Global tech giant Zoho has announced a strategic partnership with She Code Africa (SCA), a leading non-profit organization dedicated to supporting young women in tech. This collaboration aims to enhance the digital skills of African women by integrating Zoho’s advanced low-code technology into the training provided by SCA.
Training for Impact
The partnership will kick off with Zoho hosting “Train the Trainer” sessions for SCA Academy trainers. These sessions will introduce the trainers to Zoho Creator, the company’s innovative low-code app development platform. The objective is to equip these trainers with the necessary skills to effectively use Zoho Creator and, in turn, empower them to teach their students how to build impactful applications. The focus is on leveraging low-code technology to address real business problems, providing students with practical, hands-on experience.
Young Creators Program
The training sessions are part of Zoho’s broader initiative, the ‘Young Creators Program’ (YCP), which was launched globally in 2022. This program aims to prepare the next generation of tech leaders by offering advanced digital skills and fostering technological innovation. As part of this initiative, Zoho will conduct a comprehensive three-day training session in Lagos, Nigeria, for 30 female trainers from the SCA Academy. This immersive experience will cover enterprise-grade application development using low-code technology and will provide participants with training materials and a year’s free access to the Creator platform.
Kehinde Ogundare, Country Head of Zoho Nigeria, emphasized the company’s commitment to local communities: “At Zoho, we believe in supporting local communities by upskilling and hiring local talent, empowering local businesses with our technology, and promoting responsible and sustainable development. Our growth strategy, known as transnational localism, embodies these values. In continuation of this commitment to support progress at the grassroots, we are partnering with She Code Africa to equip Nigerian students with critical tech skills.”
Empowering the Next Generation
The Young Creators Program has already empowered over 2,000 students globally by providing hands-on training in Zoho Creator, complete with completion certificates and enticing rewards. This initiative is designed not only to develop technical skills but also to boost confidence, foster personal growth, and create new opportunities in the tech industry. Zoho’s investment in young minds aims to ignite creativity and innovation, ensuring that essential tools are accessible to all, regardless of their background or resources.
Maryblessing Okolie, Community Manager at She Code Africa, expressed enthusiasm about the partnership: “The ‘Young Creators Program’ aims to bridge the technical skill gap and support talent-building for our youth who will be the next generation of leaders and professionals. We are glad to partner with Zoho to help our trainers learn the latest advancements in low-code technology, and then pass on the knowledge to our other students.”
She Code Africa’s Mission
She Code Africa is a non-profit organization dedicated to celebrating and empowering young girls and women in technology throughout Africa. With a vibrant community of over 51,000 members, SCA provides training, workshops, scholarships, and mentorship with the ambitious goal of empowering 100,000 girls by 2030. This collaboration with Zoho represents a significant step towards achieving that goal, equipping a new generation of African women with the skills to thrive in the technology sector.
In conclusion, the partnership between Zoho and She Code Africa marks a major milestone in advancing women’s participation in technology. By providing valuable training and resources, this initiative not only addresses the current skills gap but also inspires future innovators and leaders across the continent.
