As technology companies expand their presence in Africa, developing local skills has become a priority for the continent’s digital sector. For Yango, that means more than training people to use existing technologies. It also means helping talented individuals develop their own solutions, including through its Fellowship program, launched in 2024.
Kadotien Soro, Yango’s regional director for French-speaking Africa, spoke to Ecofin Agency in Abidjan on Saturday, September 19, on the sidelines of a gathering of participants from several African countries. He outlined the goals of the program for young African talent and discussed how it fits into Yango’s growing business in Africa. He also described the group’s ambition to help build a technology ecosystem increasingly driven by the continent’s own talent.
Ecofin Agency: How does Yango measure the success of its Fellowship program?
Kadotien Soro: We are committed to training and supporting young talent, helping them develop their skills, and building the digital ecosystem over the long term. That is why our Fellowship program goes beyond financial support. It also includes mentoring, personal development, training in both technical and soft skills, and networking. This gathering of participants from six countries is part of that effort. The event in Abidjan gives them a chance to encounter different ideas, make connections, share their experiences, and compare approaches.
As Africans who understand our own circumstances and needs, we believe no one is better placed than we are to develop solutions to our own problems.
We believe this kind of environment allows their creativity to flourish and helps them reach their full potential. Our long-term goal is to help build a digital ecosystem in Africa that can meet its own talent needs. As Africans who understand our own circumstances and needs, we believe no one is better placed than we are to develop solutions to our own problems.
EA: Yango’s business is expanding in Africa as more initiatives emerge across the continent to promote science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM), digital skills, and entrepreneurship. How does this program fit into Yango’s broader commitment to Africa?
KS: We are often better known for our transportation services, but Yango is first and foremost a technology company offering a range of services. We recognize that we cannot build everything ourselves. Strong ecosystems make us stronger. A strong ecosystem, in turn, needs people who can innovate and develop solutions that enhance existing services. Take Côte d’Ivoire, for example, where Yango also plays a role in payments. Our services connect with those of other providers, and each of us contributes part of the solution. The way our services complement one another makes us much stronger.
That understanding is why we invest in talent. Africa is a continent of many countries. We cannot claim to understand the realities across the continent without engaging with people in different countries. It is important to develop talent locally. Those individuals are then free to contribute to the ecosystem wherever they choose, including through their own startups.
It is important to develop talent locally. Those individuals are then free to contribute to the ecosystem wherever they choose, including through their own startups.
With a strong ecosystem and talent available across the continent, we will continue to train people at Yango who may go on to work elsewhere and perhaps return later. Similarly, we will be able to attract talent from other countries. Our contribution is primarily intended to benefit the wider community. Ultimately, Africa benefits.
EA: What role can technology companies play in helping African talent create emerging technologies rather than simply use them?
KS: That starts with training. Africa already has the talent it needs. The next step is to give people the opportunities and tools to innovate. With artificial intelligence, we need to help them move from being users to becoming creators. AI is changing who can access and work with technology. Until now, developing a technology solution often required a certain level of expertise, which created a barrier to entry. AI will help lower that barrier.
Through this program, we provide tools, information, and opportunities to connect and create. Participants can then use AI to become creators, innovators, and even founders. We see this as one of the most important goals: connecting young talent with opportunities and with one another so they can create together.
EA: Applied AI is a major focus of this year’s program. What projects have the Ivorian fellows developed in this area, and what specific problems are they trying to solve?
KS: There are many different challenges, from payments and education to communication between people who speak different languages. Côte d’Ivoire, for example, has many languages, as well as several linguistic subgroups. These are precisely the kinds of challenges AI can help address. So, it is not just about transactions. AI can also help solve broader problems facing society.
EA: Beyond funding, what support does the program offer to help young people turn their academic knowledge into practical skills, bring projects to life, and eventually find career opportunities?
KS: Funding matters, but it is only part of the support we provide. We also supply tools, including computers. Participants meet with experts who discuss their areas of expertise, including subjects the fellows may not have the opportunity to explore in class. Company visits also give them practical exposure to how organizations work and help them picture their future careers.
There are many different challenges, from payments and education to communication between people who speak different languages. Côte d’Ivoire, for example, has many languages, as well as several linguistic subgroups.
Then there is the opportunity to meet other participants. They can develop their skills, exchange ideas, make connections, and learn from one another. Young people from Ethiopia might meet young Ivorians, for example, and later work together or help one of them join a partner organization in Senegal. That can have an impact across Africa, particularly in French-speaking Africa. That is what we want to build.
Interview by Carelle Yourann