Michael Collins Ajereh, the Nigerian music executive widely known as Don Jazzy, has entered into a partnership with TS Academy, an African technology education platform, to back young Africans pursuing careers in software engineering, artificial intelligence, data, product, design and other technology disciplines.

Under the agreement, Don Jazzy will support TS Academy's efforts to expand access to technology education through scholarships, learning devices and student empowerment programmes. The role goes beyond a namesake arrangement: he will also take part in campaign activities and key academy engagements as the organisation continues to scale its work across the continent.

The collaboration brings the entertainer into a growing technology education community at a time when TS Academy is broadening its reach. The academy trained more than 50,000 aspiring technology professionals across 10 countries in the past year and is working towards its goal of empowering one million Africans with digital and technology skills.

Central to the partnership is the Don Jazzy Tech Scholarship 2027, which will provide selected applicants with tuition support of up to 100 percent, alongside an additional discount on application fees. Applications are open at donjazzy.tsacademy.com. For prospective applicants, the near-term milestones to watch are the scholarship's selection process and how the partnership's device and empowerment programmes take shape.

A key focus of the collaboration is helping students overcome the practical barriers that can prevent them from accessing technology education. TS Academy's regular programmes carry tuition fees, while its scholarship initiatives provide significant or full tuition support to selected learners. The academy also supplies laptops and other learning devices to students who would otherwise be unable to participate in training. The combination addresses the hurdles both partners describe: people who are ready and willing to learn, but held back by tuition costs or the lack of a device.

Don Jazzy said his interest in supporting the academy came from seeing the practical assistance it provides to people who want to learn but may lack the resources to get started.

"Every parent wants their kids to be successful, and every young person wants a chance to build a good life. Music has been incredible to us, but not everyone can make music or movies. If entertainment is not your path, you should not be left stranded. What I saw in TS Academy was an organisation that understands the things that can stop people from getting started. If you do not have a laptop, they try to help. If you cannot afford tuition, there are scholarships. If you want to learn, you should be able to learn. I want young people to have a fighting chance to succeed, and I want to put my weight behind that."

The partnership builds on TS Academy's existing work with learners across the continent, including its scholarship and device-access initiatives.

Adetola Durojaiye, Founder and CEO of TS Academy, said the partnership would strengthen the academy's ability to reach young people who are looking for practical pathways into technology.

"At TS Academy, we have always believed that access should not be the reason someone gives up on learning a technology skill. We see students who are ready to learn but cannot afford tuition, and others who have the ambition but do not have the device they need. We have built our support around those realities because we want people to be able to move from wanting to learn to actually learning. Having Don Jazzy involved gives us another opportunity to take that message to young Africans and show them that there are practical paths they can take to build something for themselves," he said.

TS Academy is an African technology education platform focused on practical training across software engineering, artificial intelligence, data, product, design and other technology disciplines. Alongside its training programmes, it provides scholarships, learning devices and student support to help aspiring technology professionals develop practical skills and pursue careers in the digital economy.

Source: TechNext24