The us Yango Fellowship begins in Ghana and spreads to six African nations to support STEM talent.
Global IT giant Yango Group has revealed the next phase of its Yango Fellowship program, which aims to unleash the potential of STEM talent throughout Africa.The Fellowship assists members in transforming concepts into solutions that benefit their communities by offering networks, resources, and mentorship.
Countries Covered Under the Expanded Fellowship
Yango is expanding the program to four more nations: Mozambique, Ethiopia, Ghana, and Senegal, following its successful introduction in Zambia and Ivory Coast.
Fellowship Benefits and Support Structure
The extended Yango Fellowship will offer access to a nationwide network of Fellows working on significant solutions for local communities, as well as financial support and professional advice.
Building a Continental STEM Network Beyond 2026
In 2026, Yango is expanding beyond national boundaries and building a network of STEM professionals that will function after the year’s program ends, defying boundaries and bringing together aspirational young people from various African regions, just as the program’s previous years’ students secured prestigious internships that will help them achieve significant results in their future careers.
Government Endorsement of the Yango Fellowship in Ghana
“We warmly welcome the expansion of the Yango Fellowship to Ghana as a landmark initiative that aligns with our commitment to fostering innovation and nurturing the next generation of STEM leaders,” said Hon. Samuel Nartey George, Minister of Communications, Digital Technology, and Innovation.
Opportunities for Ghanaian Youth and National Development
Our young people have a great chance to learn new skills, interact with mentors, and turn their ideas into practical solutions for their communities through this program. Giving Ghana’s youth the resources and connections they require to thrive is essential to the country’s progress. Partnerships like this will be essential in creating a more promising and sustainable future for all Ghanaians as we move towards a technologically and digitally driven future.
Alignment With the One Million Coders Programme
Additionally, this expansion strengthens our national commitment to develop a highly trained digital workforce for Ghana’s future by closely complementing President John Dramani Mahama’s digital flagship initiative, the One Million Coders Programme.
Africa’s Growing Demand for STEM Professionals
There is a significantly greater need for qualified scientists, engineers, and technologists throughout Africa than there are graduates pursuing these careers. According to World Bank projections, sub-Saharan Africa needs more than 2.5 million STEM professionals to ensure sustainable economic growth.
Skills Gap and Youth Employment Challenges
Simultaneously, there is a persisting skills gap among Africa’s rapidly expanding youth population: less than 5% of young people get experience in domains like cybersecurity, data analysis, or programming, and only 10–15% have access to high-quality digital or technical training. There is an urgent need for career routes, mentorship, and practical STEM education because only about 3 million formal positions are produced annually despite 10–12 million young people entering the workforce each year.
Fellowship’s Role in Closing the STEM Gap
By extending the fellowship to additional areas, Yango hopes to contribute to the development of a diverse, competent, and future-ready STEM workforce, enabling students to create solutions for problems that their communities confront.
Leadership and Innovation Focus of the Curriculum
The curriculum fosters leadership, teamwork, and innovation while creating a strong alumni network across the continent. Learn more on Hubtel took top honours, winning Overall Best Fintech Partner at the MobileMoney Fintech Stakeholder Dinner and Awards.
Yango Group’s Vision for African Talent
“Africa has an extraordinary pool of talent, who bring creativity and problem-solving energy,” stated Adeniyi Adebayo, Chief Business Officer at Yango Group. In order to promote these skills, the Yango Fellowship is a practical program that links young innovators with the information, resources, and mentorship they need to create solutions that benefit their communities.
Fellowship Operations and African Hub in Abidjan
The program will take place at our African hub in Abidjan this year, and with its extension to six nations, we can exchange knowledge, collaborate, and use technology to truly touch the continent.
STEM Workforce Shortages in Ghana
The Ghana National Council for Tertiary Education reports that there is a severe scarcity of STEM workers in Ghana, with an estimated 60% of STEM positions being vacant because there aren’t enough competent applicants.
Gender Gap and Youth Unemployment Concerns
Furthermore, even though girls make up almost half of all secondary school students, just 30% of university graduates in STEM subjects are female. Another issue facing the nation is the high rate of youth unemployment, which is around 12%. Initiatives like the Yango Fellowship are crucial for producing graduates who are prepared for the workforce because they recognise the vital role STEM occupations play in lowering unemployment and promoting economic development.
Encouraging Female Participation and Workforce Readiness
The Yango Fellowship seeks to close these gaps and enable more young people and women to pursue careers in STEM by encouraging more young and female applicants.
Fellowship Support, Mentorship, and Financial Assistance
The program offers mentorship from seasoned industry professionals, special courses targeted at improving their professional competencies, and yearly financial support to cover basic living expenses to a chosen group of students.
Economic Impact of STEM Education
According to research, a mere 1% annual increase in the number of STEM graduates may boost Ghana’s GDP growth by an additional 2-4%, driven by increased productivity and innovation in industries like technology, energy, and agriculture.
Impact of Previous Fellowship Cohorts
The Fellowship has already had a significant impact; previous recipients have started community initiatives and established themselves as national role models. In order to ensure that the program enhances both talent and local ecosystems, Yango’s local hubs play a crucial role in mentoring Fellows.
Yango’s Broader Digital Innovation Initiatives
Beyond the Fellowship, Yango is advancing digital innovation by collaborating with academic institutions and educational institutions in its markets and imparting knowledge to young IT students and data scientists.
Practical Learning Through Hackathons and Youth Programs
Participants in initiatives like Urban Mobility Hackathons take on real-world traffic prediction problems and acquire skills that they may use to better their neighbourhoods and cities. All of Yango’s youth programs aim to provide participants with useful knowledge while producing real advantages for their nations and local communities. Read more on Glovo Shuts Down Operations in Ghana
