A serial entrepreneur, he develops digital tools that are shaking up the norms of traditional finance in East Africa. He leads several fintech companies.
Samuel Njuguna, a University of Nairobi computer science graduate, is a Kenyan entrepreneur specializing in fintech and financial innovation. As co-founder and CEO of Chumz, a company founded in 2019, he aims to transform saving and investing in East Africa.
Chumz offers an app that lets users save or invest with as little as five Kenyan shillings, or less than four cents, removing traditional barriers to banking services. The app uses features like creating personal or group savings goals, progress tracking, and detailed reports to make saving accessible and appealing. Its approach is based on behavioral psychology and gamification to target unbanked or low-income individuals. The app also allows users to form family, friend, or community savings groups to achieve financial goals together.
Njuguna also serves as CEO of Tunzi, a fintech platform launched in March 2025. Tunzi allows users to save money when sending or receiving funds and during daily purchases. Additionally, Njuguna is a co-founder of Wezago, a startup launched in 2021 that provides access to smart devices through ethical loans to improve living conditions across Africa.
Melchior Koba
The partnership talks to Kenya’s biggest digital ambitions — secure infrastructure, AI-powered governance, globally competitive talent, and sovereign data control. By collaborating with a global tech heavyweight like Microsoft, Kenya can de-risk its digital transformation journey while unlocking new economic opportunities for its citizens.
On July 31, a high-level meeting was convened between senior government officials and a Microsoft delegation to explore strategic areas of collaboration aimed at accelerating Kenya’s digital transformation. The discussions focused on enhancing cybersecurity, fortifying the security of public infrastructure and citizen data, and rolling out Digital Hubs across the country to foster innovation and connectivity.
In attendance from the government were Principal Secretaries Stephen Isaboke (Broadcasting & Telecommunications) and Eng. John Tanui (ICT & Digital Economy), along with Emmanuel Kata, Secretary of ICT and Security Audit Control. Representing Microsoft were Rashida Hodge, Corporate Vice President of Data and AI Customer Success; Aarti Borkar, Corporate Vice President of Security, Customer Success & Incident Response; and Phyllis Migwi, Country Manager, Microsoft Kenya, among other senior executives.
A key highlight of the meeting was the integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) across government operations. Both parties emphasized the importance of mainstreaming AI to improve service delivery, strengthen policymaking, and build institutional resilience. This initiative is expected to position Kenya as a leader in AI adoption within the public sector.
The dialogue also delved into strengthening Data Governance and Compliance frameworks. The government and Microsoft explored ways to promote trusted cloud partnerships while ensuring sovereign control over national data assets. This approach aims to reinforce public trust and safeguard sensitive information in an increasingly digital world.
The high-level engagements with Microsoft come at a pivotal moment in Kenya’s digital journey. According to the latest GSMA report, Driving Digital Transformation of the Economy in Kenya, the digital economy is projected to contribute KSh 662 billion to GDP by 2028, up from KSh 421 billion in 2022. Realising this potential requires rapid expansion of secure digital infrastructure, cloud services, AI-enabled public service delivery, and trusted data governance — all areas central to the discussions. By partnering with global technology leaders, Kenya aims to not only safeguard its digital transition but also unlock new economic value, accelerate job creation, and cement its position as a regional hub for innovation.
Hikmatu Bilali
South African tech entrepreneur Sibongile Maputla is disrupting how children receive gifts with an innovative investment concept.
Squirrel Away is a fintech solution created by a South African startup of the same name. Launched in May 2025 by Sibongile Maputla, the app lets users give long-term financial gifts in the form of investments rather than short-lived material goods.
Available on iOS and Android, the app has been downloaded over a hundred times, according to Play Store figures. It targets families who want to build capital for their children's futures, such as for education or a first home. Each child has a personalized profile where family members can contribute by investing small amounts into portfolios chosen for their financial goals.
Squirrel Away aims to make investing accessible from an early age in a country where financial literacy is uneven. By focusing on young households and extended families, the app promotes intergenerational planning and financial education.
"Squirrel Away allows families and friends to turn every celebration into a meaningful step towards building generational wealth," said Sibongile Maputla. "Whether it’s a child’s birthday, a graduation, or simply a thoughtful gesture, every contribution to the app grows alongside the child, offering both immediate joy and long-term impact."
