New fellows onboard into Bala Wunti Tech Fellowship

In a bold stride towards creating a digitally empowered Bauchi State, the Wunti Al-Khair Foundation hosted the official Graduation and Awards Ceremony for the 2024 Bala Wunti Tech Fellows, alongside the symbolic onboarding of the 2025 cohort, on Saturday, 29 June 2025, at the Yimir Hotel, Bauchi. The event marked a major milestone in the Foundation’s mission to reduce youth unemployment through technology talent development.

In his opening remarks, Ango Mustapha, Director of Programs at Wunti Al-Khair Foundation, noted that the Fellowship is “more than a skills program—it is a movement to unlock potential and harness local talent for global relevance. We are building a future where Bauchi becomes a hub of innovation, where our youths are not just job seekers but creators of solutions.”

A major highlight was a virtual keynote address by Ibrahim Joseph, a U.S.-based software developer, who shared his inspiring journey from Bauchi to a global tech career. His message, “Global Talent, Local Root,” reaffirmed the Fellowship’s vision: nurturing world-class talent deeply rooted in local identity and committed to community development.

The ceremony recognized exceptional fellows with awards in categories such as Tech Excellence, Entrepreneurial Excellence, Leadership, Best Capstone Project, Growth Award, Fellow of the Year, and a Posthumous Community Impact Award to Maimuna Nasir—a dedicated fellow whose life was tragically cut short during the Fellowship. Maimuna was instrumental in launching the EmpowerHer Program, aimed at advancing digital literacy and economic inclusion for women and girls in underserved communities. Her legacy continues to inspire the Fellowship’s inclusive mission.

Meanwhile, 30 new fellows were onboarded into the fellowship program.

In his address, the Director of Programs Mr Ango Mustapha  tasked the new fellows to be apt and serious toward their learning, so as to justify the huge investment on them.