In a pioneering move towards skill empowerment, AltSchool Africa, renowned for its skill-to-market platform, has taken a bold step by launching the Creative Economy and Business Schools. This development comes on the heels of an impressive 40% completion rate in the platform’s inaugural year. Departing from conventional learning approaches, AltSchool Africa, a tech-enabled platform, initially focused on in-code and no-code courses. Expanding its footprint in the edtech sector, it has now added content creation, sales, and music business – spotlighting Afrobeats as a case study – to its existing nine courses. Applications are currently open for the inaugural cohort in these exciting new streams.
Over the past two years, AltSchool Africa has facilitated nearly 3 million hours of training for tech roles, encompassing software engineering, data science, and product design. The new programs are tailored for non-traditional careers beyond the tech domain. They aim to offer a holistic and hands-on upskilling platform for aspiring learners eyeing careers in burgeoning sectors. With technology’s relentless growth and expansion across Africa, there’s a burgeoning interest in the creative economy. This has paved the way for unconventional career paths (such as music management, content creation, and influencer marketing). AltSchool Africa is at the forefront of ushering in a new era of learning for the continent.
Prolific Nigerian artiste Falzthebahdguy (Folarin Falana) and acclaimed content creator and actor Mr. Macaroni (Adebowale Adedayo) have been named as facilitators for the Creative Economy School. Meanwhile, media personality Do2dtun (Oladotun Ojuolape Kayode) was recently appointed as the school’s Creator Relations Director. Other notable figures joining AltSchool Africa’s business faculty include Nigerian film director and cinematographer Nora Awolowo, multi-award-winning music journalist Joey Akan, and content creator Aproko Doctor (Chinonso Egemba).
The music streaming market in Africa is projected to reach an estimated US$372.80M in 2023, with an impressive annual growth rate of 8.89%. This trajectory suggests the market volume could reach approximately US$524M by 2027. With some of the most popular streaming services introduced to the continent in just the last decade, the relevance of jobs within this and the broader creative economy has skyrocketed.
Since its inception in 2021, AltSchool Africa, co-founded by Adewale Yusuf, Akintunde Sultan, and Opeyemi Awoyemi, has received over 50,000 applications from no fewer than 83 countries. The majority of applicants hail from Nigeria, Kenya, Ghana, Rwanda, and the United Kingdom. The platform has successfully enrolled more than 20,000 learners.
Speaking about the launch and the call for applications, Adewale Yusuf, Co-Founder and CEO of AltSchool Africa, stated, “Our goal is to create a fun and communal learning platform for all Africans to develop their skills, regardless of their previous education or background.” He emphasized how the platform aims to make a positive impact by connecting individuals with the necessary skills for the job market, enabling them to grow and reach their full potential.
Dr. Ademola Akinrinola, Director of Curriculum and Learning Experience Design at AltSchool Africa, highlighted, “As someone who joined AltSchool Africa from the University of Texas, I understand the significance of an upskilling platform like AltSchool in preparing individuals for career success – locally and internationally.”
Rachel Onoja, Head of Operations at AltSchool Africa, expressed, “We are committed to providing our learners with a fun, informative, and accessible learning experience.”
With over 90 percent of youths aged 15-24 in Africa in the informal sector, largely due to a lack of relevant skills, AltSchool Africa’s emphasis on upskilling is timely. As approximately 321 million youths are projected to enter the workforce by 2030, upskilling becomes pivotal for quality job prospects post-tertiary education. AltSchool Africa stands as a beacon, empowering individuals with the knowledge, skills, and career opportunities needed to thrive in the modern world. The programs offered have no educational prerequisites and can be completed in as little as six weeks, with course fees starting from $100.