She added, "Traditional investment platforms often intimidate people with jargon, high barriers to entry, or complex processes. I wanted to create a solution that simplifies financial planning and integrates it into a culturally relevant, everyday act—gifting."
In an uncertain economic environment with significant inequality, the solution stands out for its inclusive and educational approach. It also allows children to track their portfolio's growth, helping them understand the basics of saving and investing. Over the long term, Squirrel Away plans to expand to other African markets, hoping to transform how families think about gifts by favoring lasting impact over instant gratification.
Adoni Conrad Quenum
• Senegal reviewed progress of the Force-N digital jobs program ahead of its 2026 end.
• Backed by Mastercard Foundation, it targets 70,000 jobs and 1,000 startups.
• To date: 2,548 trained, 13,554 linked to jobs, 7 startups created.
Senegal’s Minister of Higher Education, Research and Innovation, Dr. Abdourahmane Diouf, chaired the first Steering Committee meeting for the Force-N program on Tuesday, July 29, in Diamniadio. The program was developed by the Cheikh Hamidou Kane Digital University (UNCHK) in partnership with the Mastercard Foundation.
The committee, which includes key institutional stakeholders from the presidency, prime minister's office, and various ministries and partners, reviewed the program's progress. It also defined its strategic direction and worked to strengthen its governance and nationwide deployment.
Launched in 2022 as a five-year initiative, Force-N aims to create 70,000 jobs for young people, support 10,000 entrepreneurs, and launch 1,000 startups in the digital sector. The program focuses on five key pillars: training, professional integration, entrepreneurship, digitalization of public administration, and the promotion of artificial intelligence.
Although it predates the Technological New Deal, Force-N aligns with its goals and those of the 2050 Agenda. Both initiatives seek to establish Senegal as a digital hub by promoting STEM skills, youth employment, and innovative entrepreneurship.
With one year remaining before its scheduled conclusion in 2026, the program has shown modest results. It has trained 2,548 young people in entrepreneurship, connected 13,554 to job opportunities, and created seven startups. This first steering committee meeting is expected to intensify action, strengthen partnerships, accelerate the program's rollout across the country, and adopt more agile mechanisms to meet its ambitious targets.
These measures are intended to maximize Force-N’s impact and reinforce Senegal’s digital transformation efforts.
Samira Njoya
• Senegal launches "Jubbanti-Koom" to restore fiscal stability by taxing digital sectors like online betting, mobile money, and digital content.
• Key reforms include taxing gross gaming revenue and player winnings, expected to generate CFA 400 billion annually.
• Plan also focuses on digitizing procurement, expanding digital ID, and formalizing the informal digital economy.
In a challenging macroeconomic context, Senegal’s Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko unveiled the country’s Economic and Social Recovery Plan, a cornerstone of its Vision 2050 agenda. Named Jubbanti-Koom, the plan aims to restore fiscal sustainability while funding more inclusive development. To achieve this, the government is betting on digital technology as a strategic lever for both growth and increased public revenue.
The plan is built around several fiscal measures targeting high-growth digital segments, including online gaming, mobile money, digital advertising, video on demand, and income from influencers. The government intends to tap into these often under-regulated niches to create new fiscal space.
Regulating and Taxing Online Betting
One of the plan’s key measures is a tax on the gross gaming revenue of online sports betting and games of chance, which are primarily operated by foreign companies. The government also plans to tax player winnings. This reform is expected to generate approximately 400 billion CFA francs in annual tax revenue. It also aims to protect Senegalese consumers, especially young people, from the risks of a poorly regulated environment.
The reform includes a stronger push to digitize public procurement. This is expected to streamline public spending and improve the traceability of financial flows. Online advertising, video on demand services, and income from digital content will now be incorporated into the tax base. Another strategic focus is optimizing taxation on mobile money, which has become a key money transfer channel for millions of Senegalese.
Structural Transformation of the Digital Tax Framework
Beyond immediate measures, the plan includes a technical component to prepare the economy for the rise of new digital services. This involves accelerating digital identification, which is crucial for the reforms’ success, and deploying reliable technology infrastructure, as outlined in the Technological New Deal.
