1,000 Scholarships Granted to Tech Students in Africa

Today we’re celebrating our 1,000 scholars, who have been accepted onto the Binance Charity Scholarship program partnership with Utiva in Africa. The successful students will be taking part in a free 1-year intensive skill training program in tech education.?

This is the second phase of our partnership, which is also providing introductory workshops to 50,000 people across Africa.?

Why is this important??

Kicking off on the 29th January, it's the next big step towards the students securing a promising career in the booming tech industry. This is more important than ever as unemployment levels rise across the continent. With the size of the global blockchain market expected to grow from $4.93 billion in 2021 to over $200 billion by 2028, we want to ensure the sector is being built by a diverse group of talented tech leaders. We believe Web3 should benefit the many, not the few, and by increasing access to education and removing financial barriers, this opens doors to people who perhaps wouldn't otherwise have the opportunity to pursue careers in this field.?

“This is our most ambitious education outreach to date in the region and the overwhelming positive response further bolsters Africa as a key hub for emerging tech talent. We’re so excited for these young people, as they embark on an exciting new career journey.”? said Helen Hai, VP of Binance and Head of Binance Charity.?

Classes have been designed for beginners and include skills such as web development, front-end development, full-stack development, cloud computing and blockchain modules. Binance Academy will further support this initiative by providing Web3 crash-course content to students and by offering live and recorded training sessions to Utiva instructors. Upon completion of the program, students are awarded an NFT certificate as digital & verifiable proof of having successfully completed? the program.

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Who are they??

Representing Africa's emerging tech talent, the scholars are coming from 19 countries across the continent including Nigeria, Senegal, Ghana, Cameroon, South Africa, Rwanda and Kenya.?

The program has enrolled young Africans between the ages of 18-35, providing them with a platform to learn technology skills for a 12 month duration.

Angela Naa Yaboley Okantey from Ghana said:?

“I am very excited to have been selected for this scholarship program because it will provide me with financial support and opportunities to pursue my professional goals in the tech space as well as interact with other like-minded individuals. Overall, I believe that this scholarship would be an invaluable investment in my future and enable me to be a part of an industry reshaping the world.

I plan to join the blockchain industry because I believe that blockchain technology has the potential to revolutionize various industries, including finance, healthcare, supply chain management, and others. I believe that the blockchain industry is at the forefront of innovation and that joining this industry would provide me with the opportunity to make a meaningful contribution to society and be a part of an industry reshaping the future.”

Renee Ovwigho from Nigeria said: “I am thrilled about this opportunity because it would push me toward a successful career in Data Analysis. With many industries adopting blockchain technology recently, this would enable me to learn and provide me with the opportunity to make meaningful contributions to society.

I believe that this platform would also provide the opportunity to be closer to the tech community across Africa.”

Miracle C. Amakom from Cameroon said: “As an engineering student, I've been on the lookout for reputable? programs to get great training and professional development and I am super excited to be a part of this. Looking forward to my journey of becoming a full stack developer as this has always been my passion.”

What is the Binance Charity Scholarship Program??

This project with Utiva is just one of many within the wider Binance Charity Scholar Program. Our goal is to enable the next generation of digital leaders to develop their skills, knowledge and experience without financial barriers. Since June 2022, we’ve donated more than $2.2 million BUSD to leading educational projects worldwide to widen access to Web3 courses. During this time, we’ve received more than 82,000 applications, with 36,500 places awarded in 2022 and funded 259,180 hours of Web3 education and training.?