Sprints, an award-winning startup recognized as one of Africa’s top 100 AI companies, is transforming the tech landscape by bridging education and employment. As both a learning platform and an outstaffing company, Sprints equips young Nigerians with cutting-edge skills through programs like its recently launched AI initiative.
Beyond training, Sprints also connects this talent with international companies, enabling them to work on exciting global projects and earn competitive salaries.
We sat down with co-founder Bassam Sharkawy to explore why African tech talent is both exceptional and underrepresented – and how Sprints is reshaping the narrative.
Sprints recently launched its AI program in Nigeria in partnership with local organizations. Can you tell us about its impact?
Bassam: Tech workers with generative AI skills earn a significant premium – nearly 50% more than other tech professionals without these skills, according to a recent Indeed study.
Recognizing this, we wanted to unlock these high-impact opportunities for Nigerian tech talent. To achieve this, we partnered with TQ STEM Academy, a leading organization in STEM education that’s transforming young minds across Nigeria and the continent. TQ STEM serves as our on-the-ground partner for this initiative.
Together, we launched the Generative Artificial Intelligence Certificate (GAIC), a program we had already successfully implemented in Egypt and have now also extended to Nigerian learners. This initiative equips participants with cutting-edge AI skills that position them as strong contenders in the global job market.
What makes this program different from other courses that teach AI skills?
Bassam: What sets this program apart is our commitment to practical, workplace-focused education.
At Sprints, we’ve built an AI-powered platform designed to simulate a real-world work environment. Learners gain hands-on experience with advanced technical content while engaging in business workflows that mirror those of actual companies. They participate in team meetings, collaborate on industrial projects, and use industry-standard tools and systems, fostering skills they’ll need on the job.
Our platform goes a step further with AI-driven features that replicate workplace dynamics. Virtual AI “customers” provide feedback or raise issues, while automated systems send reminders for missed deadlines, creating an authentic professional setting.
This immersive approach equips learners with not only technical knowledge but also the teamwork, multi-cultural communication, and accountability essential for success in any workplace. By graduation, they’re fully prepared to excel in their careers.
What are some of the most common misconceptions about African tech talent?
Bassam: A common misconception is that there are NO African tech talents or that they lack quality or global competitiveness. In reality, African professionals bring exceptional skills, a strong work ethic, and often excellent communication and English proficiency. Yet, they remain under-recognized, making up just 3% of the global talent pool despite being poised to represent 49% of global youth by 2030.
This underrepresentation is what inspired us to launch Sprints. Our mission is to rebrand African tech talent as world-class, showcasing that teams from Nigeria, Egypt, and across the continent are driving innovation and delivering outstanding results on the global stage. Google, Facebook, Amazon, and Microsoft all have HQs in Africa for a reason!
Most of us know Sprints as an education platform, but you also offer outstaffing. Tell us about that.
Bassam: That’s right. Sprints has a mission of learning for employment, and while we started as a learning platform, we now have over 100,000 African tech professionals in our database, that we connect with global companies.
Right now we provide companies from the US, UK, Germany, France & more with fully integrated, high-performing teams from Africa, including from Nigeria. It’s a win-win situation:
- Employers get access to reliable, high-performing teams without the usual challenges of remote hiring. Sprints manages all complexities, including legal compliance, taxes, social security, and payroll, ensuring a seamless and hassle-free experience.
- For talent, it means opportunities to work on exciting international projects, earn competitive salaries, enjoy job stability, and receive additional benefits such as medical insurance, creating a pathway for professional and personal growth.
How do you envision the future of digital transformation in Africa, and what role do you see remote hiring playing in that evolution?
Bassam: The future of digital transformation in Africa is bright, and I see remote hiring playing a key role. It opens up global opportunities for African professionals, particularly women, by connecting them with high-paying international projects.
This not only brings foreign currency into local economies but also transfers valuable skills and knowledge back to their home countries, driving community-level transformation.
Governments should recognize the potential of remote work to spur long-term development.
We’ve seen the impact in the GCC, where we have helped accelerate digital transformations in Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Oman, and Jordan. The economic benefits are undeniable, and we’re excited to pursue similar collaborations across Africa. We’re eager to partner with governments in countries like Nigeria, Kenya, South Africa, Morocco, Ghana, and beyond, where digitalisation can uplift individuals and communities, driving meaningful contributions to the global economy.
