Having made considerable strides in its digital transformation strategy, that among others include digitising its access channels that now WhatsApp, USSD and the web, culminating in the launch of the LetsGO Digital Mall in 10 regional markets, the Letshego Group has now announced it intends to extend this investment by investing in digitally skilling youth in communities where it works.
The African Financial Services group that operates in 11 Sub-Saharan markets in a 14th December 2021 media statement announced, it was rolling out the LetsGO Digital Academy, a training initiative that would impart much-needed digital skills amongst youths in the 11 countries the Group operates, including Uganda.
“The launch of our LetsGO Digital Academy is intended to build and empower more Africans with world-class digital skills and experience, but also resonates directly with the ethos of Letshego’s LetsGONation. We are building a nation for Africans, by Africans,” Enos Banda, Letshego’s Group Chairman said in the media statement.
Botswana will be the first market to benefit from this digital skills initiative, launching in the first quarter of 2022.
Mr Banda reiterated that education and skills are two key levers that “brighten the minds and potential of our future talent and will ensure and secure Africa’s future as an innovative, entrepreneurial hub for a multitude of sectors, including fintechs, manufacturing, digital innovation, health, agriculture and entrepreneurship.”
The LetsGO Digital Academy will initially enjoy a limited intake of 10 interns as the Group fine-tunes the curriculum and internship opportunities that the Academy provides. Qualifying applicants need to demonstrate foundational digital expertise, and a passion to expand their aptitude into digital financial skills and hands-on regional experience within the swiftly evolving financial sector. In partnership with Letshego’s well regarded educational institutions and strategic commercial partners, applicants will go through a thorough selection process before securing a place in the Academy.
“Letshego remains committed to achieving a demonstrable social impact by empowering individuals to use their capital and financial solutions for productive purposes. The LetsGO Academy resonates this same purpose – to empower members of our community to broaden their development horizons, so they too can play a more active role and contribution within their respective regional communities and economies,” added Banda.
Letshego in a media statement said that while the LetsGO Digital Academy may provide talent for Letshego’s longer-term recruitment ambitions, that is not the Academy’s primary purpose, adding that the Academy is simply another way Letshego can leverage its footprint, reach, offering and expertise to empower individuals for our collective development.
“The COVID-19 pandemic has sent extraordinary shock waves, challenges and tragic loss of lives across global economies. From an economic perspective, it has forced us to shift into a different mindset to manage the increasingly unpredictable environments we now live in. Resilience, adaptability and a solid grounding in digital literacy is now no longer a unique asset for individuals, but essential attribute for us to live and thrive in future economies. Letshego is committed to sharing its expertise and opportunities for regional knowledge to expand the horizons of Africans across our footprint,” reiterated Banda.
Building a sustainable and digitally-led Letshego business
I&M Select Banking Sapphire Club wins “Best Innovation of the Year” at UMEAS 2025Commenting about the development as well as the Letshego Group’s digital transformation journey, Andrew Okai, Group Chief Executive said: “Letshego’s vision is clear, we wish to be a digitally-led organisation that remains adaptive to the ever-changing environment, ensuring we remain future-fit so we can continue delivering on our promise to improve lives.”
He added that the Group’s twin digitisation strategy is structured to achieve broad transformation across multiple functions and includes the empowerment and upliftment of digital skills within its own staff complement as well as that of the communities in which it operates.
“We are not only here to improve the lives of our customers, but also those of our own people by upskilling and empowering our employees with world-class digital skills ensuring the long-term sustainability and growth of our business well into the future,” added Mr Okai.
Details on the applications and curriculum for the Academy shall be publicly released by February 2022.
About Letshego Group
The Letshego Group is an African multinational financiail services group that retail lends in 11 sub-Saharan markets. These are Botswana, Namibia, Mozambique, Eswatini, Lesotho, Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Rwanda, Nigeria and Ghana.
Letshego first opened its doors in Botswana 23 years ago, and today has over 3,000 employees including Direct Sales Agents, or “Digital Eagles”. Letshego’s customers include individuals, as well as micro and small entrepreneurs (MSEs). Letshego Holdings Limited, the holding company is listed on the Botswana Stock Exchange, with a subsidiary listing on the Namibian stock exchange.
In Uganda, Letshego, operates 45 branches, employing 251 people and serves over 43,600 customers.
