Yango Group has concluded the 2026 edition of the Yango Fellowship, a pan-African technology talent development programme that brought together 24 participants from six countries, including Mozambique, to build solutions addressing local challenges.
The programme culminated in a two-day graduation ceremony and a Pitch Day, both held in Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire. Fellows were selected from a pool of more than 600 applicants drawn from Côte d'Ivoire, Ghana, Zambia, Senegal, Ethiopia, and Mozambique.
Over 12 weeks, participants worked in six multinational teams, progressing through multiple stages — from problem identification and research to solution development, business modelling, prototyping, and project presentation.
Projects developed during the programme include cashless payment systems for informal transport, digital financial identity tools for traders, platforms designed to improve medicine availability for community health workers, cross-border employment solutions, smart waste collection and recycling systems, and low-cost water quality testing for rural communities.
The programme also incorporated sessions on artificial intelligence (AI), entrepreneurship, communication, and career development, with input from industry experts and technology sector leaders.
At the Pitch Day, Africoded claimed the top team prize of US$4,500 with an AI-powered platform connecting African job seekers to cross-border employment opportunities, remote work, and career development resources.
Harambee placed second, receiving US$2,500 for a smart waste collection and recycling platform. The third prize of US$1,500 was awarded to Bloom for developing a cashless payment system for informal public transport across East and West Africa.
In the individual category, Fredrick Mwepu of Zambia received US$1,500 for RoboCore Zambia, a robotics platform aimed at making hands-on STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) education more accessible. Meshack Kwame Nartey of Ghana received US$1,000 for Shuttle Smart Ghana, while Oulimata Rose Dia was awarded US$1,000 for her technical and AI contribution to Smart Bin Collection, a solar-powered waste container monitoring system.
Shashi Singh, Chief Operating Officer of Yango Ride MEA & Asia, said the more than 600 applications for just 24 places demonstrate the existence of a vast pool of technology talent across Africa, while also highlighting the need for greater access to mentorship, professional networks, and opportunities to test solutions against real-world problems.
For Yango Group, technological development in Africa depends not only on infrastructure but also on professionals capable of understanding and responding to the specific characteristics of each market. The Fellowship aims to strengthen local skills and foster connections between young talent and the broader African technology ecosystem.
Source: Diário Económico
Original article: https://www.diarioeconomico.co.mz/2026/09/22/trends/yango-fellowship-reune-talentos-tecnologicos-de-seis-paises-africanos/
