75 students graduate from eShuri 21st Century Skills Lab

In the ever-evolving landscape of work, where digital skills are becoming increasingly crucial across both the public and private sectors, students must equip themselves with the aptitude to thrive in this digital era. A notable stride in this direction was made as 75 high school graduates and seniors completed hands-on software training at eShuri 21st Century Skills Lab Programme, provided by Data Systems Limited. ALSO READ: Make Artificial Intelligence work for Africa – Kagame The graduation ceremony, held on Friday, October 13, garnered the presence of officials from the Ministry of ICT and Innovation,Rwanda Education Board, the Rwanda TVET Board, Equity Bank, I&M Bank, MUA Insurance , BPR, BDF and others The event featured a thought-provoking panel discussion, centred on The role of 21st century skills in today's job market and how different employers are supporting educational initiatives. Furthermore, students had an opportunity to showcase what they had learned through a presentation. In an interview with The New Times, Nadia Uwamahoro, CEO of Data Systems Ltd, shared insights about the programme, stating, We train them on different courses such as software development with Python, web development, data structure and data science , AI, cyber security , web development, among other essential digital skills. In addition, we focus on soft skills such as entrepreneurship, financial literacy, time management, and business pitching abilities. ALSO READ: Digital experts discuss homegrown innovations in Africa “EShuri emerges as a mentorship programme that aims to hone the skills of the future workforce, paving the way for new IT jobs and budding entrepreneurs. It was meticulously designed by identifying the disparities between what is taught in schools and the skills that are in demand in the market. Conversations with corporations were pivotal in understanding the specific skills they sought, which were often difficult to find,” she said. Uwamahoro’s ultimate goal is twofold: to empower these students with the skills required to secure well-paying jobs and, more importantly, to instil in them the capacity to create jobs themselves, bridging the gap in the labour market. Sosthene Bwigenge, the Smart Cities and Community Outreach Specialist at the Ministry of ICT and Innovation, conveyed to the students: We hold a vision of a future where every young mind, regardless of their background, can harness the transformative power of technology to steer their own destinies and play a part in the growth of our nation. “As you step into the professional world, the ministry is fully prepared to back you in your career path. Count on us for guidance, mentorship, and valuable resources as you set forth on your tech industry journey,” Bwigenge said. Konde Bugingo, CEO of MUA Insurance, delivered a motivating lecture to the students. He emphasised the significance of cultivating the right attitude and practical skills while advocating for continuous personal growth. He highlighted three pivotal factors, stressing that a master's degree alone might not suffice. Instead, he encouraged students to seize control of their destinies by actively pursuing all the opportunities they qualify for. “EShuri is doing exceptional work and MUA pledges to financially support the upcoming cohort of trainees, with plans to even offer job opportunities to some of them,” Bugingo said. Sylvia Mbabazi, Equity Leaders Program Coordinator at Equity Bank Rwanda, echoed the importance of such skills, mentioning: As a bank, we engage in a similar endeavour as eShuri, uplifting young talents with data science skills and digital literacy, precisely what the market demands. The students' critical thinking capabilities and adaptability to change are evident, which bodes well for their prospects in the job market. Lennon Muhumuza, responsible for learning and performance at I&M Bank Rwanda Plc, emphasised the contemporary relevance of the skills being taught: In our rapidly changing financial landscape, skills such as artificial intelligence, data science, and IT proficiency have become exceedingly important. What Nadia, with eShuri, is doing, is laying the foundation for us. The skills being imparted are exactly what we need today. This event holds considerable significance as it prepares the youth with skills that are not just relevant in the market but essential. At the event, stakeholders pledged to offer the highest-achieving students in the national exams an opportunity to undergo training with them, potentially leading to future employment. Moreover, students who excelled from three different cohorts were presented with smartphones as a token of recognition. The upcoming cohort for eShuri's 21st Century Skills Lab is now open for registration. To enroll, visit www.eshuri.org or contact info@eshuri.org or call +250789394687. Registration is open from November 1 to November 31. About Data Systems Limited Data Systems Limited, a software development and outsourcing company based in Rwanda, offers custom software development services across various technology platforms, including Microsoft, Java, PHP, Open Source, and Mobile. Their services encompass e-government solutions, e-commerce, web application development, cloud hosting, and professional IT courses. As regional representatives and partners of Microsoft, Oracle, and SAP, they serve clients across diverse sectors globally, with offices in Rwanda and Ghana. For more information visit: https://datasystems.rw

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75 students graduate from eShuri 21st Century Skills Lab