Foremost Tech Training Company, Andela has announced Kigali, the capital of Rwanda, as the next city in the bid to further its pan-African expansion. This evening, the company announced that it is opening its first Pan-African hub in Kigali, in a tweet:
We're excited about opening our first Pan-African hub in Kigali, Rwanda. Our expansion into Rwanda allows talent across Africa to access training and employment proving boundaries shouldn't constrain brilliance.#AndelaKigali #ThisIsAndela pic.twitter.com/cCGk5nd2yz
— Andela Rwanda (@AndelaRwanda) July 24, 2018
According to Andela, this will allow talent across Africa to access training and employment. It also noted that the choice of Kigali is owing to its strategic location, broadband access, government policy and the youthful population of the region.
The Government of Rwanda, represented by the Ministry of ICT and Rwanda Development Board, has today signed a partnership agreement with Andela to establish the company’s pan-African tech hub in Kigali. https://t.co/n2lIajnoUQ pic.twitter.com/NIlQx8p5jI
— Rwanda Development Board (@RDBrwanda) July 24, 2018
Andela has entered into a partnership agreement with the Rwanda Development Board, an organization responsible for transforming the country into a dynamic global hub for business, investment and innovation, to execute this initiative.
Through the partnership, RDB will support Andela’s efforts to build a pan-African workforce and support the development of Rwandan and other African talents.
This will catalyze Andela’s mission of investing in Africa’s most promising talent as well as build the continent’s future technology leaders. It will also add to the existing over 700 Andela developers reserve in its Lagos, Nairobi and Kampala offices.
This evening Rwanda Development Board signs an MoU with @Andela to establish the first Pan-African tech hub in #Kigali pic.twitter.com/FztpRaMExq
— Rwanda Development Board (@RDBrwanda) July 24, 2018
Speaking on the development, Andela co-founder and CEO Jeremy Johnson said:
“We are thrilled to have found a partner in the Government of Rwanda whose mission is so closely aligned with our own: to grow and sustain a pan-African elite tech workforce. In Kigali, we have found a location that makes travel to-and-from other African countries seamless and also has the modern and connected infrastructure we require to collaborate with a global workforce.”
On her part, Clare Akamanzi, RDB Chief Executive Officer expressed the government’s thought on the project:
“We are delighted to partner with Andela to build the next generation of technology leaders who will lead innovation in Kigali and beyond. Through partnerships, such as the one we are announcing today, we are accelerating Kigali’s growth as a global technology hub while also advancing skills development and employment opportunities for young, talented Africans.”
Mr. Jeremy Johnson the CEO @Andela speaking at the signing ceremony said that applications will be open this August to train & mentor software engineers in #Rwanda pic.twitter.com/70o4DF0IZ4
— Rwanda Development Board (@RDBrwanda) July 24, 2018
Andela will launch the Kigali tech campus in December and applications for talent recruitment will begin in August.