The Amazon Web Services (AWS) Skills Center has successfully concluded a three-day in-person cloud computing skills initiative at the University of Nairobi (UoN), empowering the next generation of technology talent in Africa. This event advances AWS’s mission to bridge Africa’s digital skills gap and prepare young professionals for technology careers.
This AWS Skills Center initiative provided hands-on training to 125 first-and second-year students, equipping them with essential cloud computing knowledge and industry-recognized skills. By collaborating with UoN, AWS is bringing its AWS Skills Center cloud curriculum to Nairobi to nurture a new generation of cloud professionals in Africa.
The AWS Skills Center was launched in South Africa in 2023. It is AWS’s first skills center outside the U.S., and it was designed to remove the barriers of access to cloud skills training, helping non-technical learners build new cloud skills and unlock career opportunities. The AWS Skills Center in Cape Town, also offers virtual AWS instructor led training, enabling students across Africa to participate remotely. Kenyan students who missed the Nairobi event were able to register for these sessions and receive the same virtual AWS instructor-led training experience. As cloud computing and AI adoption grows, AWS remains committed to providing free, accessible training to foundational learners, ensuring Africa’s active participation in the digital future of work.
Building a skilled workforce for the future
The AWS-UoN community classroom is part of a broader strategy for AWS Skills Center to address the growing demand for technical expertise in cloud computing, artificial intelligence (AI), and big data. During the training, students participated in six AWS instructor-led classes covering foundational cloud concepts and the Becoming a Cloud Practitioner series, designed for individuals with no prior IT or cloud experience switching to a cloud career or for line-of-business employees looking for foundational cloud literacy.
“We are thrilled to have collaborated with the University of Nairobi to bring in person AWS instructor-led training to Kenyan students,” said Nondumiso Zibi, AWS Director for Support Engineering, EMEA. “Cloud computing is at the core of digital transformation, and we believe access to high-quality training is essential to unlocking career opportunities. This initiative is aligned with our long-term commitment to equipping young people with the necessary technical skills to thrive in the current global job market.”
The University of Nairobi hailed the collaboration as a crucial step in ensuring students are industry-ready upon graduation. “The future of work is digital, and our work with AWS ensures that our students gain practical, industry-relevant skills,” said Professor Andrew Kahonge, Chair of the Department of Computing and Informatics at UoN. “We recognize the increasing demand for cloud expertise and are committed to equipping our students with the knowledge and certifications that will give them a competitive edge in the job market. This training has been an invaluable opportunity, and we look forward to future collaborations that will benefit our students and Kenya’s tech ecosystem.”
Professor Leonidah Kerubo, Dean of the Department of Computing and Informatics at UoN noted that imparting practical skills to students is crucial as they prepare for the future of work. “We want our students to be market ready. That’s why we are working very closely with industry players like AWS so they can fit with the current tech industry requirements,” she said. “The mandate of AWS is aligned with our mandate in that we are inculcating a culture of innovation to our students. AWS coming to show us how to close the skill gap is very important and that’s why we appreciate them.”
Students seized the opportunity
The training drew a diverse group of students eager to jumpstart their careers in technology. Many participants noted that the hands-on learning and real-world applications discussed during the sessions gave them a new perspective on cloud computing and its potential.
Cecilia K’Owiti, a second-year computer science student, described the training as a transformative experience. “Before this program, I had a rough understanding of how cloud computing works, but now I see its actual areas of application and the career paths it can open for me. The instructor was knowledgeable, and I appreciate his interactive approach,” she said.
Neville Mwangangi, a fourth-year computer science student, found the sessions eye-opening. “Our instructor Nigel Solomons was great. He broke down complex core elements of cloud infrastructure into simple explanations. My idea of the cloud was more on storage, but I got to understand it as a service. I now have access to AWS Labs for more learning. What stood out for me was learning about different job roles in the cloud and how accessible AWS certifications are. I now know how to become a cloud solutions architect.”
For Terry Mukundi, a fourth-year computing student, the training she received during the three days was invaluable. “I knew about cloud computing but only in theory. I got practical skills on cloud networking, cloud security and machine learning. This training helped me understand how to optimize the cloud for D-planning workflows and I’m now more confident in plugging into the AWS cloud services especially when deploying my fourth-year course project.”
AWS encouraged students who completed the training to pursue earning their AWS Certified Cloud Practitioner certification and continue their journey with free, self-paced training from AWS Educate, which offers an extensive digital library of courses and hands-on labs.
