Akoin Foundation, the foundation supporting the blockchain platform and cryptocurrency Akoin has partnered with Blockchain / AI social venture Effect.AI with a shared mission to boost education, social opportunity, and digital inclusion in Africa. This joint venture seeks to empower 2 million new CEOs in Africa.
Akoin was developed by international artist Akon.
In this partnership between Akoin and the Dutch-based crypto project Effect.AI, the two businesses set out their objectives and vision to build opportunity centers across Africa to help educate and empower local youth, up and coming business leaders, and entrepreneurs within the continent and pioneer their way into the 21st century.
These centers will be co-branded as Akon-Effect Opportunity Hubs, with physical locations starting in Kenya, Senegal and Ghana, where people can gain access to AI / blockchain-based online work paid in cryptocurrency on Effect.AI’s blockchain platforms as well as gather cutting edge business and technical skills through accelerated learning programs designed to inspire a generation of change-makers and ignite the blockchain and crypto revolution in Africa.
“The Akoin Foundation exists to empower young entrepreneurs first in Africa, and as we grow, in other lean and rising economies, to start and build businesses and create sustainable communities. These Opportunities Hubs are just the beginning”, said Akon (Chairman & Founder of Akoin)
Last year Effect.AI launched its first center in partnership with the UNDP in the country of Georgia, The Effect Artificial Intelligence & Blockchain Center (AIBC), solidifying a partnership that meets the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of quality education, fairly paid work, and innovative businesses. There are currently 12 members of the AIBC center who all earn cryptocurrency (EFX) for performing AI-related data labeling tasks.
“Digital inclusion for all, allows great minds, no matter their location in the world, to connect and have an equal opportunity to advance their technical skills and earn a living with meaningful work opportunities. Effect Force is just the start and the Akon-Effect Opportunity Hubs are the foundation, Chris Dawe (CEO & Co-founder of Effect.AI)
Announced at BlockDown 2.0, Akoin and Effect.AI have agreed to work in tandem focusing on bringing these learning and earning opportunities throughout the continent of Africa and beyond, simultaneously spring-boarding the adoption of cryptocurrencies and blockchain technology. With promotion by the Akoin Foundation and strategic goals operationalized through Effect.AI’s blockchain platform, Effect Force, these shared goals are mobilizing into a reality.
The initial locations were selected based on where the founding partners have hubs of business activity and most swiftly achieve economic inclusion goals.
With promotion by the Akoin Foundation and strategic goals operationalized through Effect.AI’s blockchain platform, Effect Force, these shared goals are mobilizing into reality. Joint financial commitments between Effect.AI, The Akoin Foundation, and the UN will fund the Akon-Effect Opportunity Hubs. Kenya has been selected as the home of the very first Hub, slated to open mid Q4 this year.
Additional locations are now being scouted in Senegal and Ghana for a second Opportunity Hub which is slated to open Q1 2021. All locations will be opened in areas that are economically neglected that could benefit the most. Announcements of the specific location selections and their opening dates will soon follow once the Akoin Foundation and Effect.AI, along with local officials finalize the details.
