Countries involved in this initiative include South Africa, Ethiopia, Tanzania, Mozambique, Lesotho, Egypt, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and Kenya.

With Africa having the youngest population globally, Vodacom emphasizes the need for investment in digital skills to foster growth and development across the continent.

Joosub's remarks underscore the importance of addressing the significant talent mismatch in Africa, as the continent prepares for a future increasingly reliant on digital skills.

Vodacom is committed to nurturing young talent to drive the digital economy in Africa, as highlighted by Matimba Mbungela, the Chief Human Resources Officer.

CEO Shameel Joosub stressed that investing in Africa's youth is vital for their development and the continent's digital future, particularly in light of high unemployment rates and gender inequality.

The Vodacom Group has launched an initiative aimed at closing the digital skills gap across eight African countries, with a goal of training one million young individuals by 2027.

The Digital Skills Hub, which provides self-paced digital skills training for individuals aged 18 to 35, is a key component of this initiative.

To enhance digital literacy, Vodacom has partnered with major organizations like AWS, Microsoft, and Skillsoft, focusing on upskilling young people in Africa.

This initiative is a response to the projected demand for over 230 million jobs requiring digital skills in Africa by 2030, as reported by the International Finance Corporation.

Vodacom's efforts include expanding access to quality education through various e-learning platforms such as Talimy in Egypt and VodaEduc in the DRC, which cater to underserved areas.

The Digital Skills Hub also promotes careers in STEM fields, featuring programs like AWS Educate that provide online training in cloud fundamentals and machine learning.

The initiative complements Vodacom's existing free e-learning platforms, enhancing educational access and promoting remote learning across the continent.