NCBA, backed by Kenya’s richest families, to provide digital skills training for 3,000 employees

Timilehin Adejumobi -
Key Points
  • NCBA partners with Amazon Web Services (AWS) to provide digital skills training for more than 3,000 employees across its operations.
  •  The training will cover Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, Cloud Computing, Cybersecurity, and Big Data Analytics, enhancing employees' digital capabilities.
  • This collaboration aims to accelerate NCBA's digital transformation, positioning it as a leader in East Africa's financial services innovation.

NCBA Group, a leading financial services conglomerate controlled by some of Kenya’s wealthiest families, has announced a strategic partnership with Amazon Web Services (AWS) to provide digital skills training for more than 3,000 employees across its regional operations.

The initiative, set to begin this month, will focus on areas like Artificial Intelligence, Cloud Computing, and Cybersecurity, with staff receiving AWS Certification. This move aligns with NCBA's push to strengthen its position in digital innovation within the financial sector.

Boosting digital capabilities

John Gachora, NCBA Group Managing Director, emphasized the importance of this initiative in driving the bank’s digitization strategy. “This partnership with AWS allows us to provide world-class training to our employees, enabling us to accelerate our digital transformation and offer fully digitized customer journeys,” Gachora said.

AWS will support the initiative with its vast training infrastructure, ensuring that NCBA employees across its subsidiaries in Tanzania, Rwanda, Uganda, and Côte d'Ivoire are equipped with the latest technical expertise. As digital technologies grow in importance for African banks, NCBA’s upskilling efforts aim to keep it competitive.

Martin Risau, AWS’s head of EMEA Training and Certification, highlighted the significance of skilled talent in driving business transformation. "This partnership will provide NCBA with the talent needed to stay ahead of the digital curve,” Risau said.

NCBA Group: Top player in East Africa’s financial services sector

NCBA Group, based in Nairobi, Kenya, was formed in 2019 through the merger of NIC Bank Group and Commercial Bank of Africa. With subsidiaries in Tanzania, Rwanda, Uganda, and Côte d'Ivoire, it has grown into a key player in East Africa's financial sector.

Partially owned by Kenyan families like the Kenyattas, Meralis, and Ndegwas, NCBA is focused on strengthening its Kenya operations and expanding regionally. This month, it announced a Ksh644-million ($5 million) investment to upgrade its cybersecurity, underscoring its commitment to technology.