation, and infrastructure, (SDG 10) reduced inequalities and (SDG 17) partnerships for goals.

Jerome Henique, CEO of Orange Middle East and Africa, says: “I am honoured to be part of the launch of our 12th Orange Digital Centre today in Botswana, which is part of a network of 32 Orange Digital Centres that will be deployed not only in Africa and the Middle East, but also in Europe by 2023. The objective is to democratize access to digital technology for young people - with or without qualifications. We want to provide them with the latest technological skills to strengthen their employability and prepare them for the jobs of tomorrow.”

Nene Maiga, CEO of Orange Botswana adds: “At Orange Botswana, we are committed to digital equality. We recognise this means bold actions and big investment to change the current narrative and status quo. That is why we have made the commitment to leverage the Orange Digital Centre to meet Botswana’s needs, to buttress existing efforts to address the pressing challenges of economic inequality which is often perpetuated by a lack of digital inclusion. The onus is on us all to wield positive progress, and our resolve as Orange Botswana is firm. We can and will help promote sustainable progress for all.”