Andela acquires technical skills assessment platform,Qualified to boost global talent community
GOOGLE HAS INTRO DUCED THREE NEW INITIATIVES aimed at empowering women entrepreneurs in Africa and providing them with the resources they need to succeed.
The initiatives by the multinational technology company include the Google for Startups Accelerator Africa: Women Founders Cohort, the Hustle Academy for Women-Led SMEs, and a social media series celebrating inspiring women in Africa’s technology sector. The 15 startups selected for the programme are from eight African countries and are creating innovative solutions that improve livelihoods in their communities.
Commenting on the programme, Folarin Aiayegbusi, head of startup ecosystem, Africa, said, “We are thrilled to announce the selected startups for the inaugural class of our Google for Startups Accelerator Africa: Women Founders Cohort. These women are tackling some of Africa’s most pressing challenges, and we’re excited to support them as they build the future.”
Google’s Hustle Academy is a bootcamp-style training programme designed to help entrepreneurs increase revenue, position themselves for investment, and build sustainable businesses for the future.
In furtherance, Google is celebrating inspiring women in Africa’s technology sector through its #WomeninIT social media series. The series features the stories of six inspiring women who are breaking barriers and making an impact in the fields of technology, business, entrepreneurship, innovation, and startups on the continent.
MT N N I G E R I A COMMUNICA TIONS PLC HAS RAISED N125 billion through the successful completion of its series 4 & 5 commercial paper issuance (CP) under its N150 billion commercial paper issuance programme to enhance its short-term working capital and funding requirements.
The telecommunications giant, in a notice to the Nigerian Exchange Limited signed by the company’s secretary, Uto Ukpanah, said it initially sought to raise N100 billion,but the transaction was oversubscribed 125 per cent as a total of N125 billion was eventually raised.
According to the disclosure, the commercial papers were concluded on 1 March 2023, and included a 188day CP at a yield of 11.00 per cent and 267-day commercial paper at a yield of 12.50 per cent.
The company also noted that the proceeds from the CP issuance will be utilised for the company’s short-term working capital, and funding requirements, in line with its strategy to diversify its working option.
In addition, MTN said it is exploring
ANDELA HAS AN NOUNCED THE AC QUISITION OF QUALI FIED, the leading technical skills assessment platform to identify, qualify, and certify top engineers.
A statement by the global network for remote technical talent, said the development will lead to the expansion of its global talent community, supported by the addition of more than 3.6 million engineering users via Codewars, an online community powered by Qualified that enables technical talent to compete and improve their practical coding skills in gamified challenges.
“With the Qualified acquisition, Andela expands and accelerates our ability to source and expertly assess talent,” said Jeremy Johnson, founder and CEO of Andela.
Johnson noted that labour marketplaces are constrained by inefficiencies between supply, demand and quality. The Andela CEO, however, assured that the acquisition of Qualified will enable the firm to address those inefficiencies by providing the certified right talent at the right time.
According to him, companies will continue to trust that talent sourced through Andela has the needed skills regardless of where they live and work.
On his part, Jake Hoffner, the cofounder and CEO of Qualified, said the tech industry has historically relied on hiring practices that have proven to be ineffective.
To this end, Hoffner noted that the expanded platform will allow companies to create hiring processes for software engineers that are predictive of their on-the-job performance.