Web3Ladies Receives $3,000 Grant from Yellow Card for 500 Women Training

Web3Ladies, a web3 community dedicated to nurturing the next generation of female disruptors, has achieved a significant milestone by securing a grant of $3,000 from Yellow Card. This grant will support their initiative to train 500 women in Nigeria in tech and blockchain skills. In an era marked by technological innovation and rapid digital transformation, this partnership is poised to make a substantial impact.

Yellow Card, in announcing this grant, underlined the importance of addressing the gender gap prevalent in the tech industry, which remains largely male-dominated. Despite Nigeria’s vibrant entrepreneurial spirit, only 15% of tech startup co-founders in the country are women, as reported by the company. Additionally, a study conducted by LongHash in 2018 revealed that among 100 blockchain startups surveyed, female employees accounted for just 14.5% of the workforce. These statistics underscore the need for initiatives like Web3Ladies, which are committed to breaking down barriers and empowering women in the tech and blockchain sectors.

The decision to partner with Web3Ladies, a women-centric organization, reflects Yellow Card’s commitment to providing greater access to training and tech resources, particularly for the burgeoning young population of the African continent. Women, in particular, face unique challenges and barriers when it comes to entering the tech industry, and this partnership is aimed at addressing and rectifying these disparities.

Nkechi Enebeli, the Associate Program Manager for Web3Ladies, expressed her appreciation for Yellow Card’s $3,000 grant, emphasizing the significance of empowering women in tech. She stated, “Yellow Card’s partnership reaffirms the belief that empowering women in tech is not just a matter of equality but an investment in the future. The partnership is more than just financial support; it’s a testament to the power of collaboration. We are immensely grateful to Yellow Card for recognizing our mission and offering their hand in our journey towards a more equitable tech ecosystem.”

Jason Marshall, the Chief Operating Officer of Yellow Card, acknowledged the substantial challenges women and girls face when it comes to technology and digital literacy education. He highlighted the importance of the $3,000 grant for Web3Ladies’ mentorship program, underlining the company’s dedication to making a real impact. “This is just one of our several efforts under the YC Social Good, our CSR initiatives, which promote inclusion and financial freedom across the continent. Our decision to invest in empowering these women reflects our deep commitment to making a real impact. By providing training and access to resources, we aim to bridge the gender gap in tech and contribute to the economic growth of the continent,” he stated.

Marshall also drew attention to the growing demand for digital skills in Africa, where an estimated 230 million jobs in Sub-Saharan Africa are expected to require digital skills by 2030. However, UNESCO’s estimates indicate that only 30% of women receive STEM training, with even fewer girls possessing essential digital skills for the modern workforce in the region. Yellow Card, through its YC Social Good Initiative, is determined to address this gap by equipping and preparing young African talents with the essential skills required to shape the continent’s future.

The Web3Ladies mentorship program, which will benefit from Yellow Card’s support, is a three-month intensive boot camp meticulously designed to train skilled designers, engineers, and managers for the blockchain industry. The program goes beyond training by also providing participants with the necessary tools and tech resources needed for success in the post-training phase. This comprehensive approach will not only empower women with valuable skills but also contribute to the diversification and inclusion of the tech and blockchain sectors in Nigeria and, by extension, the entire African continent. It represents a significant step forward in promoting gender equality in the technology industry and fostering economic growth and innovation.