About This Course
Mobile applications have become the primary interface through which billions of people interact with businesses, government services, healthcare systems, and financial platforms. For organisations across Africa and beyond, the ability to design and deploy robust mobile solutions is no longer a competitive advantage — it is a strategic necessity. Yet the path from concept to a published, functional app on both the Apple App Store and Google Play requires a disciplined understanding of two distinct ecosystems, as well as the tools that bridge them.
This 10-day Mobile App Development for iOS and Android Platforms course, offered by TrainingComplex, delivers a comprehensive, practitioner-oriented journey through the full mobile development lifecycle. Participants will gain fluency in the core concepts of native and cross-platform development, with focused coverage of React Native — the industry-leading framework for building apps that run on both iOS and Android from a single codebase. Alongside the technical curriculum, delegates will explore UI/UX design principles, RESTful API integration, device capability management, app security, and the commercial and regulatory steps required to publish apps in both major app stores.
The programme is structured to balance conceptual grounding with intensive hands-on lab work. Each day combines guided instruction, individual and team coding exercises, peer review sessions, and real-world mini-projects that simulate genuine product development challenges. By the end of the course, every participant will have built, tested, and prepared for deployment at least one fully functional mobile application — a tangible portfolio piece and a direct demonstration of their new capabilities.
Whether you are a software developer looking to expand into mobile, an IT manager aiming to lead a mobile project team, or an entrepreneur with an app idea you want to bring to life, this programme provides the technical depth, practical experience, and professional confidence to succeed in the mobile-first digital economy.
Who Should Attend
- Software developers and web developers transitioning into mobile application development
- IT managers and technical leads responsible for overseeing mobile development projects
- Entrepreneurs and product owners who want to build and launch their own mobile applications
- Digital transformation officers and ICT officers in public and private sector organisations
- Startup founders seeking to prototype and validate a mobile product
- University graduates and early-career professionals with programming foundations who want to specialise in mobile
- Systems analysts and solution architects involved in mobile-first digital strategy
Learning Objectives
- Understand the architectures, ecosystems, and toolchains of both iOS (Swift/Xcode) and Android (Kotlin/Android Studio) native development
- Set up and configure professional development environments for cross-platform mobile development using React Native and Expo
- Design intuitive, accessible, and platform-appropriate user interfaces following Material Design and Apple Human Interface Guidelines
- Build reusable UI components and manage application state using React hooks and context API
- Integrate mobile applications with RESTful APIs and third-party services including authentication, maps, and payment gateways
- Implement persistent local data storage using AsyncStorage and SQLite within mobile applications
- Utilise device hardware capabilities including camera, GPS, push notifications, and biometric authentication
- Apply mobile security best practices including data encryption, secure token management, and input validation
- Write and execute unit tests and end-to-end tests using Jest and Detox to ensure application quality
- Optimise application performance, manage memory efficiently, and diagnose issues using profiling tools
- Package, sign, and submit completed applications to the Google Play Store and Apple App Store
- Work collaboratively using Git version control and apply Agile sprint methodologies in a team project setting
Course Modules
Module 1: Mobile Development Landscape and Environment Setup
- Overview of iOS and Android ecosystems, market share, and platform differences
- Native vs. cross-platform development: trade-offs, use cases, and industry trends
- Installing and configuring Node.js, Expo CLI, Android Studio, and Xcode simulators
- Creating and running your first React Native project on iOS and Android emulators
- Understanding the role of the JavaScript bridge and the new React Native architecture (JSI and Fabric)
- Managing development workflows with Expo managed workflow vs. bare React Native and when to eject
Module 2: JavaScript and React Foundations for Mobile
- ES6+ JavaScript essentials: arrow functions, destructuring, spread operators, and async/await
- React component model: functional components, props, and the virtual DOM
- Managing component state with the useState and useEffect hooks
- Building a simple interactive UI to reinforce React fundamentals before mobile-specific work
- Handling side effects cleanly: understanding useEffect dependency arrays, cleanup functions, and common pitfalls
- Introduction to custom hooks: extracting reusable stateful logic to keep components focused and maintainable
Module 3: React Native Core Components and Layouts
- Core React Native components: View, Text, Image, ScrollView, FlatList, and TextInput
- Styling with StyleSheet, Flexbox layout model, and responsive design for multiple screen sizes
- Platform-specific code using Platform API and conditional rendering for iOS vs. Android
- Building a multi-screen prototype with consistent branding and layout structure
- Handling safe areas, notches, and dynamic island layouts using react-native-safe-area-context
- Using React Native's Animated API to add subtle motion feedback to buttons, transitions, and list items
Module 4: Navigation and Application Architecture
- Installing and configuring React Navigation: stack, tab, and drawer navigators
- Passing parameters between screens and managing deep linking
- Structuring a scalable React Native project: folders, naming conventions, and separation of concerns
- Implementing a bottom tab navigation bar with icons matching platform design guidelines
- Handling authentication flow gating: conditionally rendering navigator stacks based on login state
- Managing navigation state persistence so users return to their last screen after an app restart
Module 5: UI/UX Design Principles for Mobile Applications
- Apple Human Interface Guidelines and Google Material Design: key principles and differences
- Designing for accessibility: font scaling, colour contrast, screen reader support, and touch target sizing
- Wireframing and prototyping application screens using Figma before writing code
- User testing fundamentals: conducting brief usability tests and iterating on feedback
- Adapting layouts for dark mode: implementing system-aware colour themes in React Native using Appearance API
- Designing for one-handed use: thumb zone mapping, gesture affordances, and bottom-anchored navigation patterns
Module 6: State Management and Data Flow
- Lifting state and prop drilling: when it becomes a problem and how to recognise it
- Global state management with React Context API and useReducer
- Introduction to Redux Toolkit: store, slices, actions, and connecting components
- Choosing the right state management approach based on application complexity
- Server state management with React Query: caching, background refetching, and synchronising remote data with UI state
- Persisting Redux or Context state across app sessions using redux-persist with AsyncStorage adapters
Module 7: Networking and API Integration
- HTTP fundamentals: GET, POST, PUT, DELETE requests and RESTful API conventions
- Fetching data with the Fetch API and Axios, handling loading states and errors gracefully
- Implementing user authentication flows using JWT tokens and OAuth 2.0 with third-party providers
- Integrating a maps API (Google Maps or Mapbox) and a payment gateway SDK into a running application
- Designing a robust API service layer: centralising base URLs, interceptors, and token refresh logic to avoid repetition
- Handling network connectivity changes with NetInfo to queue failed requests and retry when the device comes back online
Module 8: Local Data Persistence and Device Capabilities
- Storing key-value data with AsyncStorage and managing offline-first application behaviour
- Structured local data with SQLite via Expo SQLite: creating tables, querying, and syncing with remote APIs
- Accessing device hardware: camera roll, GPS location, and push notifications with Expo modules
- Implementing biometric authentication (Face ID and fingerprint) using Expo LocalAuthentication
- Background fetch and task scheduling with Expo TaskManager: running periodic syncs when the app is not in the foreground
- Managing cache invalidation strategies: deciding when to serve stale local data vs. forcing a fresh network request
Module 9: Mobile Application Security
- Common mobile security vulnerabilities: insecure data storage, improper session handling, and code injection
- Securing API communication with HTTPS, certificate pinning, and environment variable management
- Encrypting sensitive data stored on device using SecureStore and encryption libraries
- Input validation, sanitisation strategies, and protecting against reverse engineering
- Implementing token expiry handling and silent refresh flows to prevent session hijacking after prolonged inactivity
- Applying the principle of least privilege to device permissions: requesting only necessary capabilities and explaining them to users at the point of need
Module 10: Testing and Quality Assurance for Mobile Apps
- Unit testing React Native components and business logic with Jest and React Native Testing Library
- End-to-end testing with Detox: writing test scenarios, running on simulators, and interpreting results
- Performance profiling with React Native's built-in performance monitor and Flipper
- Debugging strategies: reading stack traces, using breakpoints, and logging with Reactotron
- Writing snapshot tests to catch unintended UI regressions during refactoring and iterative feature development
- Setting up a continuous integration pipeline with GitHub Actions to run Jest and Detox suites automatically on every pull request
Module 11: Performance Optimisation and Build Configuration
- Optimising FlatList rendering with keyExtractor, getItemLayout, and lazy loading techniques
- Code splitting, lazy imports, and reducing JavaScript bundle size for faster startup
- Managing app icons, splash screens, environment configurations, and build variants (development, staging, production)
- Using Hermes JavaScript engine and enabling Proguard for Android release builds
- Identifying and resolving unnecessary re-renders using React.memo, useCallback, and useMemo in performance-critical screens
- Analysing startup time with systrace and Metro bundle reports to pinpoint and eliminate slow module initialisation
Module 12: App Store Submission and Distribution
- Generating signing certificates, provisioning profiles, and keystores for iOS and Android production builds
- Configuring app metadata: name, description, screenshots, keywords, and age ratings for both stores
- Submitting to the Google Play Console: internal testing track, production release, and review process
- Submitting to the Apple App Store via App Store Connect: TestFlight beta distribution and App Review guidelines
- Automating build and submission pipelines with Expo Application Services (EAS Build and EAS Submit) to eliminate manual steps
- Planning an over-the-air update strategy with EAS Update to ship JavaScript-layer bug fixes without requiring a full store re-submission
Module 13: Capstone Project and Professional Portfolio Development
- Team capstone project: scoping, building, testing, and demoing a complete cross-platform mobile application
- Code review session with instructor feedback on architecture, security, and code quality
- Publishing your app listing and preparing a GitHub portfolio with a professional README and documentation
- Career pathways in mobile development: freelancing, product companies, and contributing to open-source mobile projects
- Crafting a technical case study for your capstone: documenting design decisions, challenges overcome, and measurable outcomes for interview discussions
- Establishing a personal learning roadmap post-course: key conferences, communities, newsletters, and advanced topics such as native module authoring and React Native New Architecture migration
Requirements & Prerequisites
Participants should have a working understanding of at least one programming language — JavaScript experience is strongly recommended as the course centres on React Native. Familiarity with basic web concepts such as HTML, CSS, and HTTP is helpful. No prior mobile development experience is required, but comfort with writing and debugging code is expected before attending.
Training Methodology
- Guided live coding sessions where the instructor builds features step-by-step and participants replicate and extend the work in real time
- Hands-on lab exercises after each module requiring participants to implement specific features in their own running application
- Peer code review circles where small groups examine each other's code for readability, efficiency, and security issues
- Mini-project sprints at the end of each two-day block, simulating an Agile sprint with a defined user story, implementation, and demo
- Breakout debugging challenges where participants are given intentionally broken code and must diagnose and fix the issues under time pressure
- UX design workshops using Figma to wireframe screens before implementation, connecting design thinking to technical execution
- Case study analysis of successful and failed mobile app launches from African and global markets, drawing practical product lessons
- App store submission walkthrough using real developer accounts, covering signing certificates, metadata, screenshots, and review guidelines
- Final capstone project in which participant teams plan, build, test, and present a fully functional cross-platform mobile application
Organisational Benefits
- Organisations gain in-house mobile development capability, reducing dependency on external contractors and agency costs
- IT and product teams develop a shared technical language and workflow, accelerating project delivery timelines
- Participants complete the course with a working mobile application, providing immediate proof of capability and a portfolio asset
- Organisations benefit from staff who understand both iOS and Android ecosystems, enabling better platform decisions and resource allocation
- Improved ability to prototype, validate, and iterate on mobile product ideas internally before committing large budgets
- Stronger mobile security awareness across the development team reduces the risk of data breaches and compliance violations
- Cross-platform development skills using React Native lower long-term maintenance costs by consolidating iOS and Android codebases
- Leadership gains professionals who can engage meaningfully with external developers, evaluate technical proposals, and manage mobile vendors
Where Is Mobile App Development for iOS and Android Platforms Training Offered?
