Cameroon/Orange and the German Cooperation inaugurate in Douala the 6th Orange Digital Center in Africa to train young people in digital skills
After Tunisia, Senegal, Ethiopia, Mali and the Ivory Coast, the first Orange Digital Center in Central Africa has been inaugurated in Douala, Cameroon.
Orange(www.Orange.com) and the German Cooperation are inaugurating today in Douala, "Orange Digital Center", an ecosystem entirely dedicated to the development of digital skills and innovation, in the presence of high-level political and academic authorities in Cameroon, representatives of Germany and France in Cameroon and members of the Management and Comex of the Orange Group led by its CEO.The event was attended by high-level political and academic authorities from Cameroon, representatives of Germany and France in Cameroon, and members of the Orange Group's management and executive committee led by its Chairman and CEO Stéphane Richard.
After Tunisia, Senegal, Ethiopia, Mali and the Ivory Coast, it is in Cameroon, in Douala, that the first Orange Digital Center in Central Africa has been inaugurated. With a surface area of 600 m2, it brings together the 4 strategic programs of the Orange Group, namely: A code school, a digital manufacturing workshopFabLab Solidaire of the Orange Foundation, a start-up acceleratorOrange Fab andOrange Ventures Africa, the investment fund of the Orange Group. All these programs are free and open to all. They range from digital training for young people (90% of these courses are practical training), to support for project leaders, through the acceleration of start-ups and investment in them.
Operating as a network, the Orange Digital Centers enable an exchange of experience and expertise from one country to another and offer a simple and inclusive approach to strengthening the employability of young people, encouraging innovative entrepreneurship and promoting the local digital fabric. In addition, a framework agreement links Orange Cameroon to the Ministry of Higher Education for the digital transformation of 8 state universities. An Orange Digital Center Club will be set up in each university in the region, thus completing the system to offer the greatest number of people access and support for the best uses of new technologies.
Orange and the German Cooperation through GIZ are working together in the framework of a partnership for the development of the develoPPP programme, which GIZ is implementing on behalf of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ). The aim is to realize their shared vision: to foster the employability of young people - and access to ICT jobs for women and girls - while supporting sustainable growth and the country's digital transformation.
Because digital should be an opportunity for all, this initiative is fully in line with our commitment as a responsible operator and meets the following 6 sustainable development goals: (4) quality education, (5) gender equality, (8) decent work and economic growth, (9) industry, innovation and infrastructure, (10) reduced inequality and (17) partnership to achieve the goals.
To date, 8 Orange Digital Centers have already been opened in the zone: Tunisia, Senegal, Ethiopia, Cameroon, Ivory Coast, Jordan, Morocco and Mali. Other inaugurations are to come at the end of 2021 and during 2022.
Stéphane Richard, Chairman and CEO of the Orange Group, said:"Everywhere, Orange is a corporate citizen. Commitment is a core value of the company, which we have placed at the heart of our Engage2025 strategic plan. To promote digital inclusion and accessibility for as many people as possible, our ambition is to deploy an Orange Digital Center in every country where we operate by 2025. This goal illustrates our determination to mobilize to make digital a positive innovation."
Alioune Ndiaye, President and CEO of Orange Africa and Middle East states:"I am very proud to inaugurate today in Cameroon the 6th Orange Digital Center in Africa, which is part of the network of 32 Orange Digital Centers that will be deployed in all the countries where we are present in Africa and the Middle East, but also in Europe.The main objective is to democratize access to digital for young people, graduates and non-graduates, give them access to the latest technological trends to strengthen their employability and prepare them for the jobs of tomorrow.»
Dr. Corinna Fricke, The Ambassador of the Federal Republic of Germany to the Republic of Cameroon notes:"This initiative contributes to the digital transformation of Cameroon while creating local employment opportunities for young people. Germany is proud to be able to support such a forward-looking project."
Elizabeth Tchoungui, Executive Director CSR, Diversity and Solidarity of Orange,Deputy President of the Orange Foundation for her part, states: "This beautiful project is a key step in our social responsibility in favour of digital inclusion, and especially for young people and women. The FabLab Solidaire, a structuring program of the Orange Foundation, is an essential part of this project and enables beneficiaries who are far from digital technology to re-enter the professional world: the start of a beautiful journey which, passes through the development of technical skills and can go, thanks to the complementarity of the devices deployed, up to the creation of companies.»
For Patrick Benon, General Manager of Orange Cameroon:"Orange Cameroon's commitment to digital transformation is a reality. As a partner in the digital transformation, we are a leading player in the socio-economic development of the country through innovative ecosystems and specific devices designed to develop entrepreneurship. The Orange Digital Center brings together all the necessary skills in a single location to materialize Orange's commitment to digital inclusion. 4 Orange Digital Centers Club will soon be set up in regional universities in Yaoundé 2, Buea, Nagaoundéré and Dschang, thus completing the system to offer the greatest number of people access and support to the best uses of new technologies."
Orange is present in 18 countries in Africa and the Middle East and has more than 130 million customers as of 30 June 2021. With 5.8 billion euros in revenues by 2020, Orange MEA is the Group's leading growth area. Orange Money, its mobile money transfer and financial services offer available in 17 countries, has over 50 million customers. Orange, a multi-service operator and a leading partner in digital transformation, brings its expertise to support the development of new digital services in Africa and the Middle East.
About Orange
Orange is one of the world's leading telecommunications operators with revenues of 42.3 billion euros in 2020 and 139,000 employees as of June 30, 2021, including 80,000 in France. At 30 June 2021, the Group served 263 million customers worldwide, including 218 million mobile customers and 22 million fixed-line broadband customers. The Group is present in 26 countries. Orange is also one of the world's leading providers of telecommunications services to multinational companies under the Orange Business Services brand. In December 2019, the Group presented its new strategic plan entitled "Engage 2025". Focused on social and environmental responsibility, the plan aims to reinvent the Group's business model as an operator. While intensifying activity in growth areas and placing data and AI at the heart of its innovation model, the Group intends to position itself as an attractive and responsible employer, in line with the emerging professions. Orange is listed on the NYSE Euronext Paris (symbol ORA) and on the New York Stock-Exchanges (symbol ORAN). For more information on the Internet and on your mobile:www.Orange.com, www.orange-business.com
About GIZ and develoPPP:
The Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH is a federal enterprise operating worldwide. It supports the German government in the fields of international cooperation for sustainable development and international education. GIZ helps people and societies to shape their own future and improve their living conditions.www.giz.de/en
With developPPP, the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) promotes the engagement of the private sector where business opportunities and sustainable development goals converge. To this end, the BMZ provides financial and technical support to companies investing in developing and emerging countries. GIZ acts as one of the two official partners implementing the programme on behalf of BMZ.www.developpp.de
Source: www.investiraucameroun.com
