Nairobi: IamtheCODE, the world’s pioneering African-led global movement focused on advancing Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, Mathematics, and Design (STEAMD) education, has joined forces with Equity Group Foundation (EGF) in a strategic partnership aimed at equipping 600,000 learners across Africa with vital digital and technical skills.
According to Kenya News Agency, the partnership will implement a comprehensive Digital Academy through the iamtheCODE Programme, offering over 65,000 free online upskilling and certification resources. This initiative integrates a STEAMD curriculum, leadership workshops, mentorship opportunities, and open-source online courses, emphasizing inclusive access for women, girls, and youth, particularly in underserved communities.
Building on the successes of EGF’s initiatives like Wings to Fly and the Equity Leadership Programme, which have supported over 60,000 young people through secondary education and nearly 30,000 in public universities, the partnership will broaden its impact to include refugees and vulnerable communities. This expansion aims to empower them towards economic independence.
During the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in Nairobi, Dr. James Mwangi, Executive Chairman of Equity Group Foundation, highlighted the partnership’s essential role in equipping Africa’s youth with future-ready skills. He pointed out the growing demand from employers for work-ready skills such as AI, coding, data analytics, and data engineering, which remain scarce even in the formal sector.
Dr. Mwangi emphasized the opportunity presented by the collaboration with iamtheCODE to not only enhance education but also to provide technical skills crucial for employability. He expressed confidence in Africa’s ability to leapfrog technology and lead global innovation and economic transformation.
The partnership will provide 600,000 licenses to young Africans, enabling them to acquire technical skills that could allow them to work globally, despite being based in Africa. Dr. Mwangi reiterated that the initiative is about creating opportunities, empowering young people to compete, earn livelihoods, and contribute to Africa’s economic transformation.
IamtheCODE, which operates in 89 countries and offers over 65,000 courses, aims to reskill one million female learners globally by 2030. The programme, designed to meet the growing demand for employability skills, includes mentoring to connect learners with global networks and expertise.
Lady Mari©me Jamme, Founder and CEO of iamtheCODE, stressed the urgency of upskilling Africa’s youth, underserved communities, and refugees with essential technical, life, and soft skills. She underscored the importance of collaboration, ensuring that every girl can learn, innovate, and lead in the digital economy.
Jamme highlighted the transformative power of skills in restoring dignity and creating opportunities, asserting that with the right skills, individuals can achieve financial independence. The iamtheCODE platform has the potential to train numerous data clerks, Excel specialists, and cybersecurity professionals.
In addition to technical training, the programme focuses on life skills like collaboration, empathy, and teamwork, preparing learners for the modern workplace. Equity Group will support participants through loans for tools, internships, startup capital, and connections to its extensive customer base to drive economic growth.
The partnership aligns with Kenya Vision 2030, the African Union’s Agenda 2063, and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 4 (Quality Education), SDG 5 (Gender Equality), and SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure). It also supports Equity’s vision for private sector-led development financing and its Africa Recovery and Resilience Plan (ARRP), which aims to promote economic recovery across key African markets.
