Nigeria’s National Bureau of Statistics reported that the youth unemployment rate in Nigeria stood at approximately 53.40% in 2022. Despite this high unemployment rate, human resource experts have raised concerns about a significant talent gap in various sectors. In fact, according to the Jobberman Nigeria Creative Sector Skills Gap Report 2021, 59% of Nigerian employers find it increasingly challenging to recruit suitable talent.
The number of talents has skyrocketed recently, but why are they failing to meet the requirements of companies eager to onboard the right hires? Many of these talents find themselves lost in a maze of theoretical knowledge, with little to no real-world experience.
This is where Checklearn comes in.
Checklearn is an initiative birthed from Check’s vision to build more than just coders and pixel pushers—they aim to create job-ready professionals. The program’s mission is ambitious yet simple: to bridge the widening skills gap in Africa by equipping young developers and designers with hands-on experience and the soft skills needed to excel in today’s job market.
Charles Eke, Program Director at Checklearn, illuminates the pressing issue of a lack of ingenious tech education in Africa.
“The real challenge, in this part of the world, is that actual tech education is missing from our traditional school curriculums. Which means even after tossing that graduation cap, most are still at square one,” he says.
Charles remarks that due to this gap, Checklearn is pioneering a new approach: “At Checklearn, we’re here to change the story; we’re building confidence through hands-on experience, so our graduates don’t just look the part—they are the part.”
“When recruiters see ‘experienced’ on their CV, they know it’s more than just a bold font choice,” he further emphasises the tangible benefits of this approach.
Checklearn’s first objective is to direct real impact
The numbers back Charles’ claims. During the first batch of 2023, Checklearn attracted over 500 eager applicants for just 50 spots, indicating significant interest in becoming better versions of the tech talents in the labour market.
For emphasis, this speaks volumes about the demand. Of those who made it into the program, 20 students secured placement opportunities with leading tech companies—a remarkable 40% success rate.
But beyond these figures is a growing community of learners who are not just chasing jobs, but thriving in roles where they’re making an impact.
The workshops go beyond technical training. A key differentiator? The series of soft-skills sessions is designed to foster collaboration, communication, and leadership; qualities often overlooked but crucial for long-term success.
These workshops are not delivered by just anyone. They feature industry professionals like Blossom Ozurumba, Deputy Manager, Digital Engagement & Social Media Coordinator, NNPC Limited; Elizabeth Ajadi, Director, Legal Operations, Brookfield Properties, Cleveland; Ibukun Itimi, Engineering Manager, Lyft; Ojimaojo Udale-Ameh, Head Engineering, PiggyVest; Leye Ogunsanya, Design Lead, Risevest; Oladimeji Ajegbile, UX Consultant & Business Leader, and others.
The partnership with industry experts ensures that these students aren’t just learning the latest tech stacks; they’re also gaining insights into what’s actually happening on the front lines of development and design.
According to Ibifuro Otobo, People Lead at Check, the results speak for themselves:
“At Check, we’ve always believed in nurturing talent, which is why sponsoring Checklearn has been such a natural choice for us. Beyond keeping the program free for eager learners, we’ve also seen firsthand how it’s built a sustainable pipeline of African talent we rely on. Many of our most promising hires have come straight out of Checklearn’s graduate pool.
Checklearn is exponentially becoming the gold standard for high-quality talent in Africa’s tech industry. Its graduates emerge with more than just certificates; they possess confidence, real-world experience, and the skills to drive impact.
Last weekend, Checklearn partnered with TechCabal to host a 3-hour Moonshot offsite session, “Beyond Learning: Where Experience Matters.” This exclusive event, an extension of Checklearn’s soft skills workshop series, allowed participants to explore the importance of experience beyond traditional learning and the value of hands-on practice.
With future partnerships on the horizon, including an upcoming collaboration with the School of Creatives for this year’s Creatives Connect on October 19, 2024, Checklearn’s model effectively bridges the gap between technical expertise and essential soft skills.
This empowering approach enables Africa’s most driven individuals to drive industry transformation. For industry leaders, it is an opportunity to tap into a pool of skilled, experienced, and adaptable talent, poised to shape the continent’s digital future.
