The first cohort of fellows under the African Women Conference (AWC) Women and Girls Digital Tech Hub AI and Data Science Programme has graduated, marking a major milestone in efforts to bridge the digital gap for women and girls across Africa.
The six-month virtual programme was organised in partnership with the Helpline Social Support Initiative (HSSI) and DataCamp Donates USA. It was launched following resolutions reached at the 2024 African Women Conference in Zambia, where stakeholders called for increased opportunities for African women and girls in technology and innovation.
Speaking at the graduation ceremony, Convener of the African Women Conference and President of HSSI, Dr. Jumai Ahmadu, described the event as “a celebration of courage, resilience, and the limitless potential of African women and girls in technology.”
She congratulated the nine fellows from Algeria, Tanzania, Senegal, South Africa, Niger, Rwanda, Madagascar, Namibia and Botswana who successfully completed the intensive Artificial Intelligence and Data Science training and earned globally recognised certifications from DataCamp.
Programme statistics showed that nearly 3,500 applications were received from across Africa. After a rigorous selection process, 100 participants were admitted into the programme, while about 40 to 50 advanced to the second phase. Only nine fellows completed the full programme.
The graduates undertook specialised tracks including Associate AI Engineer for Data Science, Associate Data Scientist in Python, Associate Data Analyst in SQL, and Data Analyst in Power BI.
Participants shared testimonies on how the programme improved their technical skills, boosted their confidence, strengthened their careers and startups, and prepared them to mentor others in their communities.
Dr. Ahmadu commended DataCamp Donates for providing 100 free licences to support African women in technology. She also praised HSSI and the implementation team for their commitment throughout the programme.
She urged the graduates to use their knowledge to mentor younger girls and contribute to Africa’s digital economy.
“The era of waiting for space to be created for women is over. If there is no space for you, bring your own chair and leave the door open for younger girls and women to follow,” she said.
Organisers also announced plans for a second cohort of the programme to expand opportunities for more African women and girls interested in Artificial Intelligence, Data Science and emerging technologies.
The African Women Conference reaffirmed its commitment to promoting digital inclusion, women empowerment, innovation and sustainable development across Africa through strategic partnerships and technology-driven initiatives.
