Fort Worth Nonprofit Opens Remote Work Program to Employers Hiring in Africa

FORT WORTH — SankoLabs, a Fort Worth nonprofit that prepares young Africans for global remote work, is opening its Remote Ready Program to talent platforms and employers hiring across Africa after two pilot cohorts. The program, which has been running since August, addresses a critical gap: while digital skills training is widespread in Africa, placement in remote roles often fails due to readiness issues, not technical ability.

The Remote Ready Program is a four-week course for adults referred by talent platforms and hiring companies. It is mostly asynchronous with one live call each week. Its core is the Remote Readiness Simulation, a single instrument run twice—once at intake and once near the end—to measure progress against a rubric covering asynchronous written communication, professional digital presence, fluency in remote tools, time zone discipline, and independent work. This assessment-first approach makes SankoLabs less a training provider and more an assessment instrument with training attached.

Two cohorts are currently running: Cohort Asaawa and Cohort Nkiru, the latter composed of candidates referred by an early talent partner. The first adult intake drew 42 applications in under 24 hours, indicating strong demand. Graduates receive an evidence bundle including an optimized LinkedIn profile, a recorded introduction, graded work and process artifacts, a mock interview, and a structured availability statement. However, SankoLabs does not guarantee job placement. "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."

The need for such a program is evident. Between 30 and 60 percent of offshore remote hires do not survive probation, often due to non-technical issues. Nigeria's national digital skills program has trained over 135,000 people, but placement remains a challenge. SankoLabs aims to make readiness visible to employers. "The talent was never the question," Omokoh says. "The proof was. That is the part we built."

SankoLabs was founded by Michael Omokoh, who lives in Fort Worth and holds an MSBA from Purdue University, and Peter Sey, who lives in Pocatello, Idaho, and holds an MBA from Idaho State University. Both grew up in Africa—Omokoh in Nigeria and Sey in Ghana—and met in Ghana over a decade ago. They reconnected at BYU-Idaho and have stayed in touch. Their shared mission is to equip young Africans with the readiness, professional identity, and evidence to compete for global remote work. The name SankoLabs derives from the Akan word "sankofa," meaning "go back and get it," reflecting the belief that the capability already exists and needs to be made visible.

In addition to the Remote Ready Program, SankoLabs is developing an eight-week Youth Bootcamp for ages 16 to 18 in Ghana and Nigeria, phone-first for the first cohort. This initiative is funded by donors rather than students. "The Remote Ready Program solves today's problem," Omokoh says. "The Youth Bootcamp means the next generation does not inherit it." The need is pressing: only about 35 percent of adults in Nigeria and 28 percent in Ghana have basic digital skills. When SankoLabs opened its first adult intake, one applicant was 17 and had to be routed to the youth track, underscoring the importance of early intervention.

SankoLabs is now seeking partnerships with talent platforms, staffing firms, and companies hiring remotely. For more information, visit https://www.sankolabs.com/partners. The Youth Bootcamp relies on donor support to fund curriculum, data stipends, and mentorship. Contributions can be made at https://www.sankolabs.com/#support. Media inquiries can be directed to Michael Omokoh via Email Contact.