By Silvia Nyambura
Vodafone Uganda has announced that going forward, it will be more focused on the youth and Small and Medium Scale Entrepreneurs in order to empower them to harness their potential. The company will be keen on digital with the aim of using the power of the internet to tap into the younger generations’ potential and help them build their tomorrow today.
Speaking during a press conference held at the Kampala International University yesterday, John Ndego, the telecom’s Chief Executive Officer said, “The biggest way that we can support Uganda is to provide technology and data services that support the growth of young entrepreneurs in this country. We are helping them access global education resources using 4G technology.”
Uganda is the youngest and most entrepreneurial country in the world. According to the 2014 census statistics by Uganda Bureau of Statistics, the youth which comprises persons below 30 years constitute 78% of the population. These numbers, according to Ndego, represent a huge potential for the country to turn a tide in technology and innovation.
As part of the youth focus, Vodafone will be offering internship and work experience opportunities to students in various universities in the country. The youth program which is targeting both the students and graduates is geared towards supporting career growth and technology innovation for the students. Over 250 youths are expected to benefit from this program annually.
Dubbed ‘#ICreateTomorrow’ the digital campaign is expected to empower the youth by helping them take charge of their tomorrow. It will provide an opportunity to experience what their peers are doing with technology in other countries.
“We are committed to nurturing and developing young talent in Uganda. We shall soon be introducing an online platform and community called JUMP that will transform how the youth, professionals and SMEs learn, share and interact in a digital world,” noted Jackie Namara, Vodafone Uganda Head of Marketing.
In addition, in order to enhance customer experience Vodafone has also launched ‘My Vodafone App’ that gives customers the flexibility to manage their account. It allows them to top- up, track usage, purchase data bundles using a voucher, Debit or Credit card. The telecom also has the ‘Chat+’ that enables customers to stay in touch with family and friends by making free audio HD quality calls and messaging on the network with anyone who has downloaded the app.