Gebeya, a leading Pan-African talent cloud technology company, has embarked on a groundbreaking partnership with NVIDIA, a global leader in AI and graphics processing, to create a talent ecosystem of 50,000 NVIDIA-certified developers across Africa. This ambitious initiative, aiming to transform the African tech landscape, seeks to address the continent’s AI skills gap and position Africa as a key player in the global AI industry. The collaboration will follow a phased approach, beginning with a proof-of-concept phase and expanding across Africa by the third year.
Phased Rollout: Establishing a Pan-African NVIDIA Developer Ecosystem
The partnership’s initial phase will focus on a proof-of-concept, which will set the foundation for creating a scalable, NVIDIA-certified talent network. During this first phase, developers will gain access to NVIDIA’s robust ecosystem and resources, ensuring they receive the best training and development opportunities. By the third year, Gebeya and NVIDIA aim to expand this initiative to include developers from all African nations, ultimately building a comprehensive, continent-wide developer network that can drive growth and innovation.
Transformative Training and Certifications Through NVIDIA Deep Learning Institute
A core component of this initiative is the NVIDIA Deep Learning Institute (DLI), which will provide developers with cutting-edge learning paths and industry-recognized certifications. By integrating DLI training into Gebeya’s platform, developers will gain specialized skills in deep learning, AI, and GPU-accelerated applications, critical in addressing Africa’s technological and AI industry needs. These certifications not only equip developers with in-demand skills but also align them with industry standards, enhancing their competitiveness in global markets.
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Gebeya’s Evolution to a Full-Service Talent Cloud
Since its founding in 2017, Gebeya has evolved from an edtech startup into a comprehensive talent cloud provider. In February 2024, Gebeya launched its all-in-one Talent Cloud, a SaaS-enabled platform that caters to the dynamic talent needs of various organizations. Through its AI-powered Talent Cloud, Gebeya now offers services including skilling, recruitment, vetting, talent matching, and community building. This technology-driven model allows companies to source and manage skilled tech talent in a streamlined manner.
AI-Driven Talent Solutions and NVIDIA Integration
The partnership with NVIDIA will further strengthen Gebeya’s Talent Cloud by integrating NVIDIA DLI’s learning paths, ensuring that developers trained through the platform achieve NVIDIA certification. Gebeya’s AI-driven technology will help match developers with projects that fit their unique skills, fostering a robust tech community ready to take on AI-focused challenges across Africa. Through this unified platform, Gebeya aims to empower developers and help businesses find the specialized talent they need to compete in the global market.
Addressing the AI Skills Gap in Africa
The initiative comes at a crucial time when Africa faces a growing demand for skilled AI professionals but continues to experience a shortage of talent in the field. Wei Xiao, NVIDIA’s Director of Developer Relations, emphasized that this collaboration aims to bridge the skills gap and develop Africa into a competitive AI hub. According to Xiao, NVIDIA’s involvement will bring expertise, resources, and credibility to African developers, creating a positive environment for investment and helping Africa gain a foothold in the global AI economy.
A Unified Solution for Africa’s Fragmented Tech Community
Gebeya’s CEO, Amadou Daffe, highlighted the value this collaboration brings in addressing the fragmentation often seen within African tech communities. By uniting developers under one initiative, the partnership provides an accessible, centralized platform for skills development, job opportunities, and community engagement. Daffe emphasized that this initiative will foster collaboration across African countries, bridging the AI skills gap and accelerating the industry’s growth and global competitiveness.
Expanding Gebeya’s Reach: Past Partnerships and Future Goals
This partnership with NVIDIA is not Gebeya’s first large-scale initiative to support African developers. In December 2023, Gebeya collaborated with Microsoft to launch Microsoft.Gebeya.com, a dedicated platform focused on skills development and job matching. This platform has an ambitious goal of training 300,000 developers across Kenya, South Africa, Ethiopia, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Lesotho, Nigeria, Egypt, and Mozambique. Within its first year, it has already targeted upskilling 150,000 developers, demonstrating Gebeya’s commitment to building a highly skilled tech workforce across Africa.
Competitive Landscape: Andela’s Talent Cloud Solution
Gebeya’s Talent Cloud isn’t the only player in Africa’s growing tech talent landscape. Andela, another prominent Africa-focused talent outsourcing company, launched its own Andela Talent Cloud in December 2023. This end-to-end platform connects skilled tech talent with global businesses, streamlining the hiring process for companies seeking top talent in the African market. With Gebeya and Andela both actively working to address the talent demand, Africa’s role as a tech talent powerhouse continues to expand.
Conclusion: Paving the Way for an AI-Driven Future in Africa
Gebeya’s partnership with NVIDIA represents a monumental step toward building Africa’s AI capabilities and establishing the continent as a center for AI expertise. With a target of 50,000 NVIDIA-certified developers, Gebeya and NVIDIA are not only addressing Africa’s immediate AI skills shortage but also fostering a community that will contribute to technological advancements for years to come. Through training, certification, and strategic talent matching, this partnership offers African developers unparalleled access to the resources they need to excel, ultimately positioning Africa as a globally recognized AI and tech hub.