The fast-developing central African country, Rwanda, is set to launch the first African Blockchain Institute offering five new courses for local developers, professionals and policymakers.
With the launch of Africa’s Africa Blockchain Institute (ABI), it will lead to further adoption of the digital asset in the continent and open-up the continent for further investment.
In an interview with the Executive Director of ABI, Kayode Babarinde, a Nigerian, he revealed that the new school has five key courses in the pipeline.
These courses are: a blockchain essentials certification course, a blockchain developers’ course, an enterprise blockchain course, blockchain for lawyers and blockchain for impact.
The Nigerian Executive Director said that the ABI foundation started initially with a pilot phase of the school in West-Africa.
It began its inaugural classes for blockchain essential certification courses in Ghana as the five courses to be taught in Rwanda has been drawn out of an upgrade of the Ghana training.
Babarinde mentioned that the support and cooperation of the Blockchain DLT Rwanda Association, and its chairman, Norbert Haguma, has been a key factor in its decision to launch the school in the country.
He also explained that the local context in Rwanda has been highly conducive for investment in new technology.
Babarinde mentioned in his own words that every technology company is looking for an enabling environment to serve the African continent.
Rwanda’s supportive policies, resource management, and visibility for the market makes it stand out in the continent.
Blockchain in Africa
With Blockchain adoption in the continent on the rise from transportation to the gaming and lottery industries, reports of companies utilizing decentralized ledger technology (DLT) across the continent are emerging.
Several stakeholders in the continent’s blockchain scene say DLT is the key to solving the developmental issues plaguing the continent as a whole.
Blockchain stakeholders in the continent also believe that the technology provides a platform for Africa to elevate itself to a position of greater relevance in global affairs.
Countries like Kenya and Nigeria have announced plans however, to pursue regulation and greater cooperation with the private sector to leverage the benefits accruable from blockchain utilization.
Improving blockchain technology in Africa
Alongside the launch of ABI, the primary activity of the school is to provide recommendation for strengthening Africa’s regulatory framework for blockchain and cryptocurrencies.
Babarinde noted that a robust regulatory framework will be key to reducing the traction of cryptocurrency-related scams in Eastern part of the continent.
In the same vein, at the 2019 Africa Blockchain Conference, Uganda’s President, Yoweri Museveni spoke.
He identified agriculture, manufacturing and processing, services, and ICT sectors as key economic areas that stand to benefit from Blockchain’s implementation.
Featured image from: weetracker
