STORY: Huawei DigiTruck training helps boost income, employment in Kenya
SHOOTING TIME: April 25, 2024
DATELINE: April 27, 2024
LENGTH: 00:01:21
LOCATION: Nairobi
CATEGORY: ECONOMY

SHOTLIST:
1. various of banners of the summit
2. various of DigiTruck
3. SOUNDBITE (English): ELIUD OWALO, Cabinet secretary for Ministry of Information, Communication and Digital Economy, Kenya
4. various of the DigiTruck

STORYLINE:

The DigiTruck training program of China's telecommunication firm Huawei, which began in 2019, has significantly contributed to income generation, employment opportunities and entrepreneurship in Kenya, according to a report released on Thursday.

DigiTruck, a mobile, solar-powered classroom equipped with laptops, smartphones and internet access, has played a key role in accelerating the teaching of digital skills in Kenya, the Ministry of Information, Communication and the Digital Economy of Kenya said in the report.

"The survey of the youth trained over four years revealed significant positive tangible outcomes for beneficiaries," said the report, launched at the recent Connected Africa Summit 2024.

The summit, which is held from April 21-25, convened ICT ministers and regulators from 35 African countries to discuss strategies for reducing Africa's digital divide.

The findings indicate that 93 percent of the learners reported improved work capabilities, while 79 percent said that they shared their digital skills with others in their communities, promoting empowerment.

The report also highlighted a 6-percent decline in the unemployment rate, with 35 percent attributing an increase in income to starting a business with their new digital skills.

Eliud Owalo, cabinet secretary for the Ministry of Information, Communication and Digital Economy, said that DigiTruck has made it possible to deliver digital skills training to marginalized areas that previously lacked access to ICT training.

SOUNDBITE (English): ELIUD OWALO, Cabinet secretary for Ministry of Information, Communication and Digital Economy, Kenya
"But to facilitate optimal uptake of this digital infrastructure, it's imperative that we have a commensurate level of digital skilling. That's why this digital program comes in handy, because through this program, we are able to reach very remote areas that ordinarily lacked access to purposes of digital skilling. So, we want to thank Huawei for this innovative digital skilling program, and we want to assure you that we will continue working with you in the program of digital skilling as we roll out our digital transformation agenda."

Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from Nairobi.
(XHTV)