He designs digital projects that transform African narratives into interactive experiences. His work connects game development, culture, and education, while also building local and international collaborations.
Eyram Tawia is a Ghanaian entrepreneur in the video game and digital technology sectors. He is the co-founder and CEO of Leti Arts, a studio specializing in the development of African video games and digital comics.
Founded in 2009, Leti Arts aims to showcase African narratives by creating immersive experiences that reflect the continent's cultural and historical diversity. "We are reviving Africa’s culture and heritage, delving into ancient tales, and sharing them with a modern, enchanting twist," the company said.
Since its inception, Leti Arts has developed several titles, including "Africa’s Legends," a game that immerses players in stories inspired by African mythologies. The studio collaborates with international partners such as Microsoft, Riot Games, and Gameloft to produce interactive content for both entertainment and education, allowing users to learn about and discover African culture through contemporary digital formats.
Tawia also co-founded the Pan Africa Gaming Group in 2022, a pan-African network dedicated to video game creation. He serves on the board of Games for Change Africa, based in South Africa, and is an adjunct lecturer at Ghana's Ashesi University. He chairs the Gamers Association Ghana and leads the country's activities for Ambitious.Africa, an initiative that connects young African innovators with Western partners.
He graduated from the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology in Kumasi, Ghana, with a bachelor's degree in computer science in 2006. His professional career began in 2003 as a lead programmer at Blacksoft Developers Ghana. From 2022 to 2024, he served as a board member of KuchezaGaming, a video game studio based in Nigeria.
Leti Arts was recognized as the most influential African startup by Fast Company in 2015. Tawia won the World Summit Awards in the culture and tourism category in 2018 and was named an icon of the African video game industry in 2021.
Melchior Koba
Combining advanced technology and public health, she offers an innovative solution to the challenge of infant mortality in sub-Saharan Africa.
Dajora Floderma Mouyombo is a Congolese engineer specializing in industrial robotics and artificial intelligence. She is the founder and CEO of Datechinnova, a technology company focused on telemedicine.
Founded in 2022, Datechinnova develops health-sector solutions, with a particular focus on neonatology in Africa. The company combines robotics and artificial intelligence to improve medical care for newborns, especially premature babies, in low-resource settings. Its core product is a line of smart neonatal incubators.
These incubators provide continuous monitoring of newborns, automatically detecting vital signs and alerting medical staff when needed. The goal is to reduce infant mortality while easing the workload on hospital teams. "We offer hospitals and health centers a reliable, autonomous, and secure solution that improves the care of premature babies while facilitating the work of medical teams," the company said.
In addition to her work at Datechinnova, Mouyombo is an automation specialist for Congolese brewery BRASCO. She also teaches control systems, regulation, instrumentation, and automation at the International 2I Institute in Brazzaville.
She holds a professional bachelor's degree in automation and industrial IT from the Institut Université de la Côte in Douala, Cameroon, earned in 2016. She then earned a bachelor's degree in industrial engineering in 2017 and a master's degree in robotics, industrial vision, and artificial intelligence in 2019, both from the National Advanced Polytechnic School of Douala.
Her professional career began in 2014 as a design specialist at Electronik Programmable in Cameroon. In 2019, she completed an internship at Complexe Multi-Industriel du Cameroun (CMIC SA). The following year, she joined Société Agricole de Raffinage Industries du Sucre du Congo (SARIS Congo) as a control specialist. Between 2020 and 2022, she also worked as an instrumentation engineer at Dangote Industries in Congo.
In 2022, Mouyombo received the second prize for technological innovation from the Republic of Congo's Ministry of Posts, Telecommunications, and Digital Economy as part of the Denis-Sassou-N'Guesso national competition. In 2025, she was selected to represent Datechinnova at the OSIANE Challenge, which showcases the most promising startups in the Congo Basin.
Melchior Koba
By developing technology for online exam proctoring, this solution demonstrates how AI can be a valuable tool for preserving academic integrity.
The Invigilator is an artificial intelligence-powered solution for online exam proctoring. Launched in 2020, it uses AI to automatically detect fraudulent behavior.
The startup recently raised 195 million rand (about $11.1 million) in a funding round led by Kaltroco, a family investment firm based in the Channel Islands. The company plans to use the capital to accelerate its global expansion, enhance its AI models, add multilingual features, and form international partnerships in regions such as North America, Europe, Asia, and the Middle East.
"This investment gives us the ability to ramp up AI development. The creation of our live AI monitoring technology means The Invigilator is moving to constant assessment monitoring through AI," Nicholas Riemer, co-founder of The Invigilator, said.
