The Gauteng Department of e-Government, in collaboration with the University of Johannesburg (UJ), celebrated the graduation of 204 young individuals from the Small Medium and Micro Enterprise (SMME) Development and ICT Skills Program.
This initiative aims to reduce youth unemployment and address the lack of ICT skills in the region.
The SMME Development and ICT Skills Program, a joint effort between the Department of e-Government and UJ, provides free training to young people across Gauteng.
Participants receive certificates as recognition of their academic achievements, equipping them with skills crucial for their professional growth.
Prof. Victoria Graham, Senior Director for Strategic Initiatives & Administration at UJ, highlighted the program’s dual focus.
“The program aims to incubate business start-ups by training and mentoring young entrepreneurs who own Small and Medium Enterprises with essential skills to manage businesses. On the other hand, it develops ICT skills for unemployed youth in Gauteng,” she explained.
This year’s cohort saw a significant increase from the previous year, with 204 graduates compared to 103 in 2023.
The graduates were awarded certificates in Introduction to Technologies 4IR, marking a significant milestone in their professional journeys.
Castro Mosina, Head of the Department for e-Government, underscored the importance of government-academia partnerships in fostering youth development. “It is our role as government to accelerate youth development by ensuring that our young people from all different walks of life have equal socio-economic and political opportunities as part of their growth. This initiative, the SMME Training and ICT Skills Development program, aims to contribute towards youth development,” Mosina stated.
Prof. Graham also congratulated the graduates, emphasizing the transformative impact of their new qualifications.
“The qualification is a major steppingstone towards changing their lives, especially in the era of digitization. The partnership between the university and e-Government is essential in ensuring that the youth in Gauteng is provided with the right skills for economic empowerment,” she remarked.
