Côte d’Ivoire certifies 163 youth in digital professions under METFPA pilot training programme

By:  Nana Appiah Acquaye

The Ministry of Technical Education, Vocational Training and Apprenticeship (METFPA) has certified 163 young people in key digital professions under the first cohort of its Pilot Project for Training and Integration in Information and Communication Technology professions.

The certificates of professional qualification were awarded during a ceremony held, at the Foyer of the Abidjan-Cocody Technical High School. The event was chaired by the Minister of Technical Education, Vocational Training and Apprenticeship, N’Guessan Koffi, in the presence of the President of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Côte d’Ivoire, Fama Touré, and other stakeholders.

The training programme, which ran from November 2024 to November 2025, focused on seven strategic digital professions, including application development, data analysis, cybersecurity, web technologies, computer graphics, community management and professional office automation. Of the 163 beneficiaries, 128 were based in Abidjan.

Addressing participants and partners, Minister Koffi disclosed that more than 98 percent of the certified trainees were already engaged in qualifying internships, while about 40 percent had secured favourable professional outcomes, including fixed-term contracts, permanent employment or consultancy engagements. He stated that the government aims to raise the overall integration rate of beneficiaries under the project to over 80 percent by the end of the first quarter of 2026, combining salaried employment and self-employment opportunities.

The minister commended the project coordination team, led by Siata Sakanoko, and acknowledged the contributions of METFPA’s partners, including the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Côte d’Ivoire and private sector companies such as GOMYCODE and SAH Analytics. He noted that the trainees benefited from a comprehensive training approach combining theoretical instruction, practical workshops, professional internships and hands-on projects, in line with national standards for the Certificate of Professional Qualification.

Minister Koffi also highlighted the support provided by the Vocational Training Development Fund, particularly the role of its Secretary General, N’Dri Philippe, in ensuring the effective implementation of the project. The Pilot Project for Training and Integration in ICT Professions is being implemented under the Second Chance School programme, which aims to improve employability and skills development among young people.