The Invigilator integrates several technologies, including facial recognition from random selfies compared to a pre-recorded photo, GPS tracking to identify potential collusion when multiple students are in close proximity, intermittent screen capture to detect the use of unauthorized resources, and audio recording to spot suspicious conversations. It also performs anti-plagiarism checks using OCR. Alerts generated by the system are presented on a centralized dashboard for review by instructors, combining automation with human judgment.
Designed for accessibility, the application is compatible with low-end smartphones and modest PCs. It is notable for its low data consumption and ability to function offline, making it an ideal solution for environments with limited connectivity. The Invigilator is available on iOS, Huawei's AppGallery, and Android, where it has been downloaded over 500,000 times, according to data from the Play Store.
Adoni Conrad Quenum
• South Korea launches $15M project to modernize Egypt’s education
• Five-year plan covers 54 schools, boosts ICT, teacher skills
• Initiative aligns with AU Agenda 2063 digital education goals
South Korea announced on Monday a $15 million project to modernize education in Egypt. The announcement was made during a meeting in Cairo between the Korean Ambassador to Egypt, Kim Yonghyon, and Egypt's Minister of Education and Technical Education, Mohamed Abdel-Latif.
The five-year project, officially set to begin in 2027, will cover 54 public middle schools across all 27 of Egypt's governorates. It will involve implementing educational programs that integrate information and communication technologies (ICT), strengthening teachers' digital skills, upgrading infrastructure like computer labs and internet connectivity, and modernizing administrative and evaluation systems. Preparatory studies will be conducted throughout 2026 to define technical and educational needs.
This partnership extends 30 years of diplomatic relations between Egypt and South Korea. In addition to education, the two countries already cooperate in industry, energy, and infrastructure.
Beyond bilateral cooperation, the initiative aligns with a continental trend. The African Union has made digital education a priority of its Agenda 2063, which aims to equip African youth with the skills needed for the global knowledge economy. Given its demographic size and geopolitical role, Egypt could become a key regional hub for this effort. South Korea, a global leader in digital education and the integration of ICT in teaching, already shares its expertise with several countries through KOICA cooperation programs and EdTech partnerships.
As artificial intelligence and digital technologies transform the job market and lifestyles, a country's ability to train its youth in digital skills is becoming a key factor in its competitiveness. By partnering with South Korea, Egypt hopes to provide its younger generations with modern educational tools and prepare the country for better integration into the global knowledge economy.
Samira Njoya
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Morocco’s UM6P has launched a Global Hub in New York and Cambridge to link Africa with global innovation networks.
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The hub will support joint research, student exchanges, start-up funding, and cross-border entrepreneurship.
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The move is part of UM6P’s international expansion, with campuses already in Canada and France.
Morocco’s Mohammed VI Polytechnic University (UM6P) announced on Monday, September 8, the official launch of its Global Hub in the United States, with offices in New York and Cambridge. The hub is designed to connect African talent with leading international ecosystems in research, innovation, and entrepreneurship.
“The goal of this new hub is to directly address Morocco’s and Africa’s urgent challenges by combining rigorous scientific research with practical, scalable solutions, helping the Kingdom build pathways toward technological sovereignty,” said UM6P president Said Hicham El Habti.
The U.S. Global Hub is structured as a two-way platform. It will promote joint research projects, student exchanges, and cross-border entrepreneurial collaborations. The center also provides African start-ups with privileged access to venture capital and North American tech networks, while helping adapt U.S.-developed innovations to African realities. In addition, immersion programs will expose African leaders to international innovation practices.
This move is part of UM6P’s broader global expansion strategy, which already includes new campuses in Canada and France. It also reflects Morocco’s ambition to position itself as Africa’s anchor point for research and scientific investment.
Since its creation in 2017, UM6P has enrolled nearly 7,300 students from 40 nationalities, including 1,000 doctoral candidates. Its entrepreneurial ecosystem has supported more than 1,000 project holders and forged over 200 international partnerships with institutions such as MIT, Stanford, Columbia Business School, and Arizona State University. The U.S. hub strengthens this mission by engaging the African diaspora as a strategic resource to co-develop innovative projects across both continents.
Beyond academic cooperation, UM6P’s American hub aims to tackle three key weaknesses in Africa’s innovation ecosystem: limited global visibility in research, underutilization of the diaspora as a strategic lever, and difficulties in translating international technological advances into solutions tailored to local realities. The challenge now lies in turning this ambition into tangible, inclusive results that bring real value to African societies.
Samira Njoya
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South Africa’s IT agency SITA is testing a government super-app to ease access to public services.
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The “Citizen Super-App” will allow service requests, digital payments, identity verification, and real-time updates.
