Celebrating digital empowerment across West Africa: Virtual graduation ceremony honors over 70 graduates of Google professional career scholarship program

New York, NY — January 2025.

On January 25, 2025, Africa Universities Fund, Inc. (AUF) will host a groundbreaking virtual graduation ceremony celebrating the achievements of over 70 young professionals from across West Africa. These trailblazers, according to a statement by the Fund, have successfully completed globally recognized certificate programs through the Google Professional Career Scholarship program, a transformative initiative empowering a new generation with in-demand digital skills worldwide.

The virtual ceremony, the statement said, will take place at 4:00 PM (Nigerian Time) / 10:00 AM (EST) via Zoom. “Esteemed speakers at the program include Professor Viola Onwuliri, former Nigerian Minister of Foreign Affairs; Professor Alloy Onyeka, Deputy Vice-Chancellor of Ozumba Mbadiwe University; Ms. Magdalene Venn, Executive Director of GlobalNeed, Inc., USA.; Dr. Janice Thomas, Director of the International Education Center at Brookdale Community College, NJ, USA; and Mr. Ron Mahenur, National ICT Awards Winner, Innovator and CEO of Uddoktagiri, Bangladesh,” it noted.

The statement said further that: “Through its pioneering Transnational Education for Sustainable Development in Sub-Saharan Africa (TNEDS-Africa) program, AUF is reshaping the future of education and workforce readiness across the continent. By offering youth reskilling and upskilling opportunities, AUF addresses critical gaps in global workforce demand, particularly in high-growth sectors like technology and healthcare. Partnering with tech giants like Google and Coursera, AUF’s work equips participants with world-class credentials in Cybersecurity, Data Analytics, UX Design, Project Management, IT Support & E-Commerce.

“This virtual graduation is not just a celebration of individual achievements but also a testament to AUF’s unwavering commitment to creating pathways to global competitiveness. As a leading nonprofit organization based in New York City, AUF builds bridges between African talent and global opportunities through programs in higher education, entrepreneurship, and digital inclusion.

“Join us in celebrating the transformative power of education, innovation, and international collaboration.”

It stressed that the event “underscores the limitless potential of technology to drive sustainable development and equip West Africa’s youth with the skills to excel in the global economy.”

Africa Universities Fund, Inc. is a nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing higher education, digital skills training, and workforce development in Africa. Through strategic partnerships and groundbreaking initiatives with Google and other tech giants, AUF empowers young people to achieve their full potential in a rapidly evolving global economy.