News Posted on

Smart Africa’s Digital Academy receives a $20mn grant from the World Bank to expand across Africa

Author admin 0 541

The World Bank is partnering with Smart Africa (www.SmartAfrica.org), to scale up the Smart Africa Digital Academy (SADA) initiative from a national to a regional focus as part of the Western Africa Regional Digital Integration Program (WARDIP), in a bid to advance regional integration of digital markets through a USD 20 million grant for 5 years.

 

This scale up will leverage on the existing SADA implementation and AReg4DT program to establish a new generation of policymakers and regulators across Africa, who are individually knowledgeable on how to harness the potential of green and inclusive digital transformation through new approaches to policy and regulation, and who collectively contribute to the establishment of a Single Digital Market in Africa.

With this aim, the scale-up will reach 30,000 unique policymakers and decision makers from all countries in Africa, with a targeted participation level of females at 40%.

Given the World Bank’s commitment to digital transformation in Africa, the grant will significantly contribute to regional integration and rapid adoption of the Single Digital Market for Africa.

Today, I am pleased to announce that SADA, our capacity building vehicle, is geared to reach a new milestone thanks to our key development partner, The World Bank

Launched by the Smart Africa Alliance from a seed money of about thirty thousand US dollars which saw the first implementation of an online training for policy and decision makers in August 2020, the Smart Africa Digital Academy (SADA) has made significant strides in advancing digital skills and fostering a dynamic learning ecosystem across Africa with initial grant support from Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation (NORAD), the German Federal Ministry for Corporation and Development and Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH (BMZ /GIZ).

SADA aims to bridge the digital skills gap in African countries, improving employability and meeting the emerging talent needs of African citizens. Since its inception, SADA has trained over 7000 beneficiaries across 35 countries in Africa on various digital transformation topics.

Commenting on the partnership with the World Bank, the CEO of Smart Africa, Mr. Lacina Koné highlighted “At the heart of the digital transformation lies the need to bridge the digital skills gap of our continent’s future and present workforce. Today, I am pleased to announce that SADA, our capacity building vehicle, is geared to reach a new milestone thanks to our key development partner, The World Bank”.

“DTfA/ WARDIP is a crucial step toward an interconnected, innovative, and inclusive future for West Africa. Beyond shaping a digital landscape, it aims to foster regional integration through collaboration and strategic investments”, said Boutheina Guermazi, World Bank Director for Regional Integration for Africa and the Middle East. “It will break down barriers, cultivate a dynamic digital ecosystem, and empower local communities and businesses to thrive in the digital age”.

As the implementation progresses, SADA will focus on competency-based skills training that allows a pipeline of talents to be created for the job market in Africa and beyond. Additionally, the COVID-19 pandemic, advocated the need to mainstream ICT and digital into Africa’s educational system, and this will be achieved through the training portfolio for teachers and children, which focuses on Science Technology Engineering Arts and Mathematics.

SADA acknowledges the need for a tiered approach to digital skilling in Africa and has five main target groups with a multifaceted approach of interventions to these target groups, namely: Policy and Decision Makers, Youth and Entrepreneurs, Teachers and Students, Digital Experts and the General public. It federates existing initiatives and leverages on the convening power of the Smart Africa Alliance to implement solutions that are co-created with the countries and in collaboration with prominent international and private sector organizations, including the World Bank, ITU, BMZ, GIZ, IEEE, GSMA, USTTI and major tech companies.

Leave a Comment

Your email address will not be published.

You may also like

Business Economy Technology Technology Trends Posted on

BorderlessTek Launches Lifeline for Underprivileged Nigerian Children Through Coding

Author admin 0 134
post-image

 

In a powerful intervention against digital exclusion, a UK-based Nigerian tech entrepreneur, Wale Atekoja, is rewriting the future of disadvantaged children in Lagos, one line of code at a time.

