Fatimah Zannah Selected for Silicon Valley Exchange Program
By Future Prowess Foundation
Future Prowess Foundation is proud to share that our Co-Founder and Executive Director, Fateema Mustapha Zannah, has received a formal invitation — and a partial scholarship — to participate in the Silicon Valley Exchange Program (SVEP) for Corporate Leaders, scheduled for 18–22 May 2026 in California, United States.
The programme is organised by Global Entrepreneurship Bootcamp INC. (GEB), a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit headquartered in Delaware, USA, internationally recognised for bringing together high-potential leaders from across the world. GEB's alumni network spans more than 100 countries, with participants collectively securing over USD 100 million in funding for their ventures.
What the programme involves
The Silicon Valley Exchange Program is an intensive five-day immersion in one of the world's most advanced technology and entrepreneurship ecosystems. Participants engage in curated visits to major global technology companies — including Google, Apple, Meta, Tesla, and Netflix — as well as innovation centres, accelerators, university-affiliated research labs, and high-growth startups.
The programme also incorporates structured workshops on innovation, design thinking, and business modelling; mentorship from experienced Silicon Valley entrepreneurs and venture capitalists; and cross-cultural exchange with corporate leaders from diverse sectors and geographies.
Participants who complete the programme receive a Diploma in Corporate Leadership from the American Institute of Technology.
Why this matters
Fateema was selected on demonstrated merit, professional potential, and her alignment with the programme's objectives — criteria that speak directly to the work she has been building in Northeast Nigeria: training over 1,000 women in digital skills and AI, leading policy engagement at the United Nations ECOSOC Youth Forum, and building a technology education infrastructure in one of the most resource-constrained environments on earth.
Silicon Valley's innovation ecosystem is precisely what Fateema has been working to connect Northeast Nigeria to. The tools, networks, and leadership frameworks she will encounter at SVEP will directly inform the next phase of the Foundation's technology programmes — from expanding the Women in Tech curriculum to exploring AI-for-development partnerships with global tech companies.
"For a young woman from Maiduguri to sit in the same room as the people building the future of technology — that is not a small thing. That is a signal that the world is paying attention."
Partial scholarship awarded
GEB confirmed that Fateema has been granted a partial scholarship in recognition of her professional record and the merit of her application — a distinction reserved for candidates who demonstrate exceptional alignment with the programme's leadership and innovation objectives.
What comes next
Fateema will travel to California in May 2026 for the five-day programme. We will share updates, reflections, and any partnership developments that emerge from her participation.
If your organisation is interested in meeting Fateema at or ahead of SVEP — particularly tech companies, foundations, or innovation programmes working on digital inclusion, women in tech, or EdTech in humanitarian contexts — please get in touch.