The NIL Africa team that made Project 525 possible and won the Cisco Customer Success Award.
NIL Africa, an established leader in IT skills development and training, announces its innovative Cisco Certified Internetworking Expert (CCIE) 525 program has been recognized with the prestigious 2023 Cisco Customer Success Award I'm proud to be able to do this. The CCIE 525 program is designed to address the exodus of skilled engineers to the international market and sets new standards in IT certification and professional development.
Since 1993, NIL Africa, the exclusive provider of NIL Learning in Sub-Saharan Africa, has maintained its reputation as the only Platinum Cisco Learning Partner in Sub-Saharan Africa. With a tradition of innovation and outstanding IT skills, NIL Africa continues this tradition and provides unparalleled technical capabilities and insight. We are dedicated to supporting your technology systems and guiding you through design and optimization.
Recognizing the significant demand for highly skilled IT engineers in sub-Saharan Africa, NIL Africa introduced Project 525. “We're very excited about this,” said Christifaria, Cisco's California-based product manager. “The 525 Program is a groundbreaking initiative for customer success.” , This innovative project, tailored specifically to address the CCIE shortage in sub-Saharan Africa, has been in the works for more than 10 months. The aim is to significantly increase the number of CCIEs in the region, with the goal of certifying 500 engineers by the end of 2025. ” This forward-thinking venture encapsulates the core principles of Cisco's CCIE 360 program while adapting the latest his CCIE curriculum. The purpose of this program is to train 500 Cisco Certified Networking Professional (CCNP) engineers and enable them to challenge his grueling 8-hour CCIE lab exam within their chosen architecture. According to Faria, the Project 525 program “aims to improve the overall skill level of networking professionals in the region and jointly contribute to technological advancement and workforce development in the region.”
Martin Camp, NIL Africa Managing Director.
Conrad Stein, Cisco's chief technology officer, praised the program, saying: “Project 525 aims to take South Africa's networking capabilities to the next level. With the help of our trusted learning partners, Cisco is closing the gap between knowledge and skills and meeting the needs of industry professionals. We offer learning and certification pathways to
In partnership with the Institute of Chartered IT Professionals (ICITP), NIL Africa has aligned the CCIE certification with the Level 7 qualification of the National Qualifications Framework. This certification makes the CCIE certification equivalent to a graduate degree, greatly increasing career opportunities and advancement potential for participants.
Martin Camp, Managing Director of NIL Africa, emphasized the critical need for such initiatives, saying: “South Africa faces a shortage of in-demand certified technical skill sets. We must prioritize addressing this shortage with programs such as Project 525. technology experience into a streamlined and comprehensive learning process supported by the world's leading network solutions provider.”
Par Merat, Vice President, Cisco Learning & Certifications, and Martin Camp, Managing Director, NIL Africa.
With proven success and an innovative approach, NIL Africa has expanded its CCIE 525 program to the Middle East. This expansion is a testament to the effectiveness of the program and NIL Africa's commitment to meeting the global demand for highly skilled IT professionals.
For 2024, the next 525 CCIE programs in technology areas such as Security, Service Provider, and Enterprise Infrastructure cohorts will launch in March.
As a Level 1 B-BBEE contributor, NIL Africa is committed to developing local talent. The CCIE 525 program is aligned with the Workplace Skills Plan, which aims to address skills shortages and create employment opportunities.
Title: Cisco Learning Partner 2023 Awards Ceremony
Link: Award ceremony recording
Time stamp: 32:10 – 39:23
To get involved with Project 525, please contact sales@nil.co.za.