Strathmore University in Nairobi has opened a Centre of Excellence for Oracle at the university’s research centre, @iLabAfrica.
The facility, funded by a grant from Oracle, will be used for a variety of Oracle training workshops and activities for university faculty and students, high school teachers and students, and technology entrepreneurs.
This Centre of Excellence at @iLabAfrica will create opportunities for Kenyan youth to gain technology-related skills that enable them to work across industries and borders.
“There are very few jobs today that don’t require some sort of ICT understanding, skill or experience,” said Dr. Gilbert Saggia, Country Leader, Oracle Kenya. “In a fast-growing economy like Kenya, investing in ICT skills is imperative for business and government alike. Oracle is proud to work alongside organisations like Strathmore University to introduce a world-class training facility to support skills development in the country.”
The new Centre of Excellence @iLabAfrica provides a vital tool to expand technology education and help to close the gap.
Kenya has identified teacher training in computer science as a critical building block in its skills capacity building work. Oracle Academy completed its inaugural educator training event at @iLabAfrica for educators from Strathmore University, Equity Foundation, and iHub in July.
“Development of effective and collaborative innovation ecosystems like @iLabAfrica can help drive African economies like Kenya’s,” said Dr. Joseph Sevilla, Director, @iLabAfrica Research Centre.“Collaboration is crucial to innovation.
