What does success look like to you?
Nowadays, success looks more digitally oriented with digital careers reshaping what success looks like to young people. We have university graduates bagging remote tech jobs like marketing leads, software developers, data scientists, cloud computing experts, and so on.
With this, young Africans can thrive in careers that are relevant beyond the shores of their countries and contribute to the continent’s collective digital economy.
This is where you and I come in. How can we be a part of this drift?
SARMLife has found a way because with the SARMLife Digital Skills Training, we hope to recruit young minds like you eager to contribute to this robustly growing digital economy.
From the streets of busy Lagos, the gold coast of Ghana to the safari capital – Nairobi, young Africans are discovering that a single digital skill can change their lives forever.
However, there are several challenges to learning a digital skill in Africa and we hope to mitigate some of them.
Now entering its 2026 edition, the SARMLife Digital Skills Training continues its mission to equip Africa’s youth with in-demand, employable, and transformative digital skills.
With two distinct learning tracks (Tech and Marketing) for the 2026 edition, supported by practical mentorship, soft skills development, and career and employability-based webinars, SDST 2026 is going to help you gain future-ready skills that will amaze your future employers.
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The History of SDST
In 2019, Ruth Adeyemi was able to learn a digital skill during the course of her 1-year service to her home country, Nigeria.
This opportunity brought a realization of the extent of the digital divide in Africa, and the efforts that are being made to bridge this gap. It birthed a passion in her to give back to her community.
She pursued this passion and in 2019, SARMLife was able to sponsor two students in learning skills outside of their course of study. One of them learnt the Chinese language, while the other learnt fashion design.
By 2020, SDST was born and we started with just five(5) digital courses valued at five thousand naira only (#5,000) with Nigeria being the sole target country.
By 2025, SDST had extended to the point where we had participants from five different African countries excluding those in diaspora. In 2025 alone, we had over 300 registered students and 8 sponsors.
Besides the training, the SARMLife digital skills training (SDST) also includes mentorship, soft skill development, career fairs, and employability-based webinars.
We also got featured in two reputable media outlets – ThisDay and BusinessDay; and this is still scratching the surface of where SDST is going.
At its core, SARMLife’s vision for SDST remains “to equip Africans with the skills, support, and structure they need to turn their potential into purpose”.
From Ruth’s journey to learning a digital skill, SDST has evolved into a movement that hopes to empower thousands of Africans every year.
The outcomes of SDST so far.
We are incredibly proud of the results we have been able to achieve with SDST.
Here are some reviews from our students:
- Dorcas Pinkrah Kyei – Ghana
“SDST has helped me to stand out in my career as an Administrative Officer. It has also taught me to leverage my already existing skills, like Graphic design and Excel, to work efficiently.”
Her pursuit of digital skills has opened her up to an opportunity to pursue her Master’s Degree in Project Management with a focus on Analytics at Northeastern University in Boston, USA.
- Zainab Babalola Olajuwon – Nigeria
She started building her brand in the healthcare marketing space immediately after SDST, and she had a 3-month Internship contract with a US-based pharmaceutical company named The Academy of Population Health Pharmacy (aPHP)!
In her words:
“SDST has helped improve my career journey, and I cannot wait to do much more with the skillset I have acquired.”
- Grace Doh – Ghana
She joined SDST as a Public Relations officer at the University of Health and Allied Sciences, and after that, she got a promotion. In less than 3 months post-SDST, she improved steadily on her digital skills.
Grace joined SDST with a strong desire to learn digital skills to increase her employability/promotion prospects.
What’s more impressive? She started her course with SDST during her maternity leave. After SDST 2024, she became the sole social media manager for the university and increased the followership from 2.6K on the university’s Facebook account in 3 months to 3K.
Equally, she now manages the school’s official social media pages: Instagram, Twitter, and LinkedIn accounts.
NOTE: These are just a few of the successes we’ve registered so far.
Several of our students can secure freelance roles, internships, or collaborative projects that allow them to apply what they learned in real-world settings.
Despite these successes, we do not relent on our efforts and we continuously communicate with the alumni to know how we can make SDST even better.
The feedback and lessons from SDST 2025 directly shaped the 2026 program design.
Alumni requested deeper course content, more flexible study timelines, and expanded mentorship support. With SDST 2026, we are introducing exciting features based on this feedback.
What Makes SDST 2026 Different?
The alumni talked, and we listened.
The 2026 edition of the SARMLife Digital Skills Training (SDST) will feature new changes that are meant to provide the students with future-ready skills that will help them stay relevant in the coming years.
Here’s what makes SDST 2026 stand out:
1. A DUAL-TRACK LEARNING STRUCTURE
Two of the most common feedback we got from past SDST students were that they often got overwhelmed because the timeframe to learn all the courses was too short, and that some wanted more tech-related courses, while some wanted none.
With the previous editions of SDST, students were required to learn all of the courses, and this feedback meant that they would have preferred a bit more flexibility with choosing the courses they wanted to take.
With this in mind, we decided that for SDST 2026, we will offer the students a chance to choose between tech-based and non-tech-based courses.
- The Tech Track:
This track is designed for tech enthusiasts.
Courses in this track include Software Development, UI/UX Design, AI & Machine Learning, Data Science, and analysis.
- The Non-Tech (Marketing) Track:
This track is built for the storytellers, marketers, and strategists who are more interested in ideation, branding, and creativity.
Courses in this track include Digital Marketing, Content Writing, Visual Content Creation, and Project Management.
