The Nigerian Diplomat

AfDB Approves $155 Million Loan For Nigeria’s EPSERP

According to Fatimah Alkali, Senior Communications Officer of the Africa Development Bank (AfDB), Bank has approved a loan of $155 million for Economic and Power Sector Reform Programme (EPSERP) in Nigeria.

The loan is aimed at improving power systems, business environment and sustaining growth through sound macroeconomic policies and budget priorities.

The programme was designed to benefit the entire population of Nigeria in terms of extended access to more reliable supply of electricity at reduced rate.

Nigeria & South Africa Agree On Mining Sector Cooperation

Nigeria and South Africa have concluded an agreement on mining sector cooperation.

The agreement commits the two governments to implementing an earlier memorandum of understanding on the issue over the next two years. As by far the biggest mining centre in Africa, South Africa will provide advice on geology; the regulatory framework and licensing; mineral processing; metallurgy; artisanal and small-scale mining; investment promotion; and capacity building.

IBM Digital – Nation Africa: Investment, Knowledge & Economy

International Business Machines Corporation (IBM) with its “IBM Digital – Nation Africa” initiative is investing $70 million in building much-needed digital, cloud, and cognitive Information and Technology (IT) skills to help support a 21st century workforce in Nigeria, South Africa, Kenya and other parts of Africa.

The initiative, “IBM Digital – Nation Africa”, provides a cloud-based learning platform designed to provide free skills development programmes for up to 25 million African youths over five years, enabling digital competence and nurturing innovation in Africa.
The IBM Digital – Nation Africa is designed to boost overall digital literacy, increase the number of skilled developers able to tap into cognitive engines, and enable entrepreneurs and prospective entrepreneurs grow businesses around the new solutions.

The initiative will be supported by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), which has a special focus on fostering market-driven ICT skills in Africa and the Middle East.

The plan is expected to take many African youths out of the labour market and secure them with the right information that would enable them contribute positively to economic growth.

This is part of IBM’s global push to build the next generation of skills needed for “New Collar” careers.

“New Collar” is a term used by IBM to describe new kinds of careers that do not always require a four-year college degree but rather sought-after skills in cybersecurity, data science, artificial intelligence, cloud, and much more.