Limpopo University digital innovation lab to help job creation efforts

Tuesday, March 5, 2024

Minister in the Presidency responsible for Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities, Dr Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma, will on Wednesday unveil the University of Limpopo Digital Innovation Lab (LDIL).

The LDIL is a strategic initiative designed to improve the development of information and communication technologies (ICT) skills in Limpopo and address unemployment.

LDIL is a Software Development Programme aimed at combating the high unemployment rate in Limpopo, with a curriculum that covers coding, programming fundamentals and digital social innovation.

Through a 10-month Software Development (SWD) initiative that introduces coding fundamentals and digital social innovation, the LDIL programme also seeks to empower 25 unemployed youth each year.

The programme also places a strong emphasis on providing unemployed youth with practical, real-world experience.

Dlamini Zuma, who is the University of Limpopo Chancellor, will deliver the keynote address at the official launch of the lab, which is in collaboration with Samsung Electronics South Africa and the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition (dtic). 

“This historic event marks a significant step towards empowering women, youth and persons with disabilities and encouraging innovation in Limpopo to showcase and inspire similar innovative measures for other young people across the country,” the department said in a statement. 

The event, which will see the official plaque unveiling and ribbon cutting, will take place at the university’s R-40 Conference Hall. – SAnews.gov.za