Flutterwave Launches Accelerate Workshop to Upskill Young Africans in Tech

Africa’s demographic dividend – its booming youth population – often makes headlines. Now, fintech giant Flutterwave is moving beyond rhetoric with its Accelerate Workshop. This free, virtual coaching initiative aims to equip young Africans with the tech skills needed to thrive in the continent’s rapidly expanding digital economy.

Bridging the Divide: Africa’s Tech Skills Shortage

Flutterwave’s Accelerate Workshop, spanning April 26th and May 3rd, targets a crucial bottleneck in Africa’s tech ecosystem: the shortage of qualified talent. Designed for university students, recent graduates, and early-career professionals, the program focuses on bridging the gap between education and industry demands.

“At Flutterwave, we are passionate about unlocking Africa’s full potential by investing in the next generation of innovators and builders,” says Yewande Akomolafe-Kalu, AVP of Branding & Storytelling at Flutterwave.

Key Skills in Focus:

The workshop zeroes in on four core disciplines, chosen for their global relevance and local applicability:

• Data Privacy & Cybersecurity: Addressing the growing importance of data protection in Africa’s digital landscape.
• Design: Equipping participants with user-centric design principles.
• Marketing: Developing skills in digital marketing and brand building.
• Product Management: Training future product leaders to build solutions for African challenges.

Participants gain insights from experienced industry leaders, including:

• Ted Oladele, CEO of Mira and former VP of Design & Product at Flutterwave
• Nujinim Egwegbete-Odukwu, Flutterwave’s Head of Infrastructure Security
• Abisola Epoyun, Data Privacy Manager

“We’re giving young people the tools, access, and confidence to step boldly into the digital economy,” adds Akomolafe-Kalu.

Beyond Theory: Practical Skills for African Startups

Accelerate Workshop distinguishes itself by combining technical training with practical skills relevant to Africa’s dynamic startup environment.

The curriculum covers:

• User Behavior: Understanding African user needs in product development.
• Brand Narratives: Crafting compelling stories for African markets.
• Data Privacy: Navigating the complexities of data privacy regulations across diverse African contexts.
• Problem-Solving: Building products that address real-world challenges specific to the continent.

This approach ensures that participants gain actionable insights, preparing them for immediate impact in startups or the broader job market.

Flutterwave’s Investment: Building a Sustainable Ecosystem

Flutterwave’s commitment to talent development complements its efforts in building Africa’s financial infrastructure. As a major player in Africa’s tech scene, with operations in 34 countries and processing billions in transactions for global brands like Uber and local fintechs like PiggyVest, Flutterwave’s investment in skills training signifies a maturing ecosystem. It recognizes that knowledge access is as vital as capital access for sustainable growth.

“Africa’s biggest asset is its young, dynamic population. If we give them access to opportunity, they’ll build the solutions that change the world,” asserts Flutterwave.

Register for Free

The Accelerate Workshop is free and accessible to all young Africans, regardless of background or prior technical skills. Interested individuals can register through Flutterwave’s official link:

https://calendly.com/flutterwave-5ni/flutterwaveaccelerateworkshop