🇳🇬NigeriaWest Africa
Interswitch inducts third cohort into Developer Academy to strengthen Africa's tech talent pipeline
via Punch Nigeria2 min read
Interswitch has welcomed its third and largest group of developer interns into its Developer Academy. This initiative aims to bolster Africa's technology talent pool and support the continent's expanding digital economy. Over 20,000 applications were received for the program, which involves a multi-stage selection process including technical assessments and interviews. The nine-month program offers intensive training in various engineering fields such as backend development, DevOps, mobile development, frontend engineering, and quality assurance. It combines theoretical learning with practical exposure to enterprise-grade systems, equipping participants with essential technical and workplace readiness skills. Mitchell Elegbe, Founder and Group Chief Executive Officer of Interswitch, stated that the company is focused on building long-term capacity within Africa’s technology ecosystem despite the migration of skilled professionals. He emphasized Interswitch's commitment to enabling individuals to contribute to the technology ecosystem locally and globally, thereby strengthening the industry and reinforcing Nigeria's position as a source of globally competitive engineering talent. Franklin Ali, Group Chief Human Resources Officer at Interswitch, added that the program equips young professionals with both technical and adaptive skills. The Developer Academy is part of a broader strategy to meet the increasing global demand for software engineers and address the migration of skil
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Yeshua’s Arm, a non-governmental organization, has voiced concerns regarding the diminishing reading culture among Nigerian children, attributing it to increased social media use and limited access to books. This concern was raised during the commissioning of a library at St Theresa School in Epe, Lagos State, as part of a literacy intervention project in collaboration with Dow Chemical Company. Mrs. Kemi Williams, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Yeshua’s Arm, noted that children are spending more time on social media than on reading. The organization's response includes establishing libraries and expanding mobile library services to improve literacy, reading habits, and critical thinking by providing access to books and learning materials. Williams stated that these efforts are currently reaching over 2,000 children. The libraries are designed to foster independent learning and cognitive development, aiming to enhance classroom learning outcomes and the quality of education nationwide. Williams emphasized that Nigeria's most valuable resource is its human capital, advocating for greater investment in education and literacy. The organization is working with schools to ensure the project's sustainability through continuous literacy support and has already introduced mobile libraries in several schools, impacting 20 to 30 schools and establishing about 10 permanent libraries. Toby-Lade Valmon, Site Implementation Leader for Global African Affinity Network, Dow Industrial
National Sports Commission Director-General Bukola Olopade commended First Lady Oluremi Tinubu for her consistent support of Nigerian sports, particularly for women athletes. Olopade's remarks came as the First Lady received the Nigerian women's wrestling team, who achieved a record-breaking performance at the Africa Wrestling Championship in Egypt, securing their 15th continental title with eight gold and two silver medals. Olopade highlighted that Tinubu's dedication has been crucial to the continuous success of female athletes at continental and global competitions, describing her as a driving force. The First Lady has been a significant supporter of sports development in Nigeria, including being installed as Grand Patron of the 2025 Africa Women’s Volleyball Club Championship and promoting opportunities for para-athletes. The recent wrestling triumph further solidifies Nigeria's dominance in African wrestling.
Former WBA super-middleweight champion George Groves has urged organizers to stage the Anthony Joshua versus Tyson Fury heavyweight fight at Wembley Stadium. Groves believes the national stadium is the natural home for such a significant contest, especially for two British fighters who have previously headlined there. He expressed a desire for the fight to occur on British soil so that local fans can easily attend and witness the two best British heavyweights of their era compete. While acknowledging that both fighters have previously boxed at Wembley and might consider other international venues like Saudi Arabia, Vegas, New York, or Dublin, Groves feels they would ultimately be proud to have fought at Wembley. Fury's promoter, Frank Warren, has confirmed the fight agreement, targeting October, with Wembley as the current preferred venue. The bout, set to be streamed on Netflix, is contingent on Joshua's performance in his July 25 warm-up fight against Kristian Prenga in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Fury may also have a tune-up bout. Groves remains confident the fight will eventually happen despite delays, noting the significant public investment and anticipation for the matchup.
Former England and Chelsea Women star Eniola Aluko, born in Nigeria, expresses a deep connection to her Nigerian heritage and a desire to invest in the country's football infrastructure. She highlights the need for better facilities, pitches, and management to support talent within the Nigerian league, drawing parallels with Brazil's football development. Aluko, who works in investment and with CAF, aims to help build more sporting facilities and bring sponsorship to Nigerian football. She states that representing Nigeria was not an option during her playing career as women's football was not established in Nigeria when she was called up by England at 14. However, she believes she would have chosen to play for Nigeria if she were a young player today, citing a feeling of not being fully accepted while playing for England despite her contributions. Aluko supports Nigeria in matches against England, noting the challenges Nigerian players face compared to their English counterparts. She advocates for women's football to have its own economy through private investment and sponsorship, separate from the men's game. Aluko also encourages Nigerian players to use a collective voice to advocate for improvements, suggesting a representative union.