The International Organization for Migration (IOM) and Cisco have partnered to provide digital skills and technical education to displaced people and host communities in northeastern Nigeria. The program will be launched in three pilot schools in Borno State, where over 2.3 million displaced people currently reside. The initiative aims to equip 150 internally displaced persons (IDPs) and host community members with digital upskilling opportunities through Cisco Networking Academy. This partnership also involves working closely with government authorities to align with country curricula to ensure the sustainability of the program.
Both organizations believe in the power of technology to create equal opportunities for everyone. By providing digital skills training, they hope to open up new opportunities in the labor market, alleviate poverty, and address protracted crises. Cisco plans to establish digital learning labs equipped with conferencing systems, servers, and network demos to connect pilot participants and support small, medium, and micro businesses in the technology sector across Africa. These labs will offer business mentoring, incubation, and training opportunities to improve market access and exposure.
The agreement between IOM and Cisco outlines a framework for collaboration to provide digital upskilling opportunities to communities in crisis. This includes building and equipping schools and learning centers, upskilling teachers, and developing new programs with the private sector to provide on-the-job training opportunities for displaced youth. Education plays a crucial role in helping displaced populations rebuild their lives and transition from emergency relief to long-term stability.
IOM actively collaborates with companies from various industries to improve the economic, social, and cultural integration of migrants and address challenges in migration management. On the other hand, Cisco’s Country Digital Acceleration (CDA) Program works with government and private sector leaders to build sustainable, safe, and inclusive communities using innovative technology solutions. With over 1,600 active or completed projects in 50 countries, the CDA program aims to create new value for participating countries, industries, and residents.
For more information, you can contact Francois-Xavier Ada-Affana (fadaaffana@iom.int) for IOM or Mariaan Christian (macrist@cisco.com) for Cisco.
Article Source
https://reliefweb.int/report/nigeria/iom-and-cisco-provide-digital-skills-displaced-persons-and-communities-northeast-nigeria