In a country where digital activities account for a significant portion of the informal economy, these measures are expected to reduce tax evasion, provide better oversight of digital actors, and create a more formal and productive ecosystem. Ultimately, Senegal hopes to turn the digital sector into a genuine engine of growth and fiscal equity.
Samira Njoya
With a background in law, Katia Kuseke has shifted her focus to nurturing the growth of Africa’s agricultural sector through cutting-edge technology. Her vision enables farmers on the continent to penetrate larger, international markets with greater ease.
Kuseke, a Franco-Congolese entrepreneur born in Kinshasa and now based near Paris, is the co-founder and Managing Director of Fresh Afrika, a promising food technology startup. Since its inception in 2021 with fellow entrepreneur Noëlla Ligan from Cameroon, Fresh Afrika has been building a platform that links smallholder farms in sub-Saharan Africa directly to European consumers. By facilitating the delivery of fruit, vegetable, and spice baskets, the startup ensures greater transparency and simplifies the distribution process, strengthening the vital supply chain between Africa and Europe.
The company’s strategy hinges on short supply chains, eliminating middlemen and employing cutting-edge technology like blockchain to trace products from farm to table. Each basket contains seasonal, pesticide-free produce delivered fresh, catering mostly to chefs and restaurateurs in France who seek quality and transparency. Central to Fresh Afrika’s ethos is fair pricing that values local farmers’ labor and ensures they earn decent livelihoods.
Fresh Afrika also extends its commitment beyond commerce by partnering on community initiatives, particularly in education and infrastructure. It supports the establishment of daycare centers and schools close to production zones, directly enriching the lives of farming families.
Katia Kuseke, trained in law with degrees from University Paris Nanterre and Paris-Sorbonne, has positioned Fresh Afrika within several esteemed startup programs. Notable among them are the French Tech Tremplin, Station F’s Female Founders Fellowship, and the Google-backed Black Founders Fund, which included Fresh Afrika in its 2022 cohort.
This article was initially published in French by Melchior Koba
Edited in English by Ange Jason Quenum
Jigawa State Governor, Umar Namadi, has received a delegation from the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), The Peace Institute (TPI), and other collaborating organizations at the Government House in Dutse, as the state hosts a groundbreaking Digital Literacy Training Camp in Hadejia.
The three-week program, announced July 29, aims to train 1,050 primary school pupils and enhance the digital capacity of 30 teachers. The initiative is designed to equip the next generation with essential skills to thrive in the digital era and meet the demands of a rapidly evolving knowledge economy.
The training program in Hadejia signals a crucial step in expanding digital inclusion in underserved areas and creating pathways for young learners to become digitally fluent, globally competitive citizens.
The Tshwane University of Technology (TUT) renewed a partnership agreement with Huawei on 17 July 2025. The collaboration, anchored within TUT’s Faculty of Information and Communication Technology (ICT), signals a shared commitment to fostering innovation, expanding access, and enhancing South Africa’s digital capabilities.
A key highlight of the agreement was Huawei’s awarding of R2 million in bursaries to high-performing ICT students. The latest agreement builds on nearly a decade of collaboration between the two institutions.
Since the establishment of the TUT-Huawei ICT Academy in 2016, over 1,000 students have received training and certification in advanced technologies such as 5G, cloud computing, cybersecurity, and the Internet of Things (IoT).
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Many African countries still lack standardized digital address systems.
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This gap limits access to essential services, especially in rural areas.
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Governments are launching reforms to support digital inclusion and growth.
Across Africa, the absence of reliable digital address systems remains a major barrier to accessing essential services and advancing economic development. As digital economies grow rapidly, several countries are stepping up efforts to map their territories and build more connected and inclusive governance systems.
In many regions, assigning precise and standardized digital addresses to homes, businesses, and infrastructure is still a structural challenge. Without these systems, citizens face hurdles in everyday services such as package delivery, healthcare, emergency response, and administrative processes.
Large parts of rural Africa, as well as informal urban areas, remain without formal addresses. This weakens logistical networks, disrupts territorial planning, and limits delivery of basic services. For millions, not having an address means being left out of economic systems and public support.
