Young Tanzanians are being encouraged to turn technology skills into businesses and employment opportunities as Airtel Money and its partners step up efforts to promote digital innovation and entrepreneurship.
Airtel Money, in collaboration with Buni, Dar Teknohama Business Incubator (DTBi), the Vocalize IoT Project and Techstar Innovation Hub, has launched an Internet of Things (IoT) and digital literacy training programme targeting university and VETA students.
The programme seeks to equip participants with practical skills to develop technology-based solutions to challenges facing communities while creating opportunities for them to participate in Tanzania’s expanding digital economy.
The training exposed students to IoT technologies and demonstrated how digital financial services can be incorporated into technology solutions, particularly in areas where innovation can improve service delivery and business efficiency.
Speaking during the programme, Airtel Money Manager for Financial Services, Foreign Transactions and Digital Platforms, Rita Nyamwehura, said digital technology was increasingly becoming an important tool for economic participation and youth empowerment.
She said Airtel Money was committed to supporting wider use of electronic payments while ensuring digital financial services remained accessible to Tanzanians in both urban and rural areas.
“At Airtel, we are committed to ensuring our services reach every Tanzanian, whether in urban or rural communities, through secure, convenient and reliable digital solutions,” Ms Nyamwehura said.
She urged young innovators to explore opportunities available through Airtel Money’s digital ecosystem, including airtime and data purchases, utility payments, merchant transactions through Lipa Namba and other digital financial services.
“We believe digital technology is a key driver of economic growth and youth empowerment. Through initiatives like this, we aim to inspire young innovators to develop solutions that address real-life challenges while contributing to Tanzania’s digital transformation,” she said.
JATEC Business Development Manager Elia Kinshaga said the programme was designed to help young people move from having technology ideas to developing practical solutions that can be used and commercialised.
He said IoT could transform the delivery of services in sectors such as water, transport, healthcare and security by allowing devices and systems to collect and share information in real time.
He cited prepaid smart water meters as an example of how technology could help water service providers reduce revenue losses, improve transparency and enhance customer service.
“The opportunity is not only in acquiring technology skills but also in understanding how those skills can be converted into solutions and businesses,” Mr Kinshaga said.
He said collaboration between companies, innovation hubs and training institutions was critical in providing young innovators with the infrastructure and support needed to develop their ideas.
Mr Kinshaga also highlighted the establishment of Fursa Labs through a partnership between Airtel and DTBi.
The innovation centres provide computers, internet connectivity, ICT infrastructure and technology laboratories where young people can develop, test and commercialise their ideas.
One of the initiatives highlighted was Visomo, an e-learning platform developed by MagilaTech.
The platform was initially developed to support VETA students but has since expanded beyond Tanzania, with users in countries including the Democratic Republic of Congo and Dubai.
Mr Kinshaga urged young people to use the knowledge and facilities available to them to develop businesses capable of creating employment and contributing to the economy.
For participants, the training provided an opportunity to understand how emerging technologies could be applied to everyday challenges while creating new business opportunities.
Levina Chifiye, a student at St Joseph University College of Engineering and Technology, said the programme had broadened her understanding of how IoT could be applied in areas such as security, transport and digital payments.
She said access to Airtel Money APIs could help young developers integrate payment services into technology solutions, allowing them to build products that can be scaled to reach more users.
The programme comes at a time when Tanzania is seeking to strengthen digital skills among young people and increase their participation in the digital economy.
For many young Tanzanians entering an increasingly technology-driven labour market, initiatives that combine practical skills, access to innovation infrastructure and opportunities to commercialise ideas could help bridge the gap between education and employment.
The partnership also demonstrates the growing role of the private sector, innovation hubs and training institutions in developing a generation of young Tanzanians capable of creating, rather than simply consuming, digital solutions.
