Airtel partners with DTBI to provide a technology incubator with coding training for the youth in Dar

Dar es Salaam, Airtel Tanzania in partnership with Dar Teknohama Business Incubator (DTBi) has today launched incubator laboratory dubbed “Airtel Fursa Lab” at Kijitonyama Primary School in Kinondoni Municipal on a drive to help empower youth with ICT skills training and further develop into ICT entrepreneurs

“Airtel Fursa Lab” will offer various trainings from basic computer skills to coding and programing for beginners to advanced targeting primary school kids, secondary, university students and community members. It will also provide Training of Trainer (ToT) applied computer skills to teachers so that they can better support their students.

Launching the lab at the school the Permanent Secretary in the Vice President's Office, Prof. Faustin Kamuzora, commended Airtel and DTBi for joining their capacities in a strategic partnership that will catalyse the transformation of the youth in Tanzania in the field of Information and Communication Technology (ICT). This would help in building a critical mass of coders and the entrepreneurial spirit to create small and medium enterprises that play a role in the industrialisation of our nation. He urged other development stakeholders to tap into their capacities and form such strategic and sustainable partnerships.

Speaking during the launch of the lab held at the school premises, Airtel Communication Director, Beatrice Singano Mallya said “As Tanzania looks to industrialize and modernize, there is a heavy demand for tech-savvy workforce. It is therefore critical that we build the workforce starting with youngsters.   We are proud to be a part of this collaboration that will sustainably build necessary computer skills for the development of Tanzania”.

Airtel Fursa Lab Initiative  is a demonstration of Airtel core belief that Information and Communication Technology and mobile technology can be utilized to improve business performance and increase financial inclusion to Tanzanians while addressing skills development. "I urged the youth and communities at large to be vigilant to such opportunities and utilize them to the fullest", added Ms. Singano

On his party Chief Executive Officer of DTBi, Eng. George Mulamula said “In Tanzania, we face a gap of applied skills for developing sustainable & innovative computer/mobile based solutions that impact the community and businesses, especially from students pursuing computer science and information technology studies."  This program is designed to facilitate youth and especially women to become young business entrepreneurs who adapt to using new and disruptive technologies. It will also allow them to learn coding for job creation and also develop innovative solutions that can impact the public and private sector leading to greater revenue collection for the treasury. Through programmes such as afriCoderdojo (which utilises scratch programming), Science robotics (which uses lego mine-craft, arduino robotics) and an e-Learning platform for advanced analytics and cyber-security, the Airtel Fursa lab will be able to deliver STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics) skills to participants so as to deliver ICT solutions to the community”.

“Our aim is to build a critical mass of a new generation of coders/programmers who can at a young age develop ground breaking solutions and also enter our higher learning institutions more computer literate and ready to develop programmes impacting positively on the growth of the national economy and fit for the modern world” emphasized Eng. Mulamula

He further urged the youth including the pupils of Kijitonyama primary school and surrounding schools to take up this great opportunity. 

The Permanent Secretary in the Vice Presidents office, Prof. Faustin Kamuzora (center) speaking during the launch of incubator laboratory dubbed 'Airtel Fursa Lab' which will be under the patronage of Airtel and Dar Teknohama Bussiness Incubator (DTBI). On the right is the Airtel Director of Communication Beatrice Singano and  CEO of  DTBI Eng. George Mulamula (sitting on the left). “Airtel Fursa Lab” was launched today at Kijitonyama Primary School, in Kinondoni District.

The Permanent Secretary in the Vice Presidents officeProf. Faustin Kamuzora (second right) launching the  “Airtel Fursa Lab” which will give children opportunity to learn computer skills, under the patronage of Airtel and Dar Teknohama Bussiness Incubator (DTBI), on the right is the Airtel Director of Communications Beatrice Singano. Third left, is the CEO of DTBI Eng. George Mulamula  and besides him is the Chairman of the ICT Tanzania Commission, Maharage Chande and  the Chairman of the Board of Kijitonyama Primary School John Mutajwaha 

 A student from the Aga Khan Primary School, Serira Telerico explaining to the Permanent Secretary in the Vice Presidents Office,  Prof. Faustin Kamuzora how she made a program that could control a robot. Looking on are other dignitaries who attended the launch oa the Computer Lab.

A student from  Aga Khan Mzizima, Brian Basimaki explaining how he made his computer program