Andela, which develops software engineers, has unveiled its fourth technology hub in Africa and it is located in Rwanda. The pan-African tech firm already has hubs in Nigeria, Kenya and Uganda.
Andela is partnering with the Rwandan government through the Rwanda Development Board (RDB), an organization responsible for transforming the country into a dynamic global hub for business, investment and innovation.
Commenting, Andela co-founder Jeremy Johnson said: “We are thrilled to have found a partner in the Government of Rwanda whose mission is so closely aligned with our own: to grow and sustain a pan-African elite tech workforce. In Kigali, we have found a location that makes travel to-and-from other African countries seamless and also has the modern and connected infrastructure we require to collaborate with a global workforce.”
Andela launched operations in Nigeria in 2014 to help global companies overcome the severe shortage of skilled software developers and invest in Africa’s top technical minds. Since then, the company has hired and trained more than 700 software engineers across the continent who collectively help power the technology teams of more than 150 global companies, including Viacom, Pluralsight and GitHub.
Seni Sulyman, Andela VP, Global Operations, adds: “As the first fully 4G African city, Kigali continues to push towards ICT excellence and is fast becoming one of East Africa’s key tech hubs. Connecting talent with opportunity on a global scale is Andela’s ethos, and with the opening of our Kigali hub, we expect to extend opportunities to thousands of more software engineers from across the continent who will make their mark on the global tech scene via Kigali.”
Clare Akamanzi, RDB Chief Executive Officer noted, “We are delighted to partner with Andela to build the next generation of technology leaders who will lead innovation in Kigali and beyond. Through partnerships, such as the one we are announcing today, we are accelerating Kigali’s growth as a global technology hub while also advancing skills development and employment opportunities for young, talented Africans.”
Andela will open applications to candidates from any African country looking to jumpstart a global career in software development in August of 2018, and launch its Kigali tech campus in December of 2018. It will also open applications for the Andela Learning Community (ALC), which provides free resources and mentorship to aspiring technologists, in Rwanda and Tanzania in August of 2018.
