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BANDU BALUME BOAZ
- August 30, 2023
Africa is rapidly emerging as a hotbed for technological innovation, and blockchain technology, including projects like Cardano, has the potential to revolutionize various sectors across the continent. As the world becomes increasingly digital and decentralized, it has become imperative for Africa to embrace blockchain and harness its transformative power. This calls for a strong focus on blockchain education and equipping the African workforce with the necessary skills and knowledge to drive innovation and empower the continent’s future. With its unique features and sustainable approach, Cardano is at the forefront of this movement, offering a platform for scalable, secure, and transparent solutions that can empower Africa’s development and propel it towards a brighter future.
Why is education important?
- Blockchain education can help to build a skilled workforce.
Blockchain technology requires specific skills and knowledge, and educating the workforce on these can help to build a skilled workforce in Africa. By investing in blockchain education, African countries can develop the necessary skills that can help their people obtain jobs not just in Africa but also around the world. This can have a positive effect on the African economy by reducing unemployment and improving living standards.
- Promoting transparency and accountability in African governance
Most African countries have a history of corruption in their governance, accountability, and transparency mechanisms. However, the introduction of blockchain technology can help to bring about transparency and accountability. Blockchain technology can enhance the voting system, track finances and eliminate instances of corruption.
- Enhancing business and entrepreneurship in Africa
Blockchain technology can enhance the efficiency of businesses in Africa through faster and cheaper digital payments, supply chain management, and data security guaranteed by the blockchain. Blockchain technology education can help entrepreneurs to understand the potential applications and how they can profit from them.
- Providing access to finance and banking services in Africa
Africa has a big unbanked population, and blockchain can provide these populations with access to banking services even without the need for traditional banking institutions. Anyone with a smartphone can perform financial transactions and access banking services. African countries are integrating blockchain technology to make financial services accessible and affordable.
According to UN forecasts, Africa is expected to double its population by 2050, from 1 billion to nearly 2.4 billion inhabitants. Half of that population will be younger and less than 25 years old.
World Bank figures show that young people represent 60% of the unemployed population in Africa. Among those who do have a job, the majority work in the informal economy. A report published in 2018, by the International Labour Organization (ILO) on the topic, indicated that 94.9% of people between the ages of 15 and 24 in Africa work in the informal economy. In West Africa this figure is as high as 97.9%.
Blockchain education in the Dem. Rep. of Congo
DRC has the 7th youngest country in the world according to the UN. This presents a unique mix of challenges and opportunities.
With blockchain being the number 1 in demand hard skill of 2020, Goma hub and stakepool seeks to inform, catalyse, cultivate and encourage the burgeoning interest amongst the Goma youth that holds architects and entrepreneurs of the future in blockchain and related technologies in the digital economy. Actually two Hubs are installed in the country working on education and building blockchain solutions to solve real problems in the local community.
Goma pool funds Production of educational content on Project Catalyst, Haskell and Plutus Since 2021with a support from Wada, with students at ISDR-GL to open them to catalyst with a focus on how they can participate and build on Cardano.
We are actually running a batch of learners from June to August see the plan, topics and speakers here.
As education requires resources and we’re limited in our capacities to expand the program and reach many other people, we have proposed through Project Catalyst Fund 10 a proposal that aims to expand our education program to other universities in the city. See it here.
The blockchain technology education has the potential to transform Africa’s economy and education system. Education in blockchain technology will provide Africans with the necessary skills to compete with the world, increase the efficiency of the African economy, promote transparency and accountability, enhance entrepreneurship and access to finance and banking services. Therefore African countries should invest in blockchain technology education to achieve these benefits.
None should be left behind.