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The project is still in pilot phase and faces hurdles, with 24% of the population offline in 2023.
South Africa’s State Information Technology Agency (SITA) has begun testing a government super-application designed to make public services easier to access. The platform, called the “Citizen Super-App,” was introduced by acting SITA chief executive Gopal Reddy during the 16th GovTech conference, held from September 8 to 10, according to local media.
Reddy explained that the app will let citizens access government services, track their requests, receive real-time updates and notifications, and interact with departments through self-service tools. It will also simplify identity verification, digitize administrative forms, integrate digital payment options, and enable smoother data sharing.
The project is part of South Africa’s broader digital transformation drive. In its 2025–2030 strategy, SITA highlights the modernization of government through technology as a central pillar, aiming for greater efficiency and transparency.
The strategy notes that this includes large-scale digital innovation, the use of artificial intelligence, and the rollout of new digital products such as the Citizen Super-App. Other priorities include modernizing government systems, expanding national connectivity, growing cloud and data center capacity, and improving cybersecurity through a centralized Cybersecurity Center (CSC).
The Citizen Super-App is still in its pilot phase, and officials have not disclosed when it will be fully launched. Its success will also depend on internet access and device availability, particularly in rural areas. According to the International Telecommunication Union, about 24% of South Africans were still offline in 2023.
Isaac K. Kassouwi
- Nigeria launches 1Gov Cloud to enable paperless governance by 2025
- Platform integrates secure tools for workflows, communication, and assets
- ICT sector seen reaching 21% of GDP by 2027
The Nigerian government has launched its 1Government Cloud (1Gov Cloud) platform to create a paperless administration across ministries, departments, and agencies (MDAs). This initiative is part of the country’s digital transformation goals, which aim for a fully digital government by the end of December 2025.
The 1Gov Cloud platform centralizes several digital tools to modernize governance. It includes GovDrive for secure, sovereign cloud-based file management and encryption; GovECMS to automate workflows and inter-agency interactions; GovMail for secure, government-only communication; GovE-Sign for legally recognized electronic signatures; and GovConference for encrypted video and audio conferencing. Other features include GovOTP for secure one-time password authentication, GovAsset Management for a unified registry of government assets, and GovCollaboration Tools for chat, document sharing, and inter-agency coordination.
"The paperless governance initiative will eliminate bureaucratic bottlenecks by streamlining approvals and inter-agency communication," said Wumi Oghoetuoma, the 1Gov Cloud Program Director, in comments reported by Nairametrics. "It will significantly cut costs associated with printing, storage, and distribution of physical files, while enhancing transparency and accountability in public service delivery."
Digital Economy Growth
This initiative underscores the Nigerian government's commitment to making digital technology a cornerstone of socioeconomic development, with the ICT sector's contribution to GDP projected to reach 21% by 2027. In recent months, the government has stepped up efforts to strengthen cybersecurity, train citizens and civil servants in digital tools, and expand digital infrastructure.
According to a joint study by the International Finance Corporation (IFC) and Google, Africa’s digital economy is expected to reach at least $712 billion by 2050, representing 8.5% of the continent's GDP. The GSMA, a global association of mobile operators, projects that e-government could also generate an additional 814 billion naira in tax revenue for Nigeria by 2028.
Isaac K. Kassouwi
- Kenya pledges support for digital creators via Meta, Google deals
- Part of "Digital Super Highway" to expand tech infrastructure
- Africa’s creator economy valued at $5.1B, rising to $30B by 2032
The Kenyan Ministry of Information, Communications, and the Digital Economy announced a new commitment on Monday, September 8, to support digital content creators. The initiative aims to help creators monetize their work through strategic partnerships with digital platforms like Meta and Google while expanding access to training and support programs for young talent.
The Ministry of Information, Communications and The Digital Economy is committed to supporting creators to monetize their content in a concerted effort to grow the Digital Economy. pic.twitter.com/aOKK4FNA5C
— Ministry of Info, Comms & The Digital Economy KE (@MoICTKenya) September 8, 2025
According to John Tanui, Principal Secretary for Digital Economy and ICT, the government is taking concrete actions to accelerate digital transformation. These include extending the fiber optic network, establishing digital hubs, installing public Wi-Fi hotspots, and implementing supportive policies. The goal is to create a secure and reliable environment that fosters business growth for content creators.
This decision is part of the "Digital Super Highway," a key pillar of the national digital strategy. The program intends to modernize the country's technological infrastructure and stimulate related sectors, such as content creation, which is seen as a key driver of economic diversification. The content creator economy in Africa is estimated at $5.1 billion in 2025 and could reach nearly $30 billion by 2032, according to the firm Coherent Market Insights.
