Precious Azuonwu’s Remarkable 12-Month Journey: From Idea Stage Wins to Global Fellowship Competitions

Mary Nnah

Over the past 12 months, Precious Azuonwu, the visionary Founder of Bankable Wisdom and a leading figure in Africa’s EdTech and youth empowerment space, has achieved a remarkable series of milestones that distinctly position him as one of the continent’s most promising social entrepreneurs and tech impact leaders.

Azuonwu’s journey began with a significant early-stage win as a Western Union Venture Development stipend recipient, awarded $4,000 to support Bankable Wisdom’s projects over 12 intensive months dedicated to honing scalable solutions addressing skill development and economic inclusion for marginalized communities across Africa.

Building on this momentum, he became a Mastercard Foundation FAST program, managed by Co-creation Hub Limited, CcHub. With a $5,000 grant in the program, Precious successfully completed all program milestones by September 2025. This formative experience validated the disruptive potential of his work to redefine how African youth earn, learn, and access jobs through technology.

In September 2024, Azuonwu was among only four exclusive Western Union Foundation fellows invited to participate in a 60-minute Braintrust, a focused online roundtable discussion convened and facilitated by the Watson Institute. This high-level Braintrust, featuring Lauren Bell, Executive Director of the Western Union Foundation, and other top executives, underscored Precious’s position as a trusted voice in shaping philanthropic strategies targeting youth-led impact initiatives. Further, in May 2025, he participated in another distinguished roundtable with Leanne Grubb, Senior Analyst at Western Union Foundation, representing fellow changemakers shaping policy and programs worldwide.

This year also marked Azuonwu’s successful completion of the prestigious DOHE Go-Together EdTech Accelerator (UK)—a rigorous 24-week coaching program supporting global EdTech startups. The program equipped him with cutting-edge expertise and a refined AI pivot roadmap for Bankable Wisdom, reinforcing his commitment to leveraging technology for inclusive education and economic empowerment.

Currently, Precious Azuonwu is a proud Amahoro Coalition Fellow, an elite multi-country fellowship funded by the Mastercard Foundation. Alongside 40 other African leaders with lived displacement experience, Azuonwu is competing for up to $100,000 in milestone funding over two years to scale Bankable Wisdom’s impact on displaced youth across the continent.

Addressing Africa’s Education and Workforce Challenges

Africa faces rising concerns in the education sector, particularly around the growing youth workforce and the urgent need to equip young people with relevant skills for a rapidly evolving digital economy. Traditional education systems struggle to keep pace with technological advancements, leaving millions without access to market-driven, tech-focused learning pathways.
Bankable Wisdom is at the forefront of this challenge. Focused on bridging the digital skills gap, Bankable Wisdom is on track to become a fully AI-powered EdTech platform—offering scalable, accessible learning solutions tailored for African youth.

In line with this vision, Bankable Wisdom is excited to announce the upcoming launch of three AI-powered diploma courses. These programs are designed to prepare learners with cutting-edge skills in artificial intelligence and technology, addressing market demand and preparing young Africans for future-proof careers.

“This journey has been about more than funding,” says Azuonwu. “It’s about building credibility, expanding strategic networks, and designing sustainable solutions. These milestones reflect a growing ecosystem of support that believes in African youth, and more importantly, invests in their success.”
The cumulative impact of these achievements positions Precious Azuonwu and Bankable Wisdom at the forefront of Africa’s movement to democratize access to technology skills, employment opportunities, and funding pathways for marginalized communities.

As Africa faces rapid digital transformation alongside social challenges, leaders like Precious Azuonwu exemplify how entrepreneurial vision combined with global partnerships can catalyze measurable change.

Forbes 30 Under 30 nominee, Western Union Global Fellow, and founder of Bankable Wisdom, a tech education platform positively impacting youth in 30 African countries. His work focuses on leveraging AI and strategic funding to empower young Africans through accessible education, skills development, and job creation.