Hello Guys,

I saw this news on Techpoint and thought to share here for those of us inclined to pick up tech skills for free. I heard of their Abuja Developers boot camp some months ago but couldn't attend it because of the distance. Seems they're rolling out more events, including hackathons and business incubation.

TL;DR

The Algorand Foundation is stepping up its efforts to support Nigerian blockchain startups and the broader tech ecosystem. They're expanding their events this year, including hackathons and workshops focused on blockchain education. The foundation has already made a significant impact, with Nigerian startups winning substantial prizes in global hackathons. They’re also working with the Plateau State Government on blockchain projects and have trained over 500 Nigerian developers in 2023 alone. This initiative is all about empowering local talent and driving innovation in Nigeria's growing tech scene.

See full article here:

https://techpoint.africa/2024/08/14/algorand-expands-its-educational-and-skills-program-in-nigeria/

Algorand expands its educational and skills program in Nigeria
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In a world where technology is continuously reshaping economies and job markets to create more opportunities for growth, Nigeria stands out as a country embracing technology to the fullest. Already home to several hundred startups - as well as the first country in Africa to launch a multilingual LLM - Nigeria is also on the cutting edge of emerging technologies and their adoption. Since last year, the Algorand Foundation has been expanding its support of the web3 and blockchain ecosystem in Nigeria. The foundation’s mission was to help increase the amount of blockchain knowledge (and then expertise) among Nigerian students and youths, including developers and future tech founders. Here are some ways the Algorand Foundation has been supporting the growth of the digital economy in Nigeria:

Empowering the Active and Inclusive Blockchain Community

The size of the local community adopting and advocating for a project will determine the project’s success in reaching and empowering the local players. It is therefore a good sign when a local community is growing organically around a project, as has been the case with Algorand. Many young people are building their first blockchain project on the Algorand blockchain with support from the Algorand Foundation team in Nigeria. The Foundation’s efforts in Nigeria aim to ensure that opportunities in the blockchain space are accessible to all. Initiatives like developer meetups, hackathons, and student-led activities create a vibrant community of blockchain enthusiasts. These platforms provide Nigerian youths with opportunities to collaborate, innovate, and lead in the digital economy​​.

Discovering and Promoting Local Startups

Algorand Foundation discovers and promotes local Nigerian startups through dynamic hackathons. These events foster innovation by challenging participants to develop blockchain solutions, offering mentorship, resources, and workshops. Winning teams often receive funding and support to scale their projects, connecting them with investors and accelerators. The top three Nigerian startups from the 2023 Algorand Global Hackathon hackathon received up to $95,000 in cash prizes and Amazon Web Services credits, and are currently building on their successes to deliver on their products. Initiatives like these not only highlight individual startups but also build a vibrant blockchain community, positioning Nigeria as a leader in digital transformation.

Founding Algorand Blockchain Clubs & Student Communities

The Algorand Foundation’s “Algorand Blockchain Clubs” (ABCs) program is an initiative aimed at advancing blockchain education. By partnering with universities and non-profit organizations, ABCs establish on-campus groups dedicated to educational programs. These centers offer blockchain courses and critical opportunities for collaboration and connection, and this program will expand to Nigeria this year in order to provide Nigerian youths with the skills required to excel in the blockchain industry​​.

Practical Exposure Through Strategic Partnerships

It is important as the blockchain industry evolves that people are incentivized to adopt real blockchain use cases beyond crypto. One area that blockchain has potential to be helpful in Nigeria is in public administration. Algorand has been working closely with governments around the world to explore blockchain use in governance. In Nigeria, Algorand is collaborating with the Plateau State Government to explore blockchain use cases that boost efficiency in the public sector. Use cases being explored are in the realm of digital identity, payments, supply chain and more. The partnership with Plateau State Government will explore blockchain applications through pilot projects, showcasing the technology's potential in a real world environment. Such initiatives provide valuable hands-on experience, making blockchain a tangible and viable career path for Nigerian youths​.

