Darey.io, a leading digital platform, is set to unveil its first physical training hub in Yaba, Lagos, Nigeria.
Darey.io is an initiative established to train and empower millions of tech enthusiasts across Africa. The newest tech hub is designed to drive digital transformation, foster collaboration, and provide startups, businesses, and individuals with AI-driven solutions and workforce development programs.
The Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Darey.io, Dare Olufunmilayo, disclosed this at a pre-launch press conference in Lagos.
According to him, Darey.io aims to accelerate the company’s mission of bridging the digital skills gap and providing access to technology careers for individuals from diverse backgrounds. The platform has been building its software remotely for over four years and has now established a physical hub to foster collaboration and enhance hands-on learning.
Olufunmilayo said the company was founded to address the increasing demand for digital skills, upskilling, and reskilling in the face of rapid technological advancements, especially the rise of AI.
He highlighted the growing number of individuals from various sectors, comprising management and healthcare, seeking to transition into IT careers. He underscored that Darey.io empowers individuals to achieve their tech ambitions regardless of their educational background, opening doors to remote work opportunities and international employment.
Speaking further on the activities of the company, which includes the Darey.io and the Xterns, Olufunmilayo said, “The two different platforms we are using to drive our initiative are darey.io and Xtern, and that is why we have started this organization. In the last two and half years, it has been impactful; we have over a thousand people we can track, and we have placed them in jobs both locally and internationally.
“We are part of the team driving President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, also focusing on digital skills through the 3-Million Technical Talent (3MTT) initiative.”
Olufunmilayo emphasized the importance of this partnership in equipping millions of Nigerians with globally relevant technical skills. He explained the significant skills gap in Africa and the potential for Nigerian talent to contribute to the global tech industry.
“So, we are setting up this office for more people to come in and grow their digital skills.”
Speaking on the Xterns platform, designed for people to acquire experience, Olufunmilayo said that Xterns AI is developed to empower emerging tech professionals, connect seasoned tech professionals with meaningful mentorship opportunities, and offer enterprises and hiring managers data-rich insights into Africa’s rapidly growing tech talent pool.
“So you may have learnt to become a software developer, but you don’t have the experience working for different industry projects, for instance, when you go for an interview and they may ask you, tell me at a time you did your work on a project, if you don’t have answer like that to convince someone, to show that you know what you are talking about, then it becomes a problem, because all the things you have been learning you can’t articulate them as an experienced person. So, Xterns is what bridges that gap and provides the solution for that.
“On the Xterns platform, you can search for projects, collaborate with other engineers, build solutions and deliver them end to end. Then, we use our digital platform to track your engagement and track all the activities you are doing, which eventually helps you to build a digital CV that you can use to convince an employer to say, I have this skill, I have this experience, I can do this. It is like you are paying for your internship without waiting for a company to hire you. It is a place where you gain experience.
“With the launch of Xterns, Africa’s tech ecosystem has experienced a new dawn, a groundbreaking platform that combines hands-on project experience with advanced AI-driven analytics. Xterns AI bridges the gap between academic learning and tech industry experience.
Xterns AI is designed to empower emerging tech professionals, connect seasoned tech professionals with meaningful mentorship opportunities, and offer enterprises and hiring managers data-rich insights into Africa’s rapidly growing tech talent pool.
Head of Growth and Marketing Operations of Darey.io, Priscilla Otukoya, detailed the rigorous framework in place to ensure the quality of training and the seriousness of participants. A career score algorithm tracks user engagement, project submissions, and feedback, ensuring that only qualified individuals are recommended to employers. She also emphasized the importance of the 3MTT program, and the quality of the instructors.
Otukoya reiterated that the platform’s digital framework allows for strict controls and assessments. Those who do not meet the required career score are not recommended to employers, ensuring that only serious and qualified candidates are presented. She mentioned that access will be removed for people who are not properly engaged with the platform, despite it being free.
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