Nekotech to train 10,000 Africans through African Digitalization fund
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.
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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.
