Friday- September 22, 2023 – SOS Global Investments in partnership with Prodigy Finance USA and Nekotech Center kicked off the maiden Africa-US Presidential Forum in partnership with Rutgers University, Newark – rolling out Africa’s largest human capital development effort with a $200 Million STEM:AI:MBA Educational loan package.
The President of Malawi, HE President Dr. Lazarus McCarthy Chakwera received a $100 million package for 1000 Malawian graduates which was presented to him by SOS and Nekotech Center’s Executive Chairperson, Her Excellency Rev. Dr. Princess Ocansey who is also an alumni of Rutgers.
The presentation was made at a press conference hosted by Rutgers’ Provost and Deputy Chancellor, Jeffrey Robinson, PhD.
The Presidential press conference was chaired by HE President Chakwera.
In attendance was Newark City official, Assemblywoman Britnee Timberlake, together with other University and Nekotech Board members, as well as the press.
Nekotech Center board co-chair, Dr. Michael Robert’s Sr. and Professor Byron Price, Global VP of Nekotech as well as Ms. Olufunmilola Babalola and Mrs. Victoria Hajar, Board members of Nekotech were in attendance.
President Chakwera, who also doubles as Chairman of the Africa-US Presidential Forum, was assisted by the dynamic Malawi Minister of Education, Hon. Madalitso Wirima Kambauwa.
Joel Frish, VP of Prodigy Financing, presented a check of $100million to H.E. Rev. Dr. Princess Ocansey. Her Excellency, in turn, presented a check of $100 million to the President of Malawi for qualifying graduates of Malawi to undertake the SOS Nekotech Transfer2Transform USA Work Study Master’s Degree program.
Upon receiving the $100million educational loan package and $2.5million prep school scholarships from HE Rev. Dr. Princess A.K. Ocansey, President Chakwera said: “Malawi truly appreciates this opportunity and we are highly committed to our Malawi Agenda 2063 which has human capital development as its center piece. We are very pleased to scale up this proven SOS Nekotech Transfer2Transform USA work study program, which is already benefiting many Malawian graduates, like Chipi Chisao – standing here today – and others like her – in several top universities in the USA. This $100 million no collateral educational loan will certainly impact not only our qualifying graduates, but their families and Malawi as a whole,” he said.
The evening Presidential Dinner was with President of Sierra Leone, HE Dr. Julius Maada Bio, who was represented by The Minister of Employment, Labour and Social Security, Hon. Mr. Mohamed Rahman Swaray. The Honorable Minister addressed the maiden Africa-US Presidential Dinner guests at Rutgers University, Newark, on the theme: “Decade of African Digitalization-Higher STEM/AI and Business Education for the Achievement of the UN SDGs by 2030 and AU Agenda 2063.
On behalf of President Dr. Julius Maada Bio, the Hon. Minister also received a non-collateral loan amount of $100 Million and scholarships worth $2.5 Million for Prep School for first degree holders with any educational background – with a gpa 3.0/4.0 and up, to pursue graduate studies in the USA, between 2024 and 2028.
This forms part of the cabinet approved SOS Labour Ghana Consultancy’s 5-year labour migration project entitled ‘Transfer2Transform (T2T), launched by the Government of Sierra Leone in 2021, through the then Ministry of Labour and Social Security, under the leadership of the former Minister of Labour, Hon. Alpha Timbo.
The current Minister of Employment, Hon. Swaray launched the Transfer2Transform project in Sierra Leone on behalf of the President of Sierra Leone in 2021, while he was serving as Minister of Information.
SOS is an international recruitment and job placement consultancy, which also serves at the African Union Labour Advisory Committee- which advises African Governments on sound labour migration practices.
The project, which was assigned to SOS by the Government of Sierra Leone to facilitate decent work, while tackling the challenges of illegal and uncoordinated labour migration in Sierra Leone, has been in effect since May 2021 with several success stories.
Rutgers University’s Chancellor, Nancy Cantor, delivered the welcome address at the Presidential dinner followed by a greeting from the mayor of Newark, who was represented by the First Lady Linda Baraka, of Newark.
Brimah Larkoh, a program beneficiary, now in his final year at Steven’s Institute of Technology, spoke highly of the Transfer2Transform project and encouraged the Government to ensure as many Sierra Leonean youth get access to the program through the $100million package.
The Nekotech Center provides a readiness and English proficiency training program for all interested candidates.
Applicants undergo a pre-qualification process and upon approval, they are enrolled into the weekly readiness college via: www.nekotechcenter.org. Upon attaining certification, applicants are transferred into an intensive six week prep school: the Nekotech African STEM & Sports Institute of Excellence (ASSIE), where candidates are guided through weekly lectures and one on one by an assigned private counselor to choose an appropriate STEM:AI or MBA course at Nekotech partner schools.
Once candidates are in a funded program, their counselors support them to apply for the educational loans and to support them to submit their US visa applications.
Candidates are expected to pay for their visa application fee ($185) and Sevis application fee ($350) to the US Embassy. After visa approval, candidates are expected to cover all pre-travel costs such as flight tickets to the USA, housing deposits, pocket money and settlement services.
Upon arrival and school enrollment in the USA, candidates’ school fees and living expenses are released by the Nekotech loan partners who pay the approved loan amount directly to the USA school by Nekotech partner loan companies up to $100,000 per student – depending on the cost of attendance pre-applied for prior to applicants’ arrival.
After completion of their two-year Master’s degree, candidates will be eligible for Optional practical training (OPT) – working full time in the USA for three years – earning $60,000-$200,000/year.
Rutgers University’s Provost Jeffrey Robinson, announced that Rutgers University and Nekotech are working on a partnership which will bring African graduate students to the US, while sending American students to Africa.
Special customized kente stoles were presented to the Rutgers-Nekotech planning committee as the curtains drew to a close on a highly successful maiden Africa-US Presidential Forum on STEM:AI:MBA.
For more information on how to register please go to www.nekotechcenter.org and for more information on the Presidential Forum please go to www.Presidentialforum.org
OR; Email: Info@nekotechcenter.org
