Leading telco Bharti Airtel has reaffirmed its commitment to Chad by partnering with the Ministry of Secondary Education to train 6,000 youth in the country. The training will focus nurturing young talent to improve their information and communications technology (ICT) capabilities.

Airtel Chad, the leading telecommunications company in the country, plans to carry out training sessions for the youth, equipping them with better skills to handle new challenges as the build their businesses. The training, organised by the Airtel Centum Training Centre, will comprise several sessions, each consisting of theoretical and practical training on ICT.

Speaking at the flag-off ceremony earlier this week, Airtel Chad Managing Director, Mr. Salia Gbane said: “Our aim as Airtel Africa in this project is to provide sustainable solutions that will develop the skills of the youth in Chad. We intend to promote socio-economic empowerment by enabling entrepreneurship opportunities through training 500 to 800 young entrepreneurs for a period of two years. We also aspire to certify up to 5,760 youth with the mastery in modern management skills which are critical to growth of Chad’s economy.”

The beneficiaries, empowered with fresh entrepreneurial potential, will have additional time to develop their skills in the field enabling them nurture small projects that will be supported by Airtel.

On his part, Chad’s Minister of Secondary Education Mr. AhmatKhazali Acyl said: “We are extremely delighted by Airtel’s hearty gesture to partner with us. This project is likely to will create significant socio-economic opportunities in employment by honing the skills of young entrepreneurs. It is our responsibility as the government of Chad, joining hands with private sector partners like Airtel, to create concrete solutions that aim at eradicating poverty and improve the lives of the youth. This initiative is the start of new and great business models that will empower the youth and enable them play effective roles within the system.”

“We as Airtel Chad believe that building institutional capacities has a significant impact to the people and is the most effective and sustainable tool to contribute to the growth of the economy. We trust that this collaboration with the government will be the beginning of new abilities that create strategic opportunities.” added Mr. Abdelhamid Mahamat Senoussi, General Secretary, Airtel Chad.

The initiative of the ICT training program by Airtel Chad is part of its contribution to development of education in Chad and assisting in the growth of the economy by nurturing young entrepreneurs across the country.

•Photo shows Airtel Chad Managing Director, Mr. Salia Gbane