Microsoft introduces employment and entrepreneurship portal in Kenya

The portal will also include skills and enterprise development resources.

“The introduction of the portal was necessitated by the need to bridge the information gap for job seekers, aspiring entrepreneurs and school leavers by providing a network of accessible opportunities on various openings as well as necessary training on how to start a new enterprise,” said Microsoft Kenya country manager Kunle Awosika.

“We hope that the TukoWorks portal will become a national authority on employability and entrepreneurship that will bridge the gap for job seekers, aspiring entrepreneurs and the young people of Kenya. Our aim is to match the right skills to appropriate jobs, equip youth with the necessary training, tools and knowledge required to succeed in their desired job.”

Kenya is the second country in Africa to roll out such a programme after Nigeria’s YouthWorks, and Microsoft hopes to roll out in 19 countries in total across Africa and the Middle East.

With youth unemployment continuing to be a problem in many African countries, Awosika said individuals, governments and the private sector should play a collective role in creating jobs.

“Many young people have little or no skills and are therefore largely excluded from productive economic and social life. Those that have some education often exhibit skills irrelevant to current demand in the labour market. Leading to a situation where educational and skill requirements are increasing and thus, resulting in millions of unemployed and underemployed youth,” Homeboyz Foundation chairman Myke Rabar said.

“Our work with Microsoft, centred on entrepreneurship and employability skill enhancement, stems from the Homeboyz Foundation’s mandate which is to empower young people to develop their abilities and enrich their capabilities so that they can reach their fullest potential,” he said.

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