Founder and CEO of iamtheCODE Lady Mariéme Jamme and Equity Group Foundation Executive Chairman James Mwangi during the signing of a strategic partnership between iamtheCODE and Equity Group Foundation/HANDOUTA new partnership between Equity Group
Foundation (EGF) and iamtheCODE, a global movement promoting STEAMD (Science,
Technology, Engineering, Arts, Mathematics and Design) education, aims to equip
600,000 learners across Africa with digital and technical skills.
The collaboration will establish a Digital
Academy providing more than 65,000 free online upskilling and certification
opportunities through iamtheCODE’s platform.
The initiative will combine STEAMD
learning, leadership development, mentorship, and open-source resources to
prepare African youth for the digital economy.
Speaking during the signing of the memorandum
of understanding (MoU), EGF Executive Chairperson James Mwangi said the
initiative reflects a growing need for African youth to acquire future-ready
skills in a rapidly changing global economy.
“The future of work is digital. We must
prepare our young people to thrive in this environment by equipping them with
the right tools and mindset,” Mwangi said.
“Through partnerships like this, we can
unlock the potential of our youth and empower them to shape Africa’s digital
future.”
The program targets women, girls, and
young people from underserved communities, with the goal of bridging the
digital divide and improving access to employment and innovation opportunities.
It also seeks to expand the foundation’s
outreach to include refugees and vulnerable populations across the continent.
The partnership builds on EGF’s
long-standing education programmes such as Wings to Fly and the Equity Leadership
Program, which have supported over 60,000 students through secondary education
and nearly 30,000 in public universities.
Through this new digital academy, Equity
aims to complement its existing efforts by offering practical digital skills to
learners, enabling them to compete in a technology-driven job market.
IamtheCODE founder and CEO Mariéme Jamme, said
the partnership will provide African youth with an opportunity to learn,
innovate and contribute meaningfully to their communities.
“We are excited to collaborate with Equity
to give young people, especially girls, the skills and confidence to
participate in the global digital economy,” she said.
“We need to restore dignity to people.
When people have dignity, they gain skills, and with those skills, they achieve
freedom. To truly emancipate our people, we must equip them with the tools to
succeed.’
She added, “With the right skills,
individuals can apply for jobs, earn a livelihood, and achieve financial
independence. The iamtheCODE platform has the potential to train many data
clerks, Excel specialists, and cybersecurity professionals.”
IamtheCODE operates in 89 countries and
provides access to over 65,000 courses, making it one of the most comprehensive
digital skills platforms globally.
With a goal of reskilling 1 million female
learners of all ages globally by 2030, the programme is designed to meet the
growing demand for employability skills worldwide.
The platform also includes a mentoring
component, providing learners with access to global networks and expertise to
guide their professional growth.
The Digital Academy will roll out
progressively across several African countries where Equity has a presence,
leveraging both organisations’ networks to reach learners in schools, refugee
camps and community centers.
The initiative marks a major step toward
advancing inclusive digital education in Africa and ensuring that the
continent’s youth are not left behind in the global technology revolution.