Economic Impact and Future Potential

Algorand’s initiatives are not only upskilling individuals but also contributing to the broader Nigerian economy. By developing a knowledgeable and skilled workforce, Algorand is preparing Nigerian youths to take on roles that drive economic growth. Over 500 Nigerian blockchain developers have been trained by the Foundation per year since 2021. Blockchain technology’s potential to enhance transparency, efficiency, and security in various sectors–like supply chain, payments, and digital identity– offers numerous opportunities for economic development. As more Nigerian youths become proficient in blockchain, they will play a significant role in the country’s technological and economic advancement.

Expanding Impact

While Algorand’s efforts are already yielding positive results, there is potential for even greater impact. Algorand Foundation was the headline sponsor of the Incredible Music festival in February 2024, in a demonstration of its commitment to making a real impact in areas that young people care about.
Aurally, an Algorand supported blockchain startup provides infrastructure to enable African musicians and creatives get a fairer share of payment for their work. In a country like Nigeria with inadequate anti-copyright and anti-piracy, solutions like Aurally which runs on the Algorand blockchain are critical for building a thriving creative industry capable of supporting the growing population of young people with interest in that field.

For more information on Algorand’s initiatives and how to get involved, visit the Algorand website.

TechNerdy:
Hello Guys,

I saw this news on Techpoint and thought to share here for those of us inclined to pick up tech skills for free. I heard of their Abuja Developers boot camp some months ago but couldn't attend it because of the distance. Seems they're rolling out more events, including hackathons and business incubation.

TL;DR

The Algorand Foundation is stepping up its efforts to support Nigerian blockchain startups and the broader tech ecosystem. They're expanding their events this year, including hackathons and workshops focused on blockchain education. The foundation has already made a significant impact, with Nigerian startups winning substantial prizes in global hackathons. They’re also working with the Plateau State Government on blockchain projects and have trained over 500 Nigerian developers in 2023 alone. This initiative is all about empowering local talent and driving innovation in Nigeria's growing tech scene.

See full article here:

https://techpoint.africa/2024/08/14/algorand-expands-its-educational-and-skills-program-in-nigeria/

McBab:
This is really interesting sstuff! But I'm curiuos .how exactly is Algorand different from Solana or other cryptos? I know Bitcoin is more about digital currency, but it sounds like Algorand is doing a lot more in terms of practical applications and tech development. Can someone break down the main differences and why a startup might choose Algorand over other blockchains?

McBab:
This is really interesting sstuff! But I'm curiuos .how exactly is Algorand different from Solana or other cryptos? I know Bitcoin is more about digital currency, but it sounds like Algorand is doing a lot more in terms of practical applications and tech development. Can someone break down the main differences and why a startup might choose Algorand over other blockchains?

FLOW101:


I found a comparison of the two projects here: https://walletreviewer.com/solana-versus-algorand/

TechNerdy:
I just stepped away from my computer for a few minutes and the geeks take over the thread

Nice one @Flow101. Yo have done a great job of explaining. I'm personally not big on comparisons, bro. My main interest is to see real word use cases adopted in Nigeria and upskilling. We can't be trading crypto forever or tapping on our screens as our only use for the blockchain.
Algorand has won my heart by being physically in Nigeria .

McBab:
Geek? No way!

I'm more like the geek wanabe.

Thanks for starting this thread. It is informative.

McBab:
Geek? No way!

I'm more like the geek wanabe.

Thanks for starting this thread. It is informative.

FLOW101:
This is really cool!

Blockchain and AI skills will rule the world.

Love to see the Algorand Foundation putting in work to boost the Nigerian tech space. Na crypto been don burst everywhere for Naija ... Lol. So the focus on blockchain education and practical use cases is spot on for driving innovation here. Plus, the fact that they’re offering mentorship, resources, and even funds for startups shows they’re in it for the long haul. I'm particularly curious about the partnership with Nigerian state governments —blockchain in public sector could really shake things up.

Anyone planning to attend their upcoming events or hackathons? Would be cool to hear how it goes!

McBab:


Well ... maybe I am a bit of a geek, seeing as I have some coding experience.

GoodJohn:
The article is well-developed

GoodJohn:
The article is well-developed

TechNerdy:


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TechNerdy:


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