Google has announced the next round of Google Africa Certifications Scholarships aimed at helping developers become certified on Google’s Android, Web and Cloud technologies. The scholarships are as a result of the realisation that Africa is on track to having the largest working-age population of 1.1 billion by 2034 and Google is committed to providing to mobile developer training to 100,000 Africans.
While making the announcement, Charles Murito, Google Kenya Country Manager, said that Google is committed towards young Africans for future jobs through the LaunchPad Accelerator. “We are offering 30,000 additional scholarship opportunities and 1,000 grants for the Google Associate Android, Mobile Web, and Associate Cloud Engineer certifications,” said Murito.
(TOP: Adaobi Frank from Abuja, Nigeria, narrates her Google Android Certification and Africa Scholarship Program story. Photo: YouTube).
The program will be delivered by Google partners, Pluralsight and Andela, through an intensive learning curriculum designed to prepare motivated learners for entry-level and intermediate roles as software developers in these fields. Interested students can learn more about the Google Africa Certifications Scholarships and apply online by Wednesday May 15, 2019.
Google’s certifications are developed around a job-task analysis that test learners for skills employers expect developers to have in these domains. This scholarship is about preparing the youth for the jobs of tomorrow by equipping them with the right developer skills.
“Becoming certified can make a meaningful difference to both developers and employers and we have already seen evidence this. Adaobi Frank – a graduate of the Associate Android Developer certification – got a better job that paid her 10X her previous salary after completing her certification. Her interview was quicker as her employer was convinced that she was great for the role after she mentioned that she was certified. Now, she’s got a job that helps provide for her family,” added Murito.
“Our continued initiatives focused on digital skills training, education and economic opportunity, and support for African startups and developers, demonstrate our commitment to helping advance a healthy and vibrant developer ecosystem. By providing support for training and certifications we will help bridge the unemployment gap on the continent through increasing the number of employable software developers. Through our efforts this year, we want to help many more developers like Adaobi and support the growth of startups and technology companies throughout Africa.”
“At Google, we’re committed to growing both entrepreneurship and digital skills. Launchpad Accelerator Africa underlines that commitment, and we are strongly believe that competency in digital skills among young Africans is key in driving the continent as it grows,” concluded Murito.
Launchpad Accelerator Africa is a regional Launchpad – an acceleration programme for top early-stage African startups that will operate out of Lagos, Nigeria. Over the next 3 years the Launchpad Africa programme will provide African startups with equity-free support, Access to Google engineers and intensive mentoring from 20+ teams, access to Silicon Valley experts and Africa’s top mentors, close partnership with Google for three months, PR training and global media opportunities.
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