Philip Oja, a Nigerian applied technology student, discovered a crucial lesson during his participation in the Remote Ready Program: "Scheduling across time zones isn't just logistics, it is respect." Oja is among the first candidates in the program run by SankoLabs, a Fort Worth-based nonprofit that prepares young Africans for global remote work. The program, which has been conducting cohorts since August, is now opening to talent platforms and employers beyond its initial referral partner.
SankoLabs offers two distinct initiatives: the four-week Remote Ready Program for adults referred by talent platforms and hiring companies, and an eight-week Youth Bootcamp for ages 16 to 18. The first adult intake attracted 42 applications in under 24 hours, signaling strong demand. However, the challenge is not a lack of training. Nigeria's national digital skills program has trained over 135,000 people, yet placement remains largely theoretical. Moreover, between 30 and 60 percent of offshore remote hires fail their probation periods, often due to non-technical issues.
The nonprofit was founded by Michael Omokoh, Co-Founder and CEO, who lives in Fort Worth and holds an MSBA from Purdue University, and Peter Sey, Co-Founder and COO, based in Pocatello, Idaho, with an MBA from Idaho State University. Both grew up in Africa—Omokoh in Nigeria and Sey in Ghana—and have deep personal ties to the region. Their shared vision is to equip candidates with the readiness and evidence needed to succeed in global remote roles.
"Success is preparation meeting luck," Omokoh says. "In Africa we want the luck. We want the good job, the good outcome for our families, the chance to give something back. What I kept seeing is that the opportunity comes and we cannot take it, because we were not prepared for it." Sey adds, "Ghana is my home. Nigeria is my home. We didn't choose these countries because of market research. The right preparation at the right time changes everything." The organization's name, Sankofa, is an Akan word meaning "go back and get it," reflecting the belief that the capability already exists and must be made visible.
The Remote Ready Program centers on the Remote Readiness Simulation, an assessment run twice—once at intake and once near completion—to measure progress against a rubric covering asynchronous communication, digital presence, remote tool proficiency, time zone discipline, and independent work. This role-agnostic approach ensures candidates are prepared for various fields. Graduates receive an evidence bundle including an optimized LinkedIn profile, a recorded introduction, graded work and process artifacts, a mock interview, and a simulation report. However, SankoLabs does not offer job placement. "We are not a placement company," Omokoh emphasizes. "We get you ready for it, and we give you the evidence so you can go and get it yourself."
Looking ahead, SankoLabs plans to launch an eight-week Youth Bootcamp for 16- to 18-year-olds in Ghana and Nigeria, delivered phone-first to accommodate how students access the internet. This initiative aims to address the digital skills gap early, as only about 35 percent of adults in Nigeria and 28 percent in Ghana have basic digital skills. The bootcamp is funded by donors, with contributions supporting curriculum, data stipends, and mentorship. Talent platforms, staffing firms, and remote-hiring companies interested in a screened shortlist can find partnership details at https://www.sankolabs.com/partners. Donors can support the Youth Bootcamp at https://www.sankolabs.com/#support.
By focusing on readiness and evidence, SankoLabs addresses a critical gap in global remote hiring. Its model could reduce the high failure rates of offshore hires and provide African youth with tangible pathways to economic opportunity. As Omokoh states, "The talent was never the question. The proof was. That is the part we built."