Governments launch national reforms to modernize address systems
Several African countries have begun tackling the issue. Nigeria, for instance, launched a national program to overhaul its address system using GPS technology, mobile apps, and centralized digital databases. The project aims to improve location identification, public service delivery, and support the digital economy’s expansion.
Other countries such as Kenya, South Africa, Rwanda, and Senegal are moving in a similar direction, often through public-private partnerships focused on digitizing physical territory. In Cameroon and Guinea, governments are working with the startup FindMe to pilot digital addressing solutions, particularly to upgrade postal services and improve territorial connectivity.
This growing mobilization follows a broader international push. In 2009, the Universal Postal Union (UPU) issued a resolution urging all member states to implement national addressing systems. This prompted many African governments to see digital addresses as essential infrastructure for public policy, urban development, and digital transition.
A tool to unlock e-commerce, fintech, and modern services
Digital address systems could be a turning point for African economies. They provide a precise geographic framework that supports the rise of services in e-commerce, financial technology, transport, and healthcare.
In online retail, for example, address reliability is key to customer satisfaction. Africa’s e-commerce market is growing fast, with projected revenues surpassing $45 billion by 2028, according to Lithuanian fintech firm Nikulipe. But poor address systems make delivery more complex, expensive, and less dependable, limiting this growth.
A driver of better governance and broader inclusion
Beyond economic benefits, digital addresses also improve public governance. Local governments can plan infrastructure more effectively, manage services like waste collection or emergency response, and respond faster during health or environmental crises.
Address systems also improve access to financial and social services. Having a formal address can make it easier to open a bank account, register a business, or receive public assistance, key steps toward broader social and economic inclusion.
By upgrading their address systems, African countries are laying the foundation for lasting digital transformation. More than just a mapping tool, digital addressing is becoming a strategic asset for organizing territory, streamlining services, and building an inclusive digital economy.
In short, digital address infrastructure is not just a technical fix, it is a vital step toward better governance, deeper integration, and a more forward-looking Africa.
Samira Njoya
The solution embraces a straightforward, inclusive approach to make e-commerce widely accessible in Kenya. It uses WhatsApp as its primary sales channel.
Flowcart, a digital solution developed by a young Kenyan startup, enables businesses to manage their entire sales process via WhatsApp. The startup, originally founded as Sukhiba in 2021 by Ananth Raj Gudipati and Abhinav Reddy, successfully raised $1.55 million in 2024 to support its expansion across the continent.
Flowcart's growth relies on proprietary automation technology, enhanced by messaging data analysis, which allows for personalized service at scale. The platform integrates everything from product catalogs to payments, including orders and customer follow-up, all within a familiar interface.
"We built Sukhiba with a clear goal: to enable commerce on WhatsApp," said Ananth Gudipati, co-founder of Flowcart. "As we grew, we realized that driving revenue requires more than just chat. Businesses need smarter automation, seamless customer journeys, and tools that turn every conversation into a conversion. Flowcart is the evolution of that vision. It is more refined, more powerful, and built for the future of commerce in chat."
This low-tech approach allows small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and informal traders to conduct online sales without friction. It bridges a gap between traditional platforms and actual sales practices across Africa. By relying heavily on WhatsApp, the startup exemplifies a trend in conversational e-commerce on the continent. This agile model, rooted in local habits, could redefine digital commerce in emerging economies.
Adoni Conrad Quenum
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Chad's ADETIC partners with Burkina Faso’s 2iE to train professionals in digital and emerging technologies.
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Agreement includes training, intern exchanges, and joint research on digital governance.
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ENASTIC signs separate protocol with 2iE to boost academic collaboration.
The Chadian Agency for the Development of Information and Communication Technologies (ADETIC) has partnered with the International Institute for Water and Environmental Engineering (2iE), a private training center in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso. This initiative aims to train Chadian professionals in digital fields and in advanced and emerging technologies.
The framework agreement rests on three main pillars. It includes training Chadian professionals in artificial intelligence and emerging technologies, hosting Burkinabe interns within ADETIC, and developing joint applied research projects. These projects will focus on digital governance, local innovation, and sustainable development. Chad’s National School of ICT (ENASTIC) and 2iE also signed a separate collaboration protocol to facilitate academic exchanges and joint program development.
