The pool of information technology experts in the country is likely to grow in coming days following a tripartite agreement between Rwanda Development Board, Rwanda Online Platform Limited (ROPL) and CrimsonLogic, a Singaporean e-Government solutions provider, to further develop skills of fresh IT graduates.

Through an initiative dubbed, "Rwanda Technology Associate Programme (RTAP),” the partnership will target fresh IT graduates and take them through six months practical training working on projects with possibilities of job placements locally and in the region.

The initiative, launched Tuesday with the signing of a memorandum of understanding, seeks to increase Rwanda’s competitiveness in the global business community by ensuring there is a dependable pool of IT professionals.

Regis Gatarayiha, the acting head of ICT chamber at Rwanda Development Board, said the partnership will help groom a generation of IT professionals who will enhance national productivity through technology.

That way, he said, improved capabilities in the sector will boost national competitiveness in the global IT circles.

Participants in the programme’s first phase will be chosen beginning October through applications and follow up interviews, after which they will go through a six-month technical and practical training before they can stand a chance to get permanent roles in national or regional projects.

For the Singaporean firm CrimsonLogic, the initiative is part of their planned investment to support local education programmes by exposing hand-picked graduates to global business experiences and best-technology-practices from Singapore and other markets.

Eugene Wong, the firm’s chair, said the partnership was a statement of the parties’ commitment to developing the national ICT ecosystem which includes setting up a regional hub in the country.

"On top of investing in the RTAP initiative, we are currently evaluating appropriate sites for a new office in Rwanda. This new office is expected to be a regional hub for our business operations and project implementation. It will also be a solution showcase for customers as we widen our business footprint in the Africa region,” Wong said.

The firm works with governments from across the world, to develop systems to offer services to government and businesses.

In Rwanda, the firm partnered with Rwanda Online Platform Limited, the company developing an electronic governance platform, to build Irembo, a national initiative expected to ‘migrate’ a number government services to citizens and business from manual to online.

The platform was launched last week and offers services such as online trade licence.

Clement Uwajeneza, the Rwanda Online Platform chief executive, said the professionals created through the programme will be of great value to the platform’s sustainability and growth.

"They will be great candidates for our Third Party Developers programme that will allow any skilled developer to create e-Governance services and connect them to our platform,” Uwajeneza said.

The initial intake of graduates will be recruited from the University of Rwanda and the Adventist University of East and Central Africa with more varsities to be considered as the programme matures.

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