New ALX learners excitedly trooped in for the Karibu event!

ALX, a tech training company, hosted a welcome event for new learners of its cohort 2 session in Lagos on Saturday, October 21, 2023.

The day commenced with the enthusiastic arrival of guests and eager learners, who were greeted at the entrance, where their names were registered, and wristbands were issued. The excitement was palpable, with a photo booth capturing the joyful moments as techies snapped pictures and recorded videos. Virtual reality and augmented reality games added to the merriment, as participants immersed themselves in these experiences.

The attendees settled in before the start of the event

The formal proceedings kicked off at noon, led by Seun Babajide-Duroshola, the country manager, and Ruby Igwe, the general manager of ALX Nigeria. Ruby, in a light-hearted tone, clarified the event’s name, “Karibu,” which hails from South Africa, meaning “Welcome,” not “Kabiru,” a Hausa name in Northern Nigeria. This set the tone for the event, which was all about welcoming cohort 2 learners into the diverse ALX programmes.

Seun and Ruby welcomed cohort 2 learners to the ALX event

Seun and Ruby then went on to explain the goal and mission of ALX, which is to transform the future of Africa by enabling 2 million ethical and entrepreneurial young professionals to secure dignified and meaningful work opportunities by 2030. They also discussed ALX’s core values, which are courage, humility, adventure, initiative, and resilience.

Next, the hosts appreciated the Mastercard Foundation for its partnership with ALX, which facilitated a reduction in program costs, making it more accessible to future tech enthusiasts.

Fred Swaniker, the CEO and founder of the AL Group, delivered an inspiring speech, emphasising the critical role of technology in Africa’s development, the need for technical skills, and the importance of women in the tech industry.

Fred Swaniker delivered an inspiring speech

He stressed ALX’s motto of doing hard things and embracing challenges as a path to big rewards.

Ruby returned to the stage, motivating the newcomers with words of encouragement and a reminder that ALX is a community of learners, ensuring that no one feels alone in their journey.

Balancing work and play, attendees enjoyed a game of Kahoot, with winners receiving exciting prizes.

The winners of the Kahoot game posed for a picture

The spotlight then shifted to previous learners, who shared their experiences and challenges faced during their ALX training.

Chisom Ukachukwu, Daniel Dohou, and Nonso Ugama shared their journeys, their biggest challenges in the ALX training and how they were able to overcome them.

The previous learners shared their experiences and challenges

Next, Gavin Peter, the VP of Community and Culture at ALX, excitedly welcomed guests from across the African continent. Learners from each country waved their flags in a live video broadcast, which drew cheers from the audience.

This welcome session allowed learners to acquaint themselves with the ALX community and prepare for the upcoming blended session with peers from hubs across the continent, including Accra, Addis Ababa, Cairo, Nairobi, Kigali, Kenya, Rwanda, South Africa, Cameroon, and other ALX countries.

Despite the focus on tackling challenges, the event wasn’t devoid of fun, as a game of Bingo added to the fun and adventure. Ruby and Seun encouraged learners to interact with one another to identify fellow participants with specific attributes, offering prizes to those who succeeded.

New learners were then encouraged to provide feedback on the Karibu website, sharing suggestions for improvement and highlighting the positive aspects of ALX.

The spotlight shifted to invited guests, Olusegun Oyetunji and Noah Banjo, who engaged in a conversation with Ruby.

Olusegun Oyetunji and Noah Banjo shared their tech experiences

They shared their tech experiences and delved into topics like data privacy, security, and data breaches.

As the session neared its end, Segun reminded everyone to, “Always learn and keep learning,” while Noah ended with, “Always feed your curiosity.”

The attendees listened with rapt attention

Ruby and Seun recognised and expressed their appreciation for ALX learners from over 20 states in Nigeria. It was a fun session as flags were raised in celebration.

The event concluded with a thrilling game, this time a treasure hunt. Participants had to check under their seats for post-its and write their full names. Four winners were picked randomly and received prizes.

The cathedral video presentation was next which highlighted the power of community, perseverance and the importance of doing hard things.

Before drawing the event to a close, a torchlight session commenced, where learners were reassured that they were never alone on their journey, and guidance would always be available when needed.

The torchlight session

The event ended with a closing speech by Seun and Ruby, followed by a shower of confetti, to mark the successful commencement of cohort 2’s journey with ALX.

Attendees were excited at the confetti shower

The ALX Africa Cohort 2 welcome event was an unforgettable experience, reaffirming ALX as the leading destination for those eager to join the tech revolution and pursue their aspirations in the global technical workforce. Enrol in any of their tech programmes today and embrace the future with confidence.

Karibu!