This initiative unfolds during the official visit by Chadian Minister of Telecommunications, Digital Economy and Digitalization of the Administration, Boukar Michel, to Ouagadougou. The agreement reflects a commitment to building human capital that can support public administration modernization and meet digital economy demands. By partnering with 2iE, Chad aims to accelerate the professional development of its talent, often hindered by a lack of specialized training infrastructure within the country.
This partnership comes as many African countries pursue policies to digitize public services. The success of these reforms largely depends on the availability of local technical expertise. Investing in training qualified professionals is thus a strategic priority for states like Chad, which face both a shortage of specialized human resources and increasing needs in e-government services.
Samira Njoya
Angela Ngo Ndouga has spent over 15 years studying the weaknesses in corporate finance. From Paris to Douala, she followed a clear path: first understanding the systems, then fixing their flaws.
A Cameroonian entrepreneur, Angela specialises in alternative financing and factoring across Africa. She co-founded Yellow Factoring, a fintech company launched in 2021.
Yellow Factoring digitises trade receivables to help small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) access quick cash. The platform allows companies to upload invoices, which Yellow Factoring reviews to verify and assess risk. It advances up to 80% of the invoice value in under 72 hours. The firm then manages collection and assumes the risk of non-payment.
Beyond cash advances, Yellow Factoring also provides administrative support, receivables management, financial training, and sector-specific tools for retail, import-export, and agri-food businesses.Yellow Factoring prioritizes small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) often left out of short-term financing, focusing especially on women-led businesses. The company collaborates with partners such as Afreximbank, the European Union, and the I&P Accélération programme in Africa.
By leveraging digital tools, Yellow Factoring automates processes, ensures operational transparency, and smooths interactions between entrepreneurs and creditors.
Before starting Yellow Factoring, Angela Ngo Ndouga co-founded Lusis & Co, a Cameroonian consultancy focused on operational performance and credit management, where she served as deputy managing director from 2016 to 2021.
She holds a master’s degree in international financial management from the Paris School of Business (2011). Angela began her career in 2008 at Société Générale Factoring in Paris as an international account manager. In 2011, she joined Coface Cameroon, a trade credit risk management firm, progressing from Factoring Account Manager to Head of the Factoring Department in 2014.
Melchior Koba
Daniel Kagame Ndahiro studies the challenges faced by small businesses and designs solutions to address their needs. With Credify Africa, he targets the financing obstacles that limit growth for these enterprises.
As entrepreneur and CEO of Credify Africa, founded in 2015, Ndahiro leads a fintech focused on helping African small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). The company specialises in SME financing, international trade, and logistics services. It aims to simplify credit access and smooth international transactions for local businesses facing multiple growth barriers.
Credify Africa has positioned itself as a key player in supply chain optimisation. It offers integrated services including invoice advances, real-time multi-currency payments, customs assistance, and freight management.The platform automates the entire process from registration to decision-making using scoring tools tailored for the African market. This system shortens disbursement times, eases access to finance, and cuts down on administrative steps.
Thanks to these innovations, Credify Africa lets SMEs complete international payments swiftly, bypassing usual currency conversion hurdles and banking delays. The company also provides tailored support to help clients manage cash flow and organize their finances efficiently. Additionally, it offers training programs to boost entrepreneurs’ skills in using digital tools.
Before launching Credify Africa, Daniel Kagame Ndahiro built strong financial sector experience. He earned a bachelor's degree in economics and finance from the University of Cape Town in 2011. Ndahiro began his career in 2012 as a director at Camouflage Media. In 2015, he co-founded Shaka Capital, a Ugandan microfinance firm focused on asset financing, which he led until 2018.
This article was initially published in French by Melchior Koba
Edited in English by Ange Jason Quenum
Matt Surkont is a South African technology entrepreneur and investor. He builds digital services, launches innovative businesses, and backs high-impact projects. He holds stakes in multiple South African companies.
As founder and CEO of BlueSky, established in 2017, Surkont drives digital transformation for South African organisations. BlueSky focuses on cloud solutions, artificial intelligence, and integration services.
The company covers the full technology cycle—strategy, deployment, integration, training, and ongoing support. It partners globally with firms like Salesforce, Amazon Web Services, