Yango Group, a global tech company, has announced the next chapter of its Yango Fellowship; a program designed to unlock the potential of STEM talent across Africa. By providing mentorship, resources, and networks, the Fellowship helps participants turn ideas into solutions that benefit their communities.

After successfully launching in Zambia and Ivory Coast, Yango is bringing the program to four more countries; Mozambique, Ethiopia, Ghana, and Senegal.

The expanded Yango Fellowship will provide financial support, expert guidance, and access to a cross-country community of Fellows working on impactful solutions for their communities.

As the last years students of the programme landed prestigious internships that will help them achieve significant results in their future careers, in 2026 Yango is moving beyond country levels and builds to create a network of STEM professionals that will function after the conclusion of the year’s programme, defying borders and uniting aspiring young people from different African regions.

Minister of Communications, Digital Technology and Innovation, Samuel Nartey George commented, “We warmly welcome the expansion of the Yango Fellowship to Ghana as a landmark initiative that aligns with our commitment to fostering innovation and nurturing the next generation of STEM leaders. This program represents a significant opportunity for our young people to develop their skills, engage with mentors, and transform their ideas into impactful solutions for their communities.

Empowering Ghana’s young minds with the tools and networks they need to succeed is crucial for our national development. As we look towards a future driven by technology and digitalization, partnerships like this will play a pivotal role in shaping a brighter, more sustainable tomorrow for all Ghanaians.

This expansion also directly complements President John Dramani Mahama’s digital flagship initiative - the One Million Coders Programme, strengthening our national drive to build a highly skilled digital workforce for Ghana’s future.”

Across Africa, the demand for skilled scientists, engineers, and technologists far exceeds the number of graduates entering these fields. The World Bank estimates a shortage of more than 2.5 million STEM professionals needed to support sustainable economic growth across sub-Saharan Africa.

At the same time, Africa’s rapidly growing youth population faces a persistent skills gap: only 10–15% of young people have access to quality digital or technical training, and fewer than 5% gain experience in fields such as programming, data analysis, or cybersecurity.

With 10–12 million young people entering the labor market each year and only about 3 million formal jobs created annually, the need for practical STEM education, mentorship, and career pathways is urgent.

By expanding the fellowship to new regions, Yango aims to help build a diverse, capable, and future-ready STEM workforce, empowering students to develop solutions for challenges faced by their communities.

The program encourages collaboration, creativity, and leadership, while building a supportive alumni network that spans the continent.

Adeniyi Adebayo, Chief Business Officer at Yango Group, said: “Africa has an extraordinary pool of talent, who bring creativity, and problem-solving energy.

The Yango Fellowship is a hands-on program designed to support these talents, connecting young innovators with the mentorship, resources, and knowledge they need to develop solutions that benefit their communities.

This year, the program will be held at our African hub in Abidjan, and with its expansion to six countries, we can share expertise, learn together, and harness technology to make a real impact across the continent.”

According to the Ghana National Council for Tertiary Education, Ghana is experiencing a significant shortfall in STEM professionals, with an estimated 60% of STEM jobs unfilled due to a lack of qualified candidates.

Furthermore, only 30% of university graduates in STEM fields are women, despite girls making up nearly half of the total student population at the secondary education level. The country also struggles with high youth unemployment, currently around 12.9%.

Recognizing the critical role STEM careers play in reducing unemployment and driving economic development, initiatives like the Yango Fellowship are essential for cultivating job-ready graduates.

By encouraging more youth and female applicants, the Yango Fellowship aims to bridge these gaps and empower more young people and women to enter STEM fields. The program provides selected students with annual financial support to cover basic living expenses, mentorship from seasoned industry professionals, and exclusive workshops aimed at enhancing their professional competencies.

Research indicates that increasing the number of STEM graduates by even 1% annually could contribute an additional 2-4% to Ghana’s GDP growth, fueled by improved productivity and innovation across sectors including agriculture, energy, and technology.

The Fellowship has already delivered meaningful impact: past Fellows have launched community projects and became role models in their countries. Yango’s local hubs play a key role in mentoring Fellows, ensuring the program strengthens both talent and local ecosystems.

Beyond the Fellowship, Yango is driving digital innovation by partnering with universities and educational organizations across its markets, sharing expertise with young data scientists and IT students.

Through programs like Urban Mobility Hackathons, participants tackle real-world traffic prediction challenges, gaining skills they can apply to improve their cities and communities.

All of Yango’s youth initiatives are designed to empower participants with practical knowledge while creating tangible benefits for their local communities and countries.

How to Apply

Applications are open to university students aged 18–25 studying STEM fields in any of the six participating countries. Candidates are encouraged to apply by the 26th of January through: yangofellowship