Introducing ReadyforWork Data Science Course for Employees of Corporates

MTN recently announced that it has deployed artificial intelligence and machine learning technologies to detect and block fraudulent Mobile Money messages before they reach customers.

But do you know that Data Science is the central force behind all that effort? That’s right. The system's intelligence stems from data science: cleaning/analyzing big data, building predictive models, and deploying adaptive machine learning to detect/block fraud proactively, which directly protects billions in MoMo transactions.

Similarly, TechCabal reported in November 2025 that Jumia recorded roughly 25% revenue growth in Q3 while narrowing losses. This, they said, was driven by operational efficiency. Orders and active customers rose, and the company is targeting breakeven in 2026 and profitability in 2027.

So what's this magical operational efficiency, you ask? Data Science!

The pattern is clear: across Africa’s digital economy, performance increasingly follows data capability.

That’s why we’re launching a new pilot of the ReadyforWork Data Science course. Under this installment, organizations can enroll their staff at absolutely zero tuition, giving your team the tools they need to thrive in the digital economy.

More Reasons Why Data Science Matters Now More Than Ever

Data science jobs have exploded by 650% since 2012, with projections estimating 11.5 million new roles this year, 2026. From predictive analytics to machine learning, professionals skilled in data science are in high demand across industries like finance, healthcare, marketing, and public policy. ReadyforWork's Data Science course is designed to bridge the skills gap, equipping participants with practical, job-ready expertise using open-source tools like R, Tidyverse, ggplot2, and tidymodels.

This 12-week blended program combines hands-on practice with real-world datasets, lectures, and experiential learning to ensure mastery. Whether your staff are entry-level analysts, mid-level managers, or senior executives, the course caters to all, provided they have a B.Sc. in Computer Science, Social Sciences, or Statistics, along with a laptop, stable internet, and about 15 hours per week to dedicate.

A Deep Dive into the Curriculum

The course is structured across 10 core sessions, building from foundational skills to advanced applications:

1. Data Loading and Integration Techniques: Import and handle data from CSV, Excel, JSON, and SQL using packages like {readr} and {jsonlite}.
2. Data Cleaning and Preprocessing: Tackle missing values, outliers, and inconsistencies with {tidyr} and {dplyr}.
3. Introduction to Modern Data Science with R and LLMs: Set up your R environment and explore essentials with large language models.
4. Exploratory Data Analysis with the Tidyverse: Filter, summarize, and group data for insightful discoveries.
5. Advanced Data Visualization with ggplot2: Create compelling plots to tell data stories, especially in economic contexts.
6. Statistical Analysis and Modeling: Master hypothesis testing, correlation, and regression with {stats} and {lmtest}.
7. Machine Learning Fundamentals with tidymodels: Dive into supervised and unsupervised learning for classification, regression, and clustering.
8. Automating Data Workflows with Targets: Build reproducible pipelines for efficiency.
9. Creating Reports and Documents with Quarto: Produce dynamic, code-integrated reports.
10. Building Interactive Applications with Shiny: Develop user-friendly apps for interactive data analysis.

The program kicks off with an onboarding week, progresses through foundational and hands-on phases, and culminates in a capstone project and presentation.

The Pilot Program: Zero Tuition for Your Organization's Staff

As part of this exclusive pilot, ReadyforWork is waiving all tuition fees (normally starting at ¢7,800) for a select group of organizations. This means your team can access the full course, complete with lifetime network access, personalized career analytics, and AI-assisted support, with only a nominal commitment fee of ¢780. This fee is also refundable if no value is provided after 7 days (Ts & Cs apply).

This one-time offer is our way of demonstrating the transformative power of data science education and helping African organizations upskill their workforce amid rapid digital transformation.

Why a pilot? We want to work with forward-thinking companies like yours to shape workforce readiness in Africa. Spots are limited to 12 people, so this is a unique opportunity to invest in your employees' growth while contributing to the evolution of digital skills training in Africa.

Benefits for Organizations and Employees

For organizations, enrolling staff in this pilot means:

• Employer-validated portfolios that demonstrate real, job-ready skills from your staff's capstone projects and coursework; allowing you to pre-approve internal hires or promotions with concrete proof of capability, reducing onboarding risks and accelerating talent deployment.
• Talent DNA™ insights powered by custom ReadyforWork AI, providing an "X-ray view" into each participant's career success potential, readiness scores, and hidden strengths; enabling you to identify high-potential employees, nurture internal talent pipelines, and make smarter decisions on development, succession planning, and retention.
• Building an in-house data-savvy team capable of driving data-informed decisions, while enhancing productivity through automated workflows and advanced analytics.

For employees, the perks are equally compelling:

• Hands-on mastery of in-demand tools, leading to improved career experience.
• A portfolio-backed certificate proving practical skills.
• Weekly opportunity readiness analytics and human coach support.
• Connections to the SFAN network for ongoing professional development.

And so much more. Again, if you don't see value after the first 7 days, there's a commitment fee refund policy (terms apply) – though with our 10x guaranteed results, we're confident they will!

Don't just take our word for it. Here's what past participants have said:

• Idris Abdulkareem, Software Engineer: "I applied for the SFAN ReadyforWork Digital Career Accelerator in October 2022 to improve my knowledge of Data Science. It was a unique and comprehensive learning experience. Unlike other programs, I was able to have personalized 1:1 sessions with a distinguished data science scholar. The program didn't rely on the traditional method of just watching online videos and taking tests. But rather, it provided weekly seminars where we discussed the new concepts learned during the week. The seminars were an opportunity to share our experiences and gain a deeper understanding of projects we'd worked on. Overall, ReadyforWork's approach to learning was refreshing and allowed me to acquire the skills I needed for my career in a supportive and engaging environment."
• Girard Boakye-Yiadom, Digital Marketer: "ReadyforWork cohort 4 has been a good experience and very insightful. I learned many things I didn't know that I thought I knew initially. I highly recommend this program to anyone who seeks a career in the digital space."

Read more case studies here, and see exciting stories of how ReadyforWork turns potential into real-world success.

Join the Pilot Today and Shape the Future

Ready to supercharge your organization's data capabilities? Enroll your staff in this zero-tuition pilot program by visiting ReadyforWork's Data Science page and applying through the "Apply Now" button: https://readyforwork.africa/data-science

Spaces are filling up fast. Act now to secure your spot and position your team at the forefront of Africa's digital revolution.

For more details or to discuss how this fits your organization's needs, contact SFAN at 030 280 2935 or info@sfanonline.org. Let's build a data-empowered future together!