ORANGE SETS UP DIGITAL CENTRE
Vice President Slumber Tsogwane has applauded Orange Botswana’s advancement in digital technology towards the national transformation vision. Tsogwane made the statement at the launch of the country’s first Orange Digital Centre (ODC) in Gaborone, last week which is anticipated to empower youth with skills. “It is my own personal dream that from the many young Batswana that will be trained here, at this centre, that I will live to see the emergence of our very own multinational technology company,” said the VP. He said the assistance and support from corporate entities with specialised expertise in ICT is critical.Tsogwane lamented that digital inequality and digital exclusivity are a threat to the progress that has been made to grow digital technology in the region.
“Digital divides exaggerate already existing, cultural, social, and economic inequalities.” Orange Botswana Chief Executive Officer, Nene Maiga said
ODC’s objective is to ensure youth are capacitated with the most relevant digital skills to take on jobs powering the digital evolution. “Orange Botswana is a key player in the telecommunication and Innovation eco system, we know the kind of digital skills that may set the youth apart in the innovation or digital job market and we are investing in this center to bring those skills to our youth here in Botswana,” said Maiga.
The local Orange Digital Center is the 12th Orange Digital Center in Africa and the Middle East, whose focus are pinned on six sustainable development goals in line with the United Nations’ 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development - quality education (SDG 4), gender equality (SDG 5), decent work and economic growth (SDG 8), industry, innovation, and infrastructure (SDG 9) reduced inequalities and partnerships for goals (SDG 17). The 390 square meters facility brings together four strategic programs of the Orange group, namely: a coding school, a solidarity FabLab - one of the Orange Foundation’s digital manufacturing workshops, and an Orange Fab startup accelerator, supported by Orange Ventures Africa, the investment fund.