The African Women Conference (AWC), in partnership with the Helpline Social Support Initiative with support from DataCamp Donates USA, has held a virtual graduation for the first cohort of the AWC Women and Girls Digital Tech Hub AI and Data Science Programme.
The six-month virtual programme was established following resolutions reached during the 2024 Africa Women Conference in Zambia, where stakeholders identified the urgent need to bridge the digital divide and create more opportunities for African women and girls in technology and innovation.
Speaking during the graduation ceremony, the Convener of the African Women Conference and President of Helpline Social Support Initiative, Dr Jumai Ahmadu, described the event as “a celebration of courage, resilience, and the limitless potential of African women and girls in technology.”
Dr Ahmadu congratulated the nine fellows from Algeria, Tanzania, Senegal, South Africa, Niger, Rwanda, Madagascar, Namibia, and Botswana who successfully completed the Artificial Intelligence and Data Science programme and earned globally recognised certifications from DataCamp.
According to programme statistics presented during the ceremony, nearly 3,500 applications were received across Africa, but following a rigorous selection process, 100 participants were onboarded into the programme.
While about 40 to 50 participants advanced into the second phase, nine fellows eventually completed the full programme track.
The graduating fellows completed 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.
Beneficiaries, in their various testimonials, said the programme enhanced their technical skills, strengthened their confidence, improved their startups and careers, and positioned them to become mentors and innovators within their communities.
Dr Ahmadu expressed appreciation to DataCamp for providing 100 free licenses to support African women in technology, while also commending the Helpline Social Support Initiative and the implementation team for their commitment throughout the project.
She encouraged the graduates to use their knowledge to mentor younger girls and contribute meaningfully to Africa’s growing 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 stated.
The organisers also announced that preparations are ongoing for the 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.