His organization, Borderless Tek, has launched the Kids Coding Partnership — a grassroots tech education program designed to equip underprivileged schoolchildren in communities like Ikorodu and Yaba with foundational coding and software development skills, completely free of charge.

This is not just another CSR initiative. It’s a deliberate human-centered response to the growing digital divide that continues to marginalize low-income Nigerian children from the technology revolution sweeping the globe.

“We’ve been teaching Black kids in Europe how to code, but what about those back home?” says Wale Atekoja, better known as @AtexXeta on social media. “We’re not targeting the privileged. We’re starting with the forgotten — the children who have never touched a laptop.”

 

The first three-month cohort of the program is scheduled…

Read More
Business Economy Posted on

NITDA Boss Hosts Gambian Minister at GITEX Africa, Discusses Strategic Tech Collaboration

Author admin 0 28
post-image

The Director-General of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi, has welcomed the Gambian Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Hon. Lamin Jabbi, Esq., to the Nigerian Pavilion at the ongoing GITEX Africa in Marrakech.

The high-level meeting focused on deepening bilateral collaboration in the digital economy space, with particular emphasis on revitalising the Gambian tech ecosystem and fostering regional innovation. Discussions also covered plans for the Gambian delegation’s active participation in GITEX Nigeria, slated for September 2025.

Highlighting the need to boost digital trade between Nigeria and Gambia, Abdullahi stressed the importance of fostering closer ties among tech startups, innovation hubs, and venture capitalists across both countries. He further encouraged the adoption of supportive policy frameworks—such as tax holidays for startups in Gambia—as a catalyst for driving innovation, attracting investment, and strengthening cross-border partnerships in West Africa’s digital economy.

Read More
Business Culture Economy News Posted on

Southeast Nigeria Leads in Self-Made Billionaires, Not Ritualists – Hon. Obi-West Utchaychukwuo Declares

Author admin 0 24
post-image

A renowned radio personality and social commentator, Hon. Obi-West Utchaychukwuo, has sparked conversation on social media with his bold statement debunking the myth surrounding wealthy individuals from Southeast Nigeria. According to Utchaychukwuo, the wealth of Igbo businessmen is not rooted in ritual practices but in hard work, smart networking, and deep business acumen.

In a recent statement shared online, Utchaychukwuo noted that the southeastern region of Nigeria, predominantly occupied by the Igbo ethnic group, is home to the highest number of self-made billionaires in the country. “These are not people who looted public funds,” he emphasized, “but entrepreneurs who have built legitimate empires.”

He pointed to events such as the high-profile burial ceremony of Obi Cubana’s mother, which drew nationwide attention due to the extravagant displays of wealth. While some questioned the sources of the funds, Utchaychukwuo clarified that many of those in attendance were top importers, exporters, and sole distributors…

Read More
Business Culture Economy Posted on

Regional Poverty Risk in Nigeria: North Central Households Most Vulnerable in 2023 — Report

Author admin 0 66
post-image

 

A new report has shed light on the economic vulnerability of Nigerian households, showing significant disparities in poverty risk across the country’s six geopolitical zones. The data, compiled by the Global Multidimensional Poverty Index (GMPI) in collaboration with the Oxford Poverty and Human Development Initiative (OPHI) and published by Statisense, highlights the percentage of households in each region that are considered vulnerable to poverty in 2023.

According to the report, the North Central zone tops the list with 22.58% of households identified as being at risk of falling below the poverty line. This is closely followed by the North East, where 21.47% of households are vulnerable, reflecting the ongoing socio-economic challenges and insecurity that have plagued the region.

In the South South, often regarded as Nigeria’s oil-rich zone, 19.44% of households remain vulnerable to poverty. Despite the region’s resource wealth, many communities continue to struggle with underdevelopment and economic instability.

