The Cloud Native Computing Foundation® (CNCF®), which builds sustainable ecosystems for cloud-native software, along with Linux Foundation Education, the training and certification arm of the Linux Foundation, has partnered with Andela, home to the world’s largest private tech talent marketplace, to train 20,000 to 30,000 African technologists in cloud native basics to enable them to excel in jobs globally as cloud-native development grows.

The training—done at no cost to the participants—will begin next year and unfold over two to three years. Participants will have the opportunity to train for the Kubernetes and Cloud Native associate (KCNA) certification, which demonstrates a user’s foundational knowledge and skills in Kubernetes and the wider cloud native ecosystem, and the Certified Kubernetes Application Developer (CKAD), which certifies that users can design, build, configure, and expose cloud native applications for Kubernetes.

“This partnership showcases the global impact of CNCF’s education programs. By standardizing cloud native knowledge, developers across the globe can confidently work toward certifications that will enable them to land developer positions both within their own countries and globally,” said Chris Aniszczyk, CTO at the CNCF.

“By partnering with Andela, which has a long history of training technologists in Africa, we see great opportunity in providing our training to communities that may otherwise not have access. Together, we can create a win-win for companies that need workers and workers that need opportunities.”

According to Google’s Africa Developer Ecosystem Report 2021, the increased global demand for remote tech talent, which was accelerated by the pandemic, created more remote employment opportunities for African developers. Now, 38% of African software developers work for at least one company based outside the continent.

“We are excited to partner with CNCF to extend training and, ultimately, enhance job opportunities for African workers. The continent is emerging as one of the most important markets in the world.

“It has the fastest-growing population of developers, and its young workforce will be key to solving the tech talent shortage,” said Carrol Chang, Andela CEO. “Organizations are looking for talent with advanced skill sets like AI and cloud-native, and this particular skill set is a perfect addition to the Andela marketplace.”

Training participants will take six to nine months to achieve the KCNA and CKAD certifications and will be selected from Andela’s talent marketplace, which includes 150,000 technology professionals globally, with a large percentage from Africa. Andela’s talent marketplace in Africa spans 49 countries, including Nigeria, Kenya and Ghana.

The company fosters an active community for marketplace participants and has worked with numerous companies, including Google, Meta, Microsoft, AWS, and Nvidia, to train talent in technologies that offer vast workplace opportunities.

The need for cloud-native developers continues to increase and a recent study by CNCF revealed that almost 55% of developers landed a new job as a result of training and certification courses.

Almost 7 in 10 (67%) said it made them feel more engaged and fulfilled in their work. However, 8 in 10 (81%) also said cost prevented them from completing certifications.

“As a non-profit focused on growing open source and cultivating the IT talent needed to sustain it, partnerships – like this one with Andela – help us train and certify underrepresented groups, which is crucial to both our long-term success and amplify our impact,” said Clyde Seepersad, Senior Vice President and General Manager of Linux Foundation Education.

QNET, a global lifestyle and wellness-focused direct-selling company, in partnership with Transblue Nigeria Ltd, hosted a successful Product Expo at Anchor Events Place, Ikeja, Lagos.

The event showcased QNET’s diverse product line, addressing misconceptions and empowering Nigerian entrepreneurs.

Mr. Akeem Ajisafe, Managing Director of Transblue Nigeria Ltd, emphasized the expo’s significance: “This is our opportunity to showcase our products, tackle misconceptions, and educate people about QNET’s direct-selling approach.”

QNET’s partnership with Transblue has yielded multiple workshops and exhibitions, promoting economic viability and youth empowerment.

Ajisafe highlighted the benefits: “QNET has contributed significantly to Nigeria’s tax revenue, and our programs teach entrepreneurship skills, enabling individuals to build their own businesses.”

Commander Mitchell Ofoyeju, Tincan Island Port Strategic Command, Lagos, praised QNET’s potential: “The product line is amazing, people-centric, and has great potential in Nigeria. It’s impressive, and I recommend it to young Nigerians.”

Ofoyeju emphasized QNET’s capacity-building opportunities: “This can generate wealth, increase productivity, and engage youth meaningfully, keeping them away from crime and illicit activities.”

The expo featured health products, luxury watches, jewelry, and educational materials, demonstrating QNET’s commitment to enhancing lives through innovative products.

As QNET continues to expand its presence in Nigeria, the partnership with Transblue is poised to empower entrepreneurs, promote economic growth, and foster a positive impact on Nigerian youth.

ALX, Africa’s leading tech accelerator, recently demonstrated its commitment to tech skills acquisition and fostering inclusive growth across Nigeria by participating in two significant industry events: the Akwa Ibom Tech Week and the Ogun Digital Summit.

Ruby Igwe, Country General Manager for ALX Nigeria, attended the Akwa Ibom Tech Expo, where she participated in a panel session discussing the topic ‘Leveraging Innovation for Inclusive Growth’.

She emphasised the critical role of building an inclusive community encouraging freedom and innovation through tech skills empowerment.

“ALX is an organisation focused on development, providing opportunities for the millions of African and Nigerian youths that make up our community. We recognise the uniqueness of each member of our community and encourage them to be themselves.”

Ruby stated. “When we think about innovation we encourage our community members to come from a problem-solving approach. Focusing on the problem and interrogating it with the right data will only lead to coming up with the right solution.”

Nkechi Belinda Idinmachi, Fellowship Specialist at ALX Nigeria, spoke at the event and highlighted the global talent shortage driven by widespread digital transformation across organizations.

“There is a massive shortage of talent globally with a projected spike of 83 million by 2023. ALX is on a mission to create more opportunities for young Africans, and to date, we have trained over 200,000 young people across Africa. We have mastered training at scale with our infrastructure.” She stated.

Following the Akwa Ibom Tech Week, ALX also had a notable presence at the Ogun Digital Summit, which brought together innovators, industry leaders, and tech enthusiasts from across the country.

At both events, participants had the opportunity to engage with the award-winning tech career accelerator and learn about the world-class offerings available within the ALX ecosystem.

From state-of-the-art tech hubs to a vibrant community, and world-class tech programmes, ALX continues to reaffirm its commitment to nurturing the next generation of African leaders.