EDequity Global Hosts ‘21 AWS Global Innovation Summit; Graduates Over 45 Participants from Across the Globe

EDequity Global Hosts ‘21 AWS Global Innovation Summit; Graduates Over 45 Participants from Across the Globe

EDequity Global AWS Global Innovation Summit

“In the face of the global COVID crises, how do we put the women and people who have suffered the largest economic effects at the center of recovery efforts and work toward fixing long-standing inequalities, by leveraging technology?” Shauna Ruyle, Founder & Executive Director, EDequity Global

Facing recovery from a global economic crisis, high unemployment, increased poverty, stagnating income growth, lowered GDP, and community college enrollment plummeting (in California, USA), is important to understand the different ways that technology is changing the world of work and how together we can stimulate inclusive economic growth through education. Hence, Edequity Global with the support of 30+ sponsors and partners including AWS, American Association of University Women (AAUW), Google, Netflix, ThingLogix, African Leadership University, California State University Office of the Chancellor, The Basement UCSD, Southwestern College, and more – has taken the bull by the horns to equip women, underserved young graduates and entrepreneurs in communities across the globe with 21st century cloud skills at the ‘21 Global Amazon Alexa Skills Challenge.

The ‘21 Global Amazon Alexa SkilIs Challenge received over 300 registrants from across the globe with 46 women, marginalized college/university student and entrepreneur graduates coming from 6 countries (over 70% participants from Nigeria, then USA, India, Kenya, Brazil and Mexico). These impressive alumni completed the 5-week AI primer, formed teams and built innovative Alexa Skills to address one or more of the UN Sustainable Development Goals.

‘21 Global Innovation Summit
EDequity Global has organized the 2-Day Virtual Global Innovation Summit as an exciting “finale event’ and celebration to showcase graduate technology solutions to global problems, leveraging AWS. Business leaders, educators, nonprofits and civic leaders from the US and across the globe will join three leadership round tables to discuss the most pressing political, economic, environmental and human rights issues facing this generation today.

Highlights
• 3 trail-blazing keynotes including:

London Bell, 2020 African Descent Fellow, Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, NGO Committee on the Status of Women, Founder and President Bell Global Justice Institute
Diya Wynn, AWS Senior Practice Manager for AI/ML Ethics
Marianna Holiday, AWS Educate International, Education to Workforce Solutions

• 17 global leaders
• 3 leadership roundtable discussions
• 8 international team fast-pitch demos
• 6 tech all-star judges
• 20 AWS scholarships awarded
• 350+ attendees
• 30+ partners

AWS Demo Day
April 17, 7-11am US Pacific Time / 3-7pm West Africa Time
Following the 5-week artificial intelligence (AI) primer and project submissions, 8 teams will be invited to deliver their fast-pitch demos on AWS Demo Day, April 17, 2021 at the Global Innovation Summit for a chance to win scholarships toward AWS training & certification! Participants from 6 countries
including (Nigeria, USA, India, Kenya, Brazil and Mexico) will present their Alexa skill solutions to global problems in a fun, interactive livestream format.

Leadership Roundtable Discussions
April 28, 7am-2pm US Pacific Time / 3-10pm West Africa Time
The leadership round table discussions will center around three important themes:

How investing in girls’ education could return billions in GDP

How investing in girls’ education could return billions in GDP

Originally published on World Economic Forum, by Sonia Elks

11 million girls may not return to school after the COVID-19 pandemic.

  • For every dollar invested into girls’ rights and education, developing nations could see a return of $2.80, according to a new report.
  • Targets to improve girls education are included in the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals, signed by world leaders in 2015.
  • Around 130 million girls worldwide were out of school before COVID-19, according to UNESCO, and more than 11 million may not return to classes.

>>Read full article

How to build a financial system that works for people and planet

How to build a financial system that works for people and planet

Originally published on World Economic Forum, by Governor, Central Bank of Kenya

  • We now have the tools and know-how to achieve inclusive, sustainable development, writes Patrick Njoroge, Governor of the Central Bank of Kenya.
  • We must use them to leverage new digital-finance technology to build a financial system that works for people and the planet.
  • As the global economy builds back better, digital services will be vital in supporting individuals through transfers, loans and saving mechanisms.

>>Read full article

Large population decline expected in China and India

Large population decline expected in China and India

This will make Nigeria the second-largest nation on Earth ahead of China by 2094.

Originally published by World Economic Forum | with the collaboration of Data Journalist, Statista

  • Research by the University of Washington suggests that population declines in India and China could be more rapid than previously thought.
  • Growing access to education and contraception for women could catapult Indian and Chinese fertility below replacement levels quickly.
  • The researchers did not see the same factors at play in most African nations, where population growth will continue to 2100 and beyond.

>>Read the Full Article

The pandemic has created an ethos of urgent collective action in Africa. This model can achieve lasting change

The pandemic has created an ethos of urgent collective action in Africa. This model can achieve lasting change

Originally published by | World Economic Forum

  • In Africa COVID-19 has shifted the cultural context almost beyond recognition. Suddenly previous obstacles to change are surmountable as bigger ones are overcome, and an ethos of urgent action becomes the norm.
  • Africa’s digital economy has accelerated, particularly with respect to e-commerce, bolstering regional resilience to the health pandemic.
  • But ongoing challenges will require more unified action on: new financing models, supply chain, trade, infrastructure and inclusive digital transformation.

>>Read the Full Article

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