This track-based structure offers a lot more flexibility than past SDST editions and allows the students to focus on courses where they have a significant interest.
However, we understand the possibility of some students being interested in learning ALL of the courses, and we also made provisions for them.
For students interested in both tracks, they can re-register for the second batch of SDST 2026 for FREE!
2. INTEGRATION OF AI & REAL-WORLD APPLICATION
At SARMLife, we understand that the world is rapidly shifting toward AI-driven solutions.
As part of our mission to provide access to in-demand skills, we have decided to integrate Artificial intelligence into our courses.
This starts with a full course on Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning which is accessible to all Tech Track Students.
Aside from this, we also have Generative Engine Optimization as a part of the Digital Marketing Course, which is accessible to all Marketing Track Students.
We also ensured that for the other courses, the coaches will explain and show students the specific impact of AI and future projections.
This approach helps participants stay ahead of the curve and positions SDST 2026 as one of the most forward-thinking digital skills training programs in Africa.
3. INTENTIONAL MENTORSHIP STRUCTURE.
The mentorship program for SDST Students started last year, and 2026 is going to take it even further.
Each participant will be paired with experienced professionals and SDST alums, across key fields related to their chosen tracks.
Mentors will provide:
- Check-ins and progress assessments
- Real-life insights into career paths of interest.
- Personalized feedback sessions to guide learners beyond the classroom.
This deeper mentorship model ensures that every student receives consistent guidance and motivation turning knowledge into confidence and career clarity.
4. CAREER READINESS AND EMPLOYABILITY
The focus of SDST is not just about the skills, but also about the growth of the students.
Unlike many digital training programs, SDST 2026 doesn’t stop at learning. It prepares students for the world of work.
Learning a skill is one thing, but knowing how to use this skill is another. That is why SDST places strong emphasis on career readiness.
We believe that a certificate is only valuable when it leads to real opportunities backed up with ability. That’s why SDST 2026 focuses heavily on employability and career growth.
Every participant will benefit from:
- Soft Skills Development: This is a full course and will run through the entire SDST timeline. Training covers communication, leadership, and problem-solving skills among others.
- Career Webinars: Interactive sessions with industry professionals and mentors guiding students on the right career paths.
- Job Fairs and Workshops: Designed to connect learners with real employers and internship opportunities.
Through these, students learn how to position themselves for both African and global opportunities.
Additionally, SARMLife’s alumni and sponsor network continues to grow; offering collaboration, visibility, and internship opportunities with partner organizations.
5. ACCESSIBLE AND AFFORDABLE
SARMLife Digital Skills Training was created to make digital education accessible to all Africans — regardless of background or location.
With a minimal enrollment fee of NGN 25,000 (Twenty-Five Thousand Naira ONLY) and a strong focus on impact over profit, SDST 2026 provides a bridge for thousands who want to start or grow digital careers without financial or geographic barriers.
At its heart, SDST 2026 embodies the campaign message:
“Where a single skill can change your life.”
And for many Africans, that change begins here with SARMLife Digital Skills Training 2026.
Partnerships and collaborations expanding SDST’s reach.
With the envisioned scope of SDST 2026, we know we cannot do it alone.
At SARMLife, we have always believed in collaborative efforts and that is how we have been able to achieve the amount of impact we have now.
The vision of SDST 2026 is to build a continent-wide system that supports and connects students with mentors, organizations, and industry leaders. We hope to be able to give them the first push into a prosperous digital future.
As we expand the SARMLife Digital Skills Training (SDST) program across more African countries, we’re opening the door to strategic partnerships that can help scale this mission.
We need forward-thinking brands to sponsor students, organizations to offer internship spaces to deserving students, mentors willing to refine raw talents and turn them into forces within their industry, media houses willing to promote this opportunity to the masses, influencers who are willing to promote and sponsor interested followers, and passionate, empowered individuals willing to bring about change.
These collaborations and partnerships will make it possible to:
- Provide learners with access to professional tools and resources,
- Offer useful and substantial prizes to top students,
- Offer internship and job placement opportunities across industries,
- Support innovation through sponsored projects, mentorships, and skill challenges, and
- Amplify SDST’s message to reach more Africans across regions and languages.
If you or your organization shares our belief that a single skill can change a life, SARMLife invites you to be part of the story. Whether through sponsorship, mentorship, or collaboration, your contribution can help us equip more Africans with the skills and confidence they need to thrive in the global digital economy.
Final Thoughts
Every edition of SARMLife Digital Skills Training (SDST) reaffirms one simple truth — Africa’s greatest potential lies in its people. With every learner trained, every mentor connection built, and every story of transformation shared, SDST continues to shape a continent ready to thrive in the digital era.
As we step into SDST 2026, our mission remains unwavering: empowering Africans for the digital future.
Through accessible learning, practical mentorship, and meaningful community support, SARMLife is not just teaching digital skills, we are building pathways to independence, innovation, and impact.
This year’s theme, “Where A Single Skill Can Change Your Life,” is more than a tagline; it is the heartbeat of everything we do. It’s a reminder that one decision to learn, one course, one mentor, or one opportunity can open doors to a lifetime of transformation.
Whether you’re an aspiring learner, a mentor, or an organization seeking to make a difference, we invite you to be part of the SDST 2026 journey. Together, we can turn potential into purpose and ensure that Africa doesn’t just participate in the digital future — it leads it.
One skill can indeed change your life. Be a part of SDST 2026 and start your digital transformation journey.
READ MORE: Top Digital Skills You Need to Thrive in 2026
