Yango’s Tech Fellowship Empowers African Innovators

In Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire, six teams of young technologists presented their solutions to real-world challenges at the 2026 Pan-African Yango Fellowship Pitch Day. These projects ranged from improving informal bus fare payments to connecting job seekers with remote work opportunities.

The program, run by Dubai-based digital services provider Yango Group, selected 24 fellows from across six countries: Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, Zambia, Senegal, Ethiopia, and Mozambique. Over 12 weeks, these individuals collaborated on mixed-country teams to develop solutions addressing issues they encounter in their daily lives.

Addressing a Critical Talent Gap

With approximately one million young Africans entering the labor market each month, Yango’s initiative aims to address the shortage of digital skills. While only 25% of African higher education students pursue STEM fields, an estimated 230 million jobs in Sub-Saharan Africa will require digital proficiency by 2030.

“We see tremendous potential and talent across Africa,” said Shashi Singh, Director of Operations for Yango Ride MEA & Asia. “Our goal is to provide access and opportunities that empower these innovators.” The fellowship began in Zambia in 2024 and has since expanded to include six countries, with a particular focus on applied artificial intelligence this year.

Local Context Drives Innovation

Yango emphasizes the importance of local knowledge in technology development. “When people who live with a problem build solutions, they bring a depth of context that external developers often lack,” Singh explained. This aligns with Yango’s broader African strategy of building city-level understanding rather than treating entire countries as uniform markets.

The company recently announced plans to invest at least $150 million in African expansion throughout 2026, targeting entry into ten additional countries while further cultivating local talent.