ESPACT Digital Buddy Earns Global Recognition from UNITAR

In March 2024, ESPACT Digital Buddy, our AI-driven educational technology solution, earned a prestigious recognition from the United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR) — emerging as one of the Top 25 Digital Product Innovators out of over 7,000 participants from around the worldwide.

This achievement highlights ESPACT’s innovative approach to digital skills training and its commitment to empowering young Africans, particularly women and underserved youth.

The UNITAR Digital Skills for Youth and Women Hackathon was designed to identify digital products that address employment, livelihoods, and inclusion challenges. ESPACT’s submission, Digital Buddy, stood out for its unique vision: transforming how young Africans acquire digital skills and transition into meaningful work opportunities. By leveraging AI, the platform offers a personalized learning experience, connecting learners directly with global digital opportunities.

This milestone builds on the success of ESPACT’s 2020–2023 Digital Skills for Africans Programme, which trained over 40,500 participants, with 85% being women, and achieved a 55% employment rate among graduates. Digital Buddy represents the next evolution of ESPACT’s mission, providing a scalable, AI-powered platform that allows learners to upskill at their own pace while matching them to relevant career opportunities in the digital economy.

The recognition by UNITAR also aligns with Sustainable Development Goals 4 and 8, which focus on promoting quality education and decent work for all. By empowering African youth and women with digital skills, ESPACT reinforces its vision of positioning them as global contributors to the digital economy, while fostering inclusion, innovation, and socio-economic growth across communities.

Digital Buddy is designed to address some of the most pressing challenges facing African youth today: access to quality education, skill gaps, and limited opportunities for employment or entrepreneurship. Through AI personalization, the platform identifies each learner’s strengths, recommends tailored learning paths, and links them to relevant projects, internships, or freelance work. This approach not only equips learners with technical skills but also builds confidence, problem-solving abilities, and digital literacy essential for the 21st-century workforce.

Looking ahead, ESPACT remains focused on scaling the platform to reach millions of African youth and women. The organization is committed to creating inclusive digital pathways that enable sustainable careers, drive technological innovation, and support community transformation. By integrating emerging technologies like AI with hands-on skill-building, ESPACT aims to bridge the gap between education and employment, ensuring that Africa’s youth can compete on the global stage.

The recognition from UNITAR is more than an accolade; it is an affirmation of ESPACT’s strategic vision and impact. It highlights the organization’s role in shaping Africa’s digital future and demonstrates how targeted, technology-driven interventions can address systemic challenges in education and employment.

As development of Digital Buddy continues, ESPACT is expanding partnerships, enhancing AI capabilities, and refining its learning algorithms to ensure a seamless, engaging, and effective experience for learners. The ultimate goal is to create a platform where millions of African youth and women can confidently build their digital skills, secure meaningful work, and contribute to a thriving digital economy.

Through innovation, dedication, and strategic collaboration, ESPACT Digital Buddy is poised to become a transformative force in Africa’s digital skills landscape—empowering learners, enabling opportunities, and driving sustainable growth across the continent.

SUCCESS REPORT: KNOWLEDGE FOR ALL DIGITAL SKILLS PROGRAMME 

The Advanced Digital Marketing and  AI Fundamentals training, held from November 14–15, 2025, was an outstanding success and a truly transformative experience for every participant. 

Delivered under Espact’s Knowledge For All initiative, the two-day programThe Advanced Digital Marketing & AI Fundamentals training, held from November 14–15, 2025, was an outstanding success and a truly transformative experience for every participant. Delivered under Espact’s Knowledge For All initiative, the two-day programme combined in-depth theory, hands-on practical learning, and real-life discussions that shaped participants’ understanding of the digital and AI landscape.

We had major highlights such  as the practical sessions of the programme where participants put their knowledge to test through given classworks and excitedly showed off their works.

Another major highlight was the Career Talk Session held midway into the programme where our invited speaker,  Mr Omowuni,  a Media Consultant and Cinematographer enlightened the participants with  shared real-life examples, career pathways, and industry insights, giving them clearer picture of opportunities in the  digital economy as well as how to navigate through.

This session sparked new motivation and helped participants identify practical steps to grow in their chosen fields.

The training featured a balanced mix of theory and practical skills development, allowing attendees to immediately apply what they learned. By the end of the practical sessions, participants proudly showcased their work; demonstrating creativity, improved digital skills, and increased confidence.

We also had engaging discussion segments focused on real-life issues in the AI space. Participants explored how AI is affecting daily living, job roles, families, and even sensitive areas like procreation and ethics. These conversations expanded their awareness of AI’s impact and the responsibility needed when navigating emerging technologies.

A remarkable aspect of this edition was the presence of fresh graduates who volunteered to support the programme. Their contribution brought youthful energy, organisation, and smooth coordination throughout the two days.

Overall, the programme was a huge success, from the quality of engagement to the enthusiasm of participants and the depth of learning recorded. The positive feedback, improved skills, and inspired minds reflect the true essence of Espact Academy’s commitment to digital inclusion, empowerment, and growthme combined in-depth theory, hands-on practical learning, and real-life discussions that shaped participants’ understanding of the digital and AI landscape.