DIVE initiative launched to equip graduates with digital skills

By Buertey Francis BORYOR

The Digital Innovation and Vocational Employability (DIVE) Training Programme, seeking to equip young graduates with practical digital and problem-solving skills for today’s job market, has been launched in Accra.

The intensive eight-week programme will provide 80 participants with training in digital marketing, coding and robotics, artificial intelligence(AI), problem solving and design thinking.

It is being delivered by the Internet of Things (IoT) Network Hub in collaboration with the National Youth Authority (NYA), the National Entrepreneurship and Innovation Programme (NEIP), and the Ghana Hubs Network (GHN), with support from the British Council.

Participants will apply their learning through a capstone project focused on developing practical solutions to real-world challenges.

Speaking after the launch event, Joshua Opoku Agyemang, CEO of IoT Network Hub said the training focuses on developing skills that respond directly to employer needs.

“The programme has been designed to be both practical and impactful. It will run three times a week, with two sessions in-person and one session online, adding up to 96 hours of training. Instead of final exams, participants will complete a capstone project that requires them to apply their new skills to real challenges,” he elaborated.

Additionally, he noted that the training will not only focus on technical skills but also guide participants to discover their purpose and align their goals with the needs of the program.

“We live in a world full of problems, especially in Ghana and Africa, and we need to train young people to think, reason, and create solutions,” he said.

Opoku Agyemang further noted that artificial intelligence is one of the modules because it is now part of everyday life and young people must learn how to use it effectively.

According to him, similar training programmes his organisation has run in the past have produced success stories. “Previous initiatives have helped thousands of young people start businesses or secure employment locally and internationally,” he said.

Director of Programmes and Partnerships at the British Council- Richard Kwesi Shiangbor in a post-event media engagement, stressed the council’s commitment to equipping the country’s youth with digital literacy and problem-solving skills.

“The government cannot do everything alone. Our role is to support initiatives that prepare young people for the future of work,” he noted.

He indicated that the program is part of the council’s wider strategy to promote employability skills in Sub-Saharan Africa.

“This first cohort is a pilot for 80 participants. A second cohort will follow, with plans to extend the programme to northern Ghana next year. British Council’s goal is not just training but also job placement. The Council will work with industry players to connect participants with employers once the training is completed,” he added.

Daniella Afful, a freelance digital marketer and program participant, shared her expectations for the training. She hopes to contribute to locally-developed solutions, emphasising the importance of home-grown innovations tailored to local challenges.

She expressed appreciation for the opportunity and stated her ambition to help other young professionals develop their digital marketing skills to improve business visibility and market impact.

The DIVE initiative represents a significant step in addressing youth unemployment through practical digital skills development.

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