Secretary for Information and Digitalization, Baldwin Chiyamwaka has commended the Public Private Partnership Commission (PPPC) for empowering the youth and women with digital and entrepreneurship skills in the country under the ‘Luntha ndi Chuma’ Digital Skills Development and Innovation Training Program.
The ‘Luntha ndi Chuma’ Program is an initiative that is being implemented by the Commission under the Digital Malawi Project (DIGMAP) with funding from the World Bank through grants to technology (tech) hubs.
Speaking yesterday during a visit to Rydberg Starck Limited, one of the tech hubs under the program, Chiyamwaka described fostering digital skills and innovation as a catalyst for transforming not only individual lives but also the economy of the entire country through digitalization.
“We realize that digitalization has a huge impact on changing the economy of this country but also our lives. One way to achieve this is by bringing innovation to digitalization, he said.
He emphasized the importance of adopting and utilizing digital skills and innovation by the government, private sector, and civil society.
Chiyamwaka highlighted that the youth-driven tech hub is one of the success stories of the DIGMAP, providing digital solutions, and imparting digital and entrepreneurship skills to the youth and women in the country.
Project Manager for DIGMAP, Chimwemwe Matemba reiterated the project’s commitment to bridging the digital gap, stimulating economic growth, job creation, and entrepreneurship among Malawi’s youth and women.
He emphasized the crucial role of digital literacy in today’s world and its alignment with Malawi’s developmental goals, including the Malawi 2063 Agenda.
“One of the challenges we are facing globally is youth unemployment. One of the ways to address this problem is by using modern technologies, such as the internet, to create adequate income-generating opportunities for our youths,” remarked Matemba.
He lauded the Rydberg Starck Limited for their proficient utilization of a US$250,000 grant from the DIGMAP which has helped to train over 1500 youths and women in the country.
Rydberg Starck Team Leader Yusuf Chimole expressed gratitude to government for its support, saying it has been instrumental in the establishment of the hub.
