Oracle Academy had the incredible opportunity to participate as a sponsor and partner at the Young African Leaders Initiative (YALI) Trade and Expo, as well as the U.S. government-hosted side events at the Africa Tech Festival, a prestigious gathering that brought together leaders, innovators, and changemakers dedicated to shaping the digital future of Africa. The YALI Expo and Trade Show, held alongside the Africa Tech Festival, was a remarkable platform for young African leaders who are driving positive, impactful change in their communities. It provided excellent networking opportunities and showcased the innovative solutions and ideas by young Africans that are making a sustainable difference across the continent.
Born out of the 2022 U.S – Africa Leaders’ Summit, the YALI Expo and Trade Show, implemented by Arizona State University, was designed to spotlight the work of young African leaders making a significant difference in their communities. This year’s event aligned with the Africa Tech Festival, which attracted over 15,000 attendees. This convergence of talent, innovation, and expertise created a powerful environment for driving conversations on how Africa can harness digital technologies to address its most pressing challenges.
As part of the festival, Oracle Academy Program Manager Lorna Juma served as a panelist on the US Partners on Digital Transformation with Africa (DTA) session, titled ‘Empowering Africa’s Digital Future: Building Skills, Closing Gaps, and Expanding Opportunities.’ This important panel discussion delved into the critical issue of skills gaps in the tech workforce and explored strategies for bridging those gaps. The conversation centered on how to create sustainable opportunities that allow young people across Africa to thrive in the fast-evolving digital economy. As an organization deeply committed to educational empowerment, Oracle Academy shared insights on how building foundational digital skills can pave the way for future leaders in the tech space.
A key highlight of the event was Oracle Academy’s involvement in the Harnessing Entrepreneurial Initiatives for Societal Impact pitch competition at the YALI Trade and Expo. During this inspiring event, four visionary YALI entrepreneurs took the stage to present their groundbreaking ideas aimed at solving some of Africa’s most pressing societal challenges. These passionate entrepreneurs demonstrated the transformative potential of innovation and entrepreneurship in addressing local issues and driving sustainable solutions. Congratulations to Otaigo Elisha, NovFeed Founder and a YALI Alumni from Tanzania, for winning the pitch competition.
Oracle Academy emerged as a Top 3 finalist for the Innovation for Impact Award at the Africa Tech Festival Awards for our efforts in transforming education with cloud technology via the Oracle Academy Cloud Program designed to empower educators with the tools and resources they need to create and manage cloud-based learning environments. This program enables students to gain hands-on experience in building real-world applications, equipping them with the competitive skills necessary to succeed in the global workforce. Through our cloud program, students have access to Oracle Cloud technologies and practical, industry-aligned training which is key to unlocking the potential of Africa’s next generation of digital leaders.
The events showcased the vital role that technology, education, entrepreneurship, and cross-sector partnerships play in unlocking the continent’s full potential. As the digital economy continues to evolve, Oracle Academy remains committed to supporting the next generation of tech leaders and changemakers across Africa.
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