The South…

Read More
Business Economy Finance Fintech Investments Posted on

Nigeria’s Top Banks Record Historic Profits, Asset Growth in 2024 – Zenith, GTBank Lead in Earnings and Returns

Author admin 0 108
post-image

Nigeria’s leading tier-1 banks, commonly referred to as FUGAZ – comprising First Bank, UBA, GTBank, Access Holdings, and Zenith Bank – have reported their full-year 2024 financial results, revealing a year of significant profitability, robust asset growth, and varied levels of return on assets (RoA). The figures reflect strong resilience and performance amidst economic headwinds and changing monetary dynamics in the country.

Zenith Bank and GTBank Cross ₦1 Trillion Profit Mark

In what has been described as a historic performance, both Zenith Bank and Guaranty Trust Bank (GTBank) surpassed the ₦1 trillion milestone in Profit After Tax (PAT) – a first for many in the Nigerian financial sector. Zenith Bank led the chart with ₦1.03 trillion in PAT, closely followed by GTBank with ₦1.02 trillion. This milestone signals strong cost management, increased interest income, and operational efficiency.

UBA, which has significantly expanded its footprint across Africa and other global markets, also posted…

Read More
Announcements Business Economy Education Environment Health Posted on

South East Leads in Milk Consumption as Experts Call for Wider Dairy Access Across Nigeria

Author admin 0 68
post-image

 

By Anthony Nwosu – Lagos

The South East region of Nigeria has emerged as the leading zone in milk consumption, with a record 54.7% of households reportedly consuming milk and dairy products regularly. This is according to the latest 2023/2024 data released by Statisense using figures from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), the General Household Survey (GHS), and the Living Standards Measurement Study (LSMS).

The national average of milk consumption stands at 41.5%, with other zones falling behind the South East. The South South region follows closely at 50.1%, while the South West records 48.3%. However, the figures drop significantly in the North: North West (37.6%), North Central (29.4%), and North East (23.3%).

Health and nutrition experts say these numbers reflect the socio-economic imbalance in Nigeria, where access to nutritious foods like milk is often dictated by purchasing power and awareness.

Milk: A Nutritional Necessity

“Milk is not just a beverage—it’s a nutritional…

Read More
Business Culture Economy Posted on

Nigeria’s Cross River State second to commence construction of its Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zone

Author admin 0 100
post-image

Nigeria’s Cross River State became the second to mark construction of a Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zone after the country’s Vice President Kashim Shettima and African Development Bank (www.AfDB.org) President Dr. Akinwumi Adesina broke ground at the project site on Thursday 10 April.

 

The SAPZ aims to tackle food insecurity, enhance local production, and position Nigeria as a food export leader by leveraging Cross River’s ports and research assets to boost global trade, reduce food imports, and drive prosperity through the agro-industrialization of crops like cocoa and cassava.

The groundbreaking in Cross River follows that of Kaduna (http://apo-opa.co/42Mquvu) which took place few days earlier. Six other states – Kano, Kwara, Imo, Ogun, Oyo, and the Federal Capital Territory – are included in Phase 1 of the $538 million SAPZ program, with plans to expand to the remaining 28 states this year pending the African…

Read More
Agriculture Announcements Business Posted on

Boifiok Unveils Vision to Disrupt Africa’s Food Supply Chain Through Group Buying and Digital Innovation

Author admin 0 72
post-image

 Boifiok, a fast-rising player in Africa’s agri-tech and e-commerce space, has announced bold plans to revolutionize the continent’s food supply chain by leveraging digital group buying solutions. The company aims to make food more affordable for millions of urban households while accelerating growth for local vendors.

Speaking at a recent industry event, a spokesperson for Boifiok emphasized the urgent need to address food affordability across sub-Saharan Africa, where rapid urbanization has intensified economic pressure on households.

“We are improving food affordability through group buying,” the spokesperson stated. “In sub-Saharan Africa alone, rapid urbanization has presented both opportunities and challenges. Macroeconomic instability and the absence of a digital group-buying platform have led to inconsistent food prices, straining family budgets.”

Boifiok’s digital model aims to connect urban households directly with affordable groceries while empowering vendors…

Read More