The Amazon Web Services (AWS) has concluded a three-day in-person cloud computing skills initiative at the University of Nairobi (UoN). The training is part of the company’s mission to bridge Africa’s digital skills gap and prepare young professionals in the region for technology careers.
The training, conducted under the AWS Skills Center initiative provided hands-on training to 125 first-and second-year students, equipping them with essential cloud computing knowledge and industry-recognized skills. By collaborating with UoN, AWS said it is bringing its AWS Skills Center cloud curriculum to Nairobi to nurture a new generation of cloud professionals in Africa.
“We are thrilled to have collaborated with the University of Nairobi to bring in person AWS instructor-led training to Kenyan students,” said Nondumiso Zibi, AWS Director for Support Engineering, EMEA.
“Cloud computing is at the core of digital transformation, and we believe access to high-quality training is essential to unlocking career opportunities. This initiative is aligned with our long-term commitment to equipping young people with the necessary technical skills to thrive in the current global job market.”
The AWS Skills Center was launched in South Africa in 2023. It is AWS’s first skills center outside the U.S., and it was designed to remove the barriers of access to cloud skills training, helping non-technical learners build new cloud skills and unlock career opportunities. The AWS Skills Center in Cape Town, also offers virtual AWS instructor led training, enabling students across Africa to participate remotely. Kenyan students who missed the Nairobi event were able to register for these sessions and receive the same virtual AWS instructor-led training experience.
As cloud computing and AI adoption grows, AWS says it remains committed to providing free, accessible training to foundational learners, ensuring Africa’s active participation in the digital future of work.
Building a skilled workforce for the future
The AWS-UoN community classroom is part of a broader strategy for AWS Skills Center to address the growing demand for technical expertise in cloud computing, artificial intelligence (AI), and big data.
During the training, students participated in six AWS instructor-led classes covering foundational cloud concepts and the Becoming a Cloud Practitioner series, designed for individuals with no prior IT or cloud experience switching to a cloud career or for line-of-business employees looking for foundational cloud literacy.
Professor Leonidah Kerubo, Dean of the Department of Computing and Informatics at UoN
noted that imparting practical skills to students is crucial as they prepare for the future of work.
“We want our students to be market-ready. That’s why we are working very closely with industry players like AWS so they can fit with the current tech industry requirements,” she said.
“The mandate of AWS is aligned with our mandate in that we are inculcating a culture of innovation to our students. AWS coming to show us how to close the skill gap is very important and that’s why we appreciate them.”
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