By investing in its digital creators, Nairobi hopes to boost its digital economy and generate new income opportunities for its youth. However, this ambition must contend with persistent challenges, including account hacking, a tax burden deemed too heavy, demonetization, and a dependence on major foreign platforms.
Samira Njoya
Kenyan entrepreneur Serah Mwikali Katusya is helping African businesses scale their digital presence through Belva Digital, a technology marketing agency she founded in 2013.
The firm provides end-to-end services in content marketing, SEO, UX/UI design, app development, digital advertising and organizational transformation. Its team combines data, strategy, media and tech expertise to support clients ranging from startups to large corporations.
Belva Digital has rolled out AXIS, an integrated platform that centralizes customer engagement across Facebook, WhatsApp, SMS and Instagram, and launched GrowthLab, a subsidiary focused on digital transformation and performance optimization.
Beyond Belva Digital, Katusya has founded or co-founded several ventures. In 2023 she launched WildMango, a branding and organizational development company, and ChangeKraft, a consultancy for institutions. In 2024, she co-created Muse Money Africa, a digital finance platform.
Her career began in 2004 as brand manager at Sarova Hotels in Kenya. She later worked as media director at WPP-Scangroup (2012–2013), and from 2016 to 2021 served as managing director for Sub-Saharan Africa at EssenceMediacom, a global marketing agency.
Katusya holds an advanced diploma in mass communication from the Kenya Institute of Mass Communication (2004) and a master’s degree in strategy, organizational management, leadership and social entrepreneurship from Hult International Business School (2024).
Recognized for her leadership, she was named among Kenya’s most influential women in marketing in 2022 and won the award for Best CEO in MarTech in 2024.
Her trajectory highlights how local initiatives in marketing technology are driving Africa’s digital growth and supporting businesses adapting to a rapidly changing marketplace.
This article was initially published in French by Melchior Koba
Adapted in English by Ange Jason Quenum
Ugandan entrepreneur Marvin Peter Akankwasa is reshaping access to finance in Africa with digital platforms designed to link small businesses directly with lenders.
Akankwasa is the founder and CEO of Social Lend Africa, a fintech startup launched in 2019 that uses artificial intelligence to connect entrepreneurs with investors, bypassing traditional banking bottlenecks. The platform tailors loan rates through proprietary algorithms while providing lenders with risk assessments to secure their investments.
Borrowers must submit identity details, proof of residence, tax certificates and business documents, while lenders only need to verify the source of their funds. The company primarily targets small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) that often struggle to secure credit.
In 2023, Akankwasa also launched Highlend, a startup developing credit decisioning technology aimed at helping financial institutions manage risk. The company has set a target of working with 10,000 financial institutions across 10 African markets by 2033.
His entrepreneurial track record spans beyond fintech. In 2015, he founded African Food Vending Solutions, a fast-food distribution venture. Three years later, he co-founded Ugabus, an intercity bus network and online booking platform, which was acquired in 2021 by transport startup Treepz. Following the acquisition, he served as head of legal and general affairs at Treepz until 2023.
This article was initially published in French by Melchior Koba
Adapted in English by Ange Jason Quenum
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The startup aims to transform urban and intercity mobility with its mobile app, which was designed to be specifically adapted to the local context.
Good’Trip is a carpooling app developed by Togolese startup Anaxar. Designed to provide a flexible and affordable alternative to traditional transportation, the app, available on iOS and Android and connects drivers and passengers with common travel routes.
The app allows drivers to post their trips and available seats, while passengers can view and book rides in real time. Payments are made via mobile money, ensuring a secure and seamless experience. Drivers are automatically reimbursed once the trip is completed.
Good’Trip emphasizes trust and safety. Every driver must submit their license and vehicle documents for verification before they can use the app. The platform also includes a rating and feedback system, allowing both drivers and passengers to review their experiences.
The initiative aims to tackle local challenges like rising transportation costs, urban congestion, and the growing demand for shared mobility. By facilitating carpooling, Good’Trip seeks to lower individual travel expenses, optimize vehicle use, and reduce the environmental impact of daily commutes.
With its fully digital approach, Good'Trip is poised to capitalize on Africa’s accelerating digital transformation. If adoption rates are strong, the platform could become a key player in Togo's connected mobility sector, helping to popularize a new approach to urban and intercity travel.
Adoni Conrad Quenum
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Nigeria, Cape Verde launch African Digital Corridor initiative
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Program trains 500 students in coding, AI, and innovation
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Business mission set to deepen tech, trade cooperation in 2025
Nigeria and Cape Verde have launched the African Digital Corridor (ADC), an initiative designed to strengthen their digital, trade, and innovation ties. The project, unveiled last week in Abuja, is a strategic step toward defining cooperation priorities in artificial intelligence, youth empowerment, and bilateral development.
