ALX Accelerates Gender Parity in Africa’s Tech and AI Workforce

ALX, Africa’s leading talent accelerator, has trained 347,100 graduates to date, and women account for more than half.

The Mastercard Foundation-backed non-profit is now doubling down on that record, positioning gender parity at the centre of its strategy to build the continent’s next generation of digital leaders.

Of the 257,900 graduates who have gone on to secure employment, 45 percent are women,  a figure the organisation says reflects a deliberate effort to close one of the most persistent gaps in Africa’s digital economy. Its ventures platform has further supported 43,400 entrepreneurs, 41 percent of them women, helping catalyse the creation of more than 60,100 jobs across the continent.

“The tech ecosystem in Africa is growing exponentially, and ALX is making sure women are not left behind,” said Ruby Igwe, Country General Manager at ALX Nigeria. “We’re seeing a decisive push toward gender inclusion, with women increasingly carving out impactful roles in data science, software engineering, product management, and beyond.”

The organisation offers access to its full training ecosystem for just $5 per month, a pricing model designed to strip away the financial barriers that have historically kept young Africans, and women in particular, out of the tech pipeline.

But even as progress is made, the road ahead carries new risks. A 2025 study by LinkedIn and the World Economic Forum found that AI could widen the gender gap further, with more women than men – 57 percent versus 43 percent – likely to find themselves in jobs disrupted by generative AI. Meanwhile, fewer women than men are projected to see their work augmented by the technology.

Igwe argues that this threat is also an opening. “Proficiency in generative AI, prompt design, and cloud-based deployments is no longer confined to strictly technical roles,” she said. “These skills are becoming mandatory across marketing, operations, human resources, and product strategy.” The solution, she contends, lies in aggressive skills development and inclusive workplace policies that ensure women are not just present in the AI-enabled economy, but positioned to shape it.

The human impact of that approach is already visible. Valentine Muriuki, a Kenyan ALX graduate, now works remotely as a Salesforce Administrator serving US clients, alongside five colleagues from her ALX cohort. “The foundation courses gave me not just the basics, but also the belief that I belong in tech too,” she said. “My journey hasn’t just been about finding my place, but also making space for others.”

Nimie Chaylone, General Manager at ALX Kigali and Nairobi, described what is happening at the organisation as something larger than a training programme. “We’re building a collaborative ecosystem where every success story inspires new possibilities, and where women have the tools, the confidence, and the community to drive Africa’s digital future.”

With a target of three million ethical tech leaders by 2035, ALX continues to expand its employer partnerships, connecting graduates with global companies seeking AI-ready, diverse talent — and building the case that Africa’s next generation of tech leaders will look very different from the last.

“Every woman we equip with advanced digital skills becomes a catalyst for wider economic transformation in her community,” said Igwe. “Proof multiplies.”