Dr. Waleed Al Ali: The Digital School Signs New Partnerships in Africa and Launches an Initiative to Train 5 Million Beneficiaries.
Dr. Waleed Al Ali, Secretary-General of The Digital School, one of Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Global Initiatives, stated that The Digital School has achieved significant milestones in recent years, signing four new memorandums of understanding with African countries. This expansion strengthens The Digital School’s global reach, allowing it to operate in 20 countries worldwide.
In an exclusive statement to the Emirates News Agency (WAM) on the sidelines of the World Government Summit in Dubai, Al Ali emphasized that these agreements reflect The Digital School’s commitment to supporting innovation and development in digital education while equipping youth with the necessary skills for the job market, particularly in Africa.
As part of its mission to enhance individuals’ skills worldwide, Al Ali announced the launch of the Future Skills Academy, an initiative aimed at training 5 million individuals with the essential capabilities to meet future job market demands. This initiative is a collaboration between The Digital School and the Ataya Initiative of the Emirates Red Crescent, with the initial phase focusing on projects in several African nations.
Dr. Al Ali highlighted that the UAE is one of the largest investors and key supporters of development in Africa. This is evident from the extensive strategic partnerships between the UAE and African countries. He noted that Africa is a youthful continent, home to the world’s largest youth population, underscoring the urgent need to invest in training and skill development to achieve long-term sustainable growth.
He stressed that the UAE’s current focus is on investing in Africa through specialized training programs tailored to the continent’s job market needs. The primary goal of these initiatives is to provide African youth with training opportunities that prepare them for future challenges while working towards creating 100,000 jobs in Africa over the next five years.
Al Ali further noted that the strategic relations between the UAE and African nations are characterized by a high level of cooperation between governments and institutions. This ensures the success of these initiatives and contributes to economic and social growth across the continent.
He emphasized that The Digital School and the “Khademyat for Skills” initiative are not just educational projects but part of a broader strategic vision aimed at building a more sustainable future for Africa’s youth. By equipping them with the skills needed to integrate into the global economy, these initiatives enable them to actively contribute to sustainable development.