"This initiative demonstrates that innovation diplomacy can produce tangible results," said Christiana Onoja, co-founder and CEO of SheCode.ai, the organization behind the project. "When governments, innovators, and the private sector collaborate, concrete programs and partnerships become a reality."
As part of the initiative, the "Code the Future – Cabo Verde Rising" program will train over 500 high school students on three islands in coding, AI, and digital innovation. The program also plans to provide STEM tools in Portuguese, offer educational training for teachers, and will conclude with a national showcase highlighting student projects.
Beyond education, the ADC is founded on developing human capital and modernizing infrastructure. For Nigeria, the continent’s largest economy, the digital sector already accounts for about 18% of GDP and is a key driver of economic diversification. Cape Verde sees the initiative as a way to boost its competitiveness and regional integration. With an internet penetration rate estimated at 73.5% at the beginning of 2025, the archipelago plans to leverage its agile digital economy strategy and infrastructure like the TechPark CV, a special technology zone.
Bilateral cooperation will be further solidified by a Nigeria-Cape Verde Business and Innovation mission scheduled for the fourth quarter of 2025 in Praia. The mission aims to connect 20 to 25 Nigerian companies with Cape Verdean partners in key sectors, including digital technology, renewable energy, and tourism.
The corridor is expected to ultimately enhance digital inclusion, foster the growth of local startups, support innovation in strategic sectors, and build lasting bridges between education, technology, and the economy. However, its success will depend on both countries’ ability to sustain investment, ensure connectivity, and adapt their infrastructure to local needs.
Samira Njoya
• Gabon enacts digital law to modernize public services, boost transparency.
• Framework stresses inclusion, data security, local private sector role.
• Gov’t targets higher UN e-gov ranking, job creation and investment inflows.
Gabon has introduced a legal framework to accelerate the digital transformation of its public administration, part of efforts to boost competitiveness and modernize services.
The ordinance, signed by transitional President Brice Clotaire Oligui Nguema and published in the country’s official gazette on Sept. 7, sets out guiding principles for e-government reforms. The measures aim to improve efficiency and transparency, curb corruption through process traceability, and foster economic growth via digital innovation.
The framework emphasizes universal access to technology, interoperability of systems, data security and privacy, and digital inclusion to narrow the digital divide. It also calls for greater participation from local private-sector players, including a preference clause for domestic firms in public tenders related to digitalization.
Gabon currently ranks 174th out of 193 countries in the United Nations’ e-government development index (EGDI), with a score of 0.5741. Authorities say the reforms are designed to close that gap and position the country among Africa’s leaders in digital governance.
The initiative is expected to stimulate the local tech ecosystem, create jobs and attract investment in a sector considered vital to diversifying Gabon’s economy beyond oil.
This article was initially published in French by Samira Njoya
Adapted in English by Ange Jason Quenum
• Nigerian entrepreneur Foluso Ojo co-founded truQ to digitize and streamline logistics.
• truQ connects companies with nearby vehicles to cut delays and increase transparency.
• The start-up won Lagos AOT mobility award in 2022 and ranked among Nigeria’s top 10 innovators in 2023.
Foluso Ojo, a Nigerian tech entrepreneur, co-founded and now leads truQ, a logistics start-up that aims to digitize and optimize freight transport across Africa.
Founded in 2020, truQ operates a platform that connects businesses with available logistics vehicles nearby. The system enables faster and more efficient transport of goods.
The start-up works as digital infrastructure for third-party logistics providers, helping reduce delays, optimize routes and make operations more transparent.
truQ explained: “On the users’ side, we save them the stress of making several phone calls to different vehicle owners each time they need to move something, spending time negotiating prices, and depending on a driver’s availability, with occasional disappointments.”
Ojo graduated from Adekunle Ajasin University in Nigeria with a bachelor’s degree in communication in 2014.
She began her career in 2012 as an intern at public relations firm CMC Connect. In 2016, she joined Nigerian management company Brooks and Blake as a project manager.
In 2020, she became community manager at eTradeforWomen, an initiative that supports female digital entrepreneurs.
truQ’s progress has earned industry recognition. In 2022, the start-up was named best mobility start-up of the year at the Art of Technology (AOT) Lagos event.
In 2023, it was ranked among Nigeria’s top 10 most innovative companies by NSIA Group, a financial services firm specializing in banking and insurance.
This article was initially published in French by Melchior Koba
Adapted in English by Ange Jason Quenum