Cardtonic, a leading African fintech company, launches Upskill 4.0 to support Nigerian and Ghanaian tech and creative talent. This year’s edition of the Upskill program features MacBook grants and scholarship opportunities to help young talents thrive in the tech and creative industries.
For many, Cardtonic is a renowned provider of virtual dollar cards, gift cards, bill payments, eSIM services, and more. But beyond those innovative solutions that have made life easier for Africans, the company has consistently supported members of society.
One of those ways the fintech giant shows up for people is through the Upskill by Cardtonic program. In past editions of the program, Cardtonic has cumulatively given out 55 MacBooks. And now? It’s time to bet on more talents.
How It All Began…
In 2022, a staff member suggested that the company should give out laptops to techies as part of its charity initiatives. It didn’t make much sense at the time, but the company did it anyway.
The success stories from that bold move melted hearts and led to the birth of Upskill by Cardtonic. Commendably, the fintech brand has doubled down since that maiden edition in 2022, when 15 young Nigerian talents received brand-new MacBooks.
In 2024, Cardtonic switched things up with Upskill 2.0. At the end of the program, 20 young talents went home with MacBook M3 laptops. As if that wasn’t enough, 13 runner-ups also received cash prizes.
Then came Upskill 3.0 in 2025, bigger and better. 20 M4 Pro MacBook laptops were handed over to promising techies and creative talent, and 15 runner-ups got cash awards.
If the truth must be told, Africa has never lacked talent. What is often missing is access: access to the right tools and knowledge. And that’s a gap Cardtonic has been closing over the years, one MacBook at a time.
Upskill 4.0: The Best Edition Yet
When you take a step back and look at what Upskill 4.0 has in store, it becomes glaringly clear that this will be the best edition of the program yet.
Cardtonic already simplifies global payments for Ghanaians, especially through the Cardtonic virtual dollar card. The Ghanaian community also deserves some appreciation for their trust in the brand over time. So it’s only natural that Ghanaian young talents benefit from initiatives such as this. For the first time, Ghanaians are eligible to apply for Upskill by Cardtonic.
For the Nigerian community, Cardtonic is saying “we see you” once more. And it can only get better from here.
What makes Upskill 4.0 even more interesting is that the program isn’t only about MacBook grants anymore. Newbies in the tech and creative industries will also be offered scholarships to accelerate their careers.
MacBook Grants
The first track of this year’s edition of Upskill by Cardtonic is MacBook grants aimed at providing tools for talents who are truly in need.
Cardtonic will be giving out 25 brand-new MacBooks to young talents in Nigeria and Ghana. And no, it’s not only for developers. If you don’t write code, there’s still space for you.
Eligible categories are software engineering, design, product management, content creation, data science & AI engineering, and cybersecurity.
Upskill by Cardtonic Scholarship Fund 2026
The other track is Upskill by Cardtonic Scholarship Fund 2026. The fintech giant will sponsor 20 Africans to get a diploma at AltSchool Africa. The courses covered are software engineering, data analysis, product management, design, and cybersecurity.
But that’s not all. The scholars will also receive a one-time stipend of N250,000 to support their learning journey.
Most importantly, both tracks of the Upskill program are merit-based. So whichever you are applying for, you don’t need to know the CEO to be among the next Cardtonic upskill winners.
How to Apply for Cardtonic Upskill 4.0
Still wondering how to enter the race for that brand-new MacBook or scholarship? Here’s how to go about it:
Who is eligible?
—You must be a Nigerian or a Ghanaian
— You must be under 30 years old on the application closing date, August 28, 2026.
—You must be passionate about technology or content creation.
—You must have a proven track record of your skill or interest. It could be your portfolio, projects, courses taken, etc.
—MacBook track applicants must show at least three years of verifiable experience in their stated skill area.
Application Timeline
Applications open: July 28, 2026.
Application close:August 28, 2026.
How to Apply
1. Visit the Upskill 4.0 application portal.
2. Carefully provide the required details, and passionately tell your story.
3. Provide evidence of your skills or interests.
4. Submit your completed application.
So What’s Next?
After the application process, Cardtonic will carefully review every entry. Shortlisted applicants will be emailed to proceed to the next stage(s). Winners/scholars will be announced in September, and the prize-giving ceremony takes place in October.
Closing Remarks
At the end of the day, what Cardtonic is doing goes beyond laptop grants or scholarships. It’s giving talent wings to fly high. Upskill 4.0, being the fourth edition of the program, reinforces Cardtonic’s commitment to betting on talent.
And if more tech companies help talents thrive like this, the next Silicon Valley will be found in Africa.
As a techie or creative talent, this might just be your chance to level up. And who knows, you could be among the next Cardtonic upskill winners. So give it a shot today!
