Competition Launched to Upskill Youth in Technology

G-Funze, a Pan-African edtech company, has launched ‘G-Funze Innovate 2024’, a competition designed to provide African youths with skill-based training relevant to the job market and to foster a vibrant tech culture on the continent.

The competition, scheduled from February 20th to May 22nd, targets adults aged 18 and over, as well as children aged 10-14 years. It combines a 3-month pre-recorded training program with a culminating 48-hour hackathon to assess the skills acquired.

Participants who excel in the training and hackathon will be eligible for cash rewards, redeemable as fees for further training in tech skills such as coding, machine learning, game development, artificial intelligence (AI), web development, and software development. The top three winners in the adult category will receive $4,106, $1,579, and $631 respectively, and the children’s category winners will be awarded $1,579, $947, and $631 also redeemable as fees.

Despite the significant opportunities associated with digital transformation like job creation, Africa, which boasts the most youthful population, is experiencing a critical tech talent shortage. The African Development Bank reports that the continent is facing a shortfall, with an estimated 4 million new technology jobs expected by 2025.

John Muchiri, Founder and Director of G-Funze, stated, “The aim of G-Funze Innovate 2024 is to level the educational playing field by providing opportunities for individuals of all backgrounds to embark on a tech career.”

Elijah Kamano, Co-Founder of G-Funze, remarked, “In the digital era, Africa’s unwritten chapter of innovation is unfolding, yet we confront a significant talent gap. G-Funze Innovate 2024 is our commitment to bridge this divide, built on the pillars of inclusivity and opportunity, empowering the youngest continent to not only engage with the global tech dialogue but also to shape it.”

Since its inception in 2022, G-Funze has formed partnerships with the Makini School in Kenya, Boroma Vrdur School in Sierra Leone, IEG Campus in Malaysia, and ETI in the United States to impart tech skills to the youth. Additionally, it has provided tech training to corporate staff at Wildlife Works and various other entities.