Nekotech to train 10,000 Africans through $1 billion Digitalization Fund

The Vice President of Liberia, Her Excellency, Mrs. Jewel Taylor has applauded the Nekotech Foundation for introducing the innovative SOS-NEKOTECH-EDUCO-USA Canada Master’s degree Work-Study Program which aims at providing scholarships for young Africans aspiring to pursue a masters education program in STEM in the United States of America and Canada.

This a proven five year pilot program, 2018-2023, which now has many students in the US undergoing their STEM masters degrees, and working successfully, having been fully funded through the loan program.

According to the Liberian Vice President, the opportunity to acquire skills and knowledge is what African youths need to enhance their capacity to fend for themselves and also contribute meaningfully to their countries. Mrs. Jewel Taylor was speaking at the virtual launch of the project which had participants from over twelve African countries in attendance.

On her part, the Executive Chairman of the Nekotech Foundation, Her Excellency Dr. Princess Asie Ocansey said Nekotech is spearheading the training of ten thousand Africans who will benefit from a $ 1 billion African Digitization Fund, having successfully completed the five year pilot . Under this arrangement, prospective applicants to the programme will be assisted to submit successful applications for admission to the partner universities and colleges who are on the programme.

The fund is a no collateral loan which candidates will pay back while working in the USA/Canada for three years after two years of their STEM ( Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics) master’s degree.

The US allows for a three year Optional Practical Training (OPT) of full time work during which time the candidates earn $60,000-$250,000/ year.

She bemoaned the fact that of the 1.4 billion Africans, less than 39,000 students are studying in the United States,  whereas South Korea with a population of 51 million, has over 40,000 students in the U.S, adding that out of the over 1.1 million foreign students in the U.S., Asia has 750,000 students who are mostly in the STEM field and this is changing their narratives from poverty to prosperity.

“Africa has a huge potential to change its fortunes by taking advantage of this STEM educational opportunity,” Dr.Princess Ocansey noted.

As a US STEM student herself, she added that India went on a similar route of educating their children in the U.S in STEM programs and the result is the over $85 billion in remittances India is enjoying annually.

Apart from that, top US Tech giants attract Indian students because many of them have the tech skills. She hopes that African leaders will take note and do the same to drive jobs home to end the chronic African youth unemployment. She applauded Liberia, Sierra Leone, Ghana, Malawi, Zambia and Cameroon for kicking off this program.

“Africa has a huge potential to change its fortunes by taking advantage of this educational opportunity,” Dr.Princess Ocansey noted.

This is the opportunity the Nekotech Foundation is providing for African youths to change their levels through pursuing a Masters degree programme in STEM and Artificial Intelligence.

Applicants aged 21 to 40 with a bachelors degree are encouraged to enroll at www.nekotechcenter.org to start off with the readiness and English Proficiency College for $236. Certified candidates from the readiness college automatically qualify for 100% prep school scholarship valued at $2500. Candidates are assigned private counselor who helps them to secure school admission, the loan and visa applications. What is unique about this program is their settlement services to provide a soft landing with community for the African students upon arrival in the USA.

Successful applicants will then be assisted to secure students loans and their students visa as well. Under the five-year programme, the successful students will undertake a two year masters programme followed by three years of work in the United States or Canada. The successful applicants will receive 100% scholarship vouchers for the 2024 college intake in the US.

As to eligibility, Ms Ida Abbeyquaye the Executive Director of Nekotech Center of Excellence indicated that are “Applicants aged twenty one to forty years with a bachelors degree are encouraged to enroll at www.nekotechcenter.org to start off with the Readiness and English Proficiency College for a fee of $236. Certified candidates from the readiness college automatically qualify for 100% prep school scholarship valued at $2.500. Candidates are also assigned private counselors who help them to secure school admission, and complete their loan and visa applications.” She added, “what is unique about this program is the settlement services we offer, to provide a soft landing with various communities for the African students upon arrival in the USA.”

Other speakers at the event included H.E. Dr. Justina Mutale – Founder

Justina Mutale Foundation in the UK, Nekotech’s Zambian partner;  Jose Meilo, Nekotech Cameroon Partner; Ms. Ida Abbeyquaye

Nekotech Center’s Executive Director and Mr. Tyson Manering –

Educo -USA, SOS-NekoTech’s educational partners for USA Universities and Mr. Gianluca Mauro, founder of the AI Academy.

As part of the events for the launch, Nekotech Foundation launched its theme song entitled, ‘Level Don Change.’