This course runs in-person across: Cape Town, Mombasa, Lagos, Dubai, Nakuru, Kigali, Naivasha, Riyadh, Kampala, Dar es Salaam, Accra, Kisumu, Addis Ababa, Arusha, Johannesburg, Pretoria, Abuja, Zanzibar, Nairobi, plus Live Virtual (online) cohorts. Browse live dates for your city below.
Upcoming Schedules
| Location | Format | Dates | Price |
|---|
| Cape Town, South Africa |
In-Person |
28 Sept 2026 – 9 Oct 2026 |
USD 7,600 |
| Mombasa, Kenya |
In-Person |
5 Oct 2026 – 16 Oct 2026 |
KES 230,000 |
| Lagos, Nigeria |
In-Person |
5 Oct 2026 – 16 Oct 2026 |
USD 5,000 |
| Dubai, United Arab Emirates |
In-Person |
12 Oct 2026 – 23 Oct 2026 |
USD 8,200 |
| Nakuru, Kenya |
In-Person |
12 Oct 2026 – 23 Oct 2026 |
KES 230,000 |
| Cape Town, South Africa |
In-Person |
19 Oct 2026 – 28 Oct 2026 |
USD 7,600 |
| Kigali, Rwanda |
In-Person |
19 Oct 2026 – 28 Oct 2026 |
USD 3,800 |
| Naivasha, Kenya |
In-Person |
19 Oct 2026 – 28 Oct 2026 |
KES 240,000 |
| Riyadh, Saudi Arabia |
In-Person |
19 Oct 2026 – 28 Oct 2026 |
USD 9,000 |
| Kampala, Uganda |
In-Person |
19 Oct 2026 – 28 Oct 2026 |
USD 3,800 |
| Dar es Salaam, Tanzania |
In-Person |
19 Oct 2026 – 30 Oct 2026 |
USD 4,600 |
| Accra, Ghana |
In-Person |
19 Oct 2026 – 28 Oct 2026 |
USD 7,600 |
| Kisumu, Kenya |
In-Person |
26 Oct 2026 – 4 Nov 2026 |
KES 240,000 |
| Addis Ababa, Ethiopia |
In-Person |
26 Oct 2026 – 4 Nov 2026 |
USD 4,800 |
| Arusha, Tanzania |
In-Person |
26 Oct 2026 – 4 Nov 2026 |
USD 4,200 |
+234 more dates — view live schedule →
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need prior mobile development experience to attend this course?
No prior mobile development experience is required. However, participants should be comfortable writing and debugging code in at least one programming language — JavaScript experience is strongly recommended since the course centres on React Native.
Will I build a real mobile application during the course?
Yes. Participants build functional features throughout the programme and complete a team capstone project — a fully working cross-platform application — which they demo on the final day. This serves as a tangible portfolio piece.
Does the course cover both iOS and Android?
Yes. The programme uses React Native to teach cross-platform development, meaning your code runs on both iOS and Android. Native concepts, platform-specific design guidelines, and app store submission processes for both Google Play and the Apple App Store are all covered.
Will I receive a certificate upon completion?
Yes. Participants who complete the programme and present their capstone project receive a TrainingComplex Certificate of Completion in Mobile App Development for iOS and Android Platforms.
What hardware and software do I need to bring?
Participants should bring a laptop with at least 8 GB of RAM and 20 GB of free disk space. TrainingComplex will provide setup guides in advance so that all required software — including Node.js, Expo, Android Studio, and Visual Studio Code — is installed before Day 1. An Apple Mac is required to build and submit iOS apps to the App Store; Windows users can still develop and test iOS apps using Expo Go on a physical iPhone.
