Proposal for Establishment of Mpesa Foundation’s Maseno Regional Digital ICT Hub at Maseno University
At a meeting in Maseno University on 2nd May, 2025 at the Vice-Chancellor’s office, a proposal for a partnership project between Mpesa Foundation and Maseno University was initiated. The goals of this partnership project is to implement a digital ICT Hub learning Center that offers a training facility for both the students and the local community. The training at the Digital ICT Hub will be on the general use of ICT as a key Economic enabler for current and future development. In particular, we want to use the Digital Hub to provide ICT training to students and community to rapidly provide the following SDG (Sustainable Development Goals) at rural, regional and national levels. As stated above, the digital ICT Hub key focus area will be on ICT training for the students and the local community.
This will be achieved through provision of space and computer rooms that serves as:
1. Laboratory environment to develop and test new technologies, especially those developed for the African market;
2. Space and a forum for Africans and non-Africans to showcase new technologies;
3. Space for Access to free Internet;
4. Space for Training and seminars on new technologies;
5. Space for an Incubator for innovative technology entrepreneurs.
The major beneficiary of this project shall be the students and the local communities in Maseno Township.
The project envisions the following impacts to the community:
- Improved Access to ICT Resources: With the establishment of the digital Hub ,we expect 28,000 students of Maseno University drawn from all over the country to have access to ICT resources every semester and the larger 50,000 population of Maseno and Luanda to use the Hub for learning.
- Economic Empowerment: Students will be able to develop their own applications and use the Hub to access online platforms to earn income through online platforms, showcasing their potential to drive self-sufficiency.
- Enhanced Education Quality: The addition of smart screens, Wi-Fi access and computers will make the institution more attractive to students, increasing enrollment and expanding the variety of courses offered.
- Community Engagement: The Hub serve not only students but also local communities, offering resources for online jobs, content creation, and access to essential services like health and financial management.
- Global Connectivity: The Hub will provide skills training, technology access, and support for local innovation, particularly focusing on underserved populations like women and youth. The access to internet connectivity in the Hub will enable community access to global community and interaction.
