A Fort Worth nonprofit is expanding a program designed to prepare young Africans for global remote work, aiming to bridge the gap between digital skills training and actual employment. SankoLabs, which has been running cohorts since August, is now opening its Remote Ready Program to talent platforms and employers beyond its initial referral partner.
The program addresses a critical issue: while Nigeria’s national digital skills initiative has trained over 135,000 people, placement rates remain low. Additionally, between 30 and 60 percent of offshore remote hires fail to pass probation, often due to non-technical reasons. SankoLabs focuses on readiness and evidence rather than just training.
The Remote Ready Program is a four-week course for adults referred by talent platforms and hiring companies. It centers on a Remote Readiness Simulation that assesses candidates at intake and near completion, measuring growth in areas like asynchronous communication, digital presence, and independent work. Graduates receive an evidence bundle including an optimized LinkedIn profile, work artifacts, and a simulation report.
“We are not a placement company,” says Michael Omokoh, Co-Founder and CEO. “We get you ready for it, and we give you the evidence so you can go and get it yourself.” Omokoh, who lives in Fort Worth and built the SankoLabs platform, co-founded the organization with Peter Sey, who oversees curriculum and cohorts from Pocatello, Idaho. Both have personal ties to Africa and met over a decade ago in Ghana.
The organization also plans an eight-week Youth Bootcamp for ages 16 to 18 in Ghana and Nigeria, starting with a phone-first cohort. This initiative aims to equip the next generation with digital skills early, as only about 35 percent of adults in Nigeria and 28 percent in Ghana have basic digital skills.
SankoLabs is seeking partnerships with talent platforms, staffing firms, and companies hiring remotely. Partner enquiries can be made through https://www.sankolabs.com/partners. The Youth Bootcamp is funded by donors, with contributions supporting curriculum, data stipends, and mentorship; details are available at https://www.sankolabs.com/#support.
“The talent was never the question,” Omokoh says. “The proof was. That is the part we built.” By providing documented evidence of readiness, SankoLabs aims to reduce the risk for employers and improve job outcomes for young Africans, potentially transforming remote work opportunities across the continent.
