{"id":113671,"date":"2025-10-22T16:21:40","date_gmt":"2025-10-22T16:21:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.africa-press.net\/rwanda\/all-news\/new-digital-hub-to-bridge-youth-skills-gap"},"modified":"2025-10-22T16:34:25","modified_gmt":"2025-10-22T16:34:25","slug":"new-digital-hub-to-bridge-youth-skills-gap","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.africa-press.net\/rwanda\/economy\/new-digital-hub-to-bridge-youth-skills-gap","title":{"rendered":"New digital hub to bridge youth skills gap"},"content":{"rendered":"

Africa-Press – Rwanda. <\/strong><\/span>Young Rwandans will now have a one-stop platform connecting them to training, jobs, and entrepreneurship opportunities thanks to Ingazi Platform, a government initiative launched in partnership with UNICEF.<\/p>\n

The platform, developed in partnership with UNICEF Rwanda and key government institutions, aims to close the gap between education and the labour market. It offers both technical and soft skills training while linking users directly to job openings, internships, and mentorship opportunities.<\/p>\n

Delegates pose for a group photo<\/p>\n

During a panel discussion held at the stakeholders’ luncheon on Tuesday, October 21, Franc\u0327ois Ngoboka, Chief Skills Officer at the Ministry of Public Service and Labour, explained that Ingazi was born out of a simple question: why are graduates struggling to find jobs despite their qualifications?<\/p>\n

\u201cEmployers kept saying young people were not ready for work,\u201d Ngoboka said. \u201cIngazi helps them gain the extra skills they need, from communication and interview techniques to understanding workplace culture so they can easily transition into employment.\u201d<\/p>\n

A panel discussion held at the stakeholders’ luncheon on Tuesday, October 21<\/p>\n

He added that Ingazi also integrates job listings, career guidance, and digital courses from global and local partners, making it a comprehensive resource for youth skilling in Rwanda.<\/p>\n

The platform targets digitally literate youth but also reaches those still building tech skills through youth centers equipped with computers and internet access. Content includes sign language interpretation for accessibility.<\/p>\n

Since its May launch, organizers have focused on understanding what young people actually need rather than imposing pre-determined solutions. Registration has reached around 5,000 users, with plans to track outcomes over the coming months.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe haven\u2019t reached there yet,\u201d Ngoboka acknowledged about measuring impact. \u201cThe next stage is to see what happens to young people three months, six months, one year after.\u201d<\/p>\n

Christine Nkulikiyinka, the Minister of Public Service and Labour, called Ingazi \u201cRwanda\u2019s digital highway for opportunity\u201d and urged private sector partners to channel corporate social responsibility budgets toward the platform.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt is your talent pipeline,\u201d she told business leaders at Tuesday\u2019s event.<\/p>\n

The platform emerged from global UNICEF partnerships with corporations like Microsoft and PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) but was customized for Rwanda\u2019s context.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt is not a copy-paste solution; it is a homegrown platform, born from co-creation with young people,\u201d said Lieke van de Wiel, UNICEF Representative in Rwanda.<\/p>\n

UNICEF\u2019s Thomas Kaye, Senior Advisor for Global Solutions at Generation Unlimited, said the platform reflects a broader global effort to use technology to break barriers in youth employment.<\/p>\n

\u201cWith the right skills, a young person in Rwanda can work for a company anywhere in the world,\u201d he noted. \u201cThat\u2019s the power of Ingazi, it connects talent to opportunity.\u201d<\/p>\n

Yves Iradukunda, Minister of State in the Ministry of ICT and Innovation, underscored the need to keep Ingazi scalable and relevant to the private sector.<\/p>\n

State Minister for ICT and Innovation, Yves Iradukunda, speaks at the event. Courtesy<\/p>\n

\u201cThis platform must serve the private sector because sustainability depends on it,\u201d he said. \u201cWe\u2019re building young people who don\u2019t just learn coding, but who can think critically and use technology to solve real problems in health, agriculture, and beyond.\u201d<\/p>\n

The government aims to train one million young coders as part of its broader national development strategy, with Ingazi serving as a central coordination point across various youth empowerment programmes.<\/p>\n

The Ministry of ICT will oversee the tech side of Ingazi, a platform bridging sectors and aiming to empower 1 million Rwandan innovators.<\/p>\n\r\n