![[Kenya] Cisco and ICT Authority partner to train ICT professionals](Images/Key Logos/cisco.jpg)
[Kenya] Cisco and ICT Authority partner to train ICT professionals
Networking giant Cisco has announced plans to train ICT professionals in the country through a new partnership with the ICT Authority.
The training program announced at the Connected Summit 2023 will focus on areas such as cybersecurity, cloud computing, and the Internet of Things (IoT), and will be conducted through the Cisco Networking Academy.
The Cisco Networking Academy was Founded in 1997 and as of November last year, it had trained and upskilled more than 1.07 million people in Sub-Saharan Africa.
“We have a unique opportunity to make a difference in the world. To build a better, more equitable, and inclusive future for everyone. This mission drives our actions, our conversations, and our priorities. It’s how we’ve positively impacted 527+ million people through our social impact grants and our signature programs like the Cisco Network Academy, moving us closer to our goal of positively impacting 1 billion people by 2025.” Shain Rahim, Cisco’s Country Manager for Kenya and Regional Leader East Africa said.
The programme provides high-quality IT courses, learning simulators, and hands-on learning opportunities via a learning platform to support instructors and engage learners in 190 countries. Globally to date, over 17.5 million global learners have taken Cisco Networking Academy courses to gain digital skills. Additionally, 95% of students that have taken Cisco certification-aligned courses have attributed obtaining a job or education opportunity to the Cisco Networking Academy.
During Cisco’s 2022 fiscal year alone, more than 345,000 people were enrolled in Cisco Networking Academy courses across 50 countries in the region. These students were supported by approximately 2,427 instructors, working across 906 academies in Sub-Saharan Africa.
Many of these people were trained in Nigeria, Kenya, and South Africa. In Nigeria, the programme has upskilled 411,194 people, in South Africa, 189,272 people benefitted from the programme, and in Kenya, 104,978 people received digital skills training.
Commenting on the partnership, Stanley Kamanguya, Chief Executive Officer, of ICT Authority said having Cisco on board is a critical step forward in empowering Kenyans in the ICT sector and the country as a whole.
‘’With the help of public-private partnerships and partners like Cisco that understand the digital landscape, we can lay new national foundations and empower our citizens with digital skills and opportunities.’’
‘’We believe that the private sector is the driving force of the digital economy in Kenya and that close cooperation with them is critical to bring the latest skills to the current and future workforce. We hope to provide a supportive environment for the private sector to support in calling the government’s efforts in increasing our ICT talent pool.’’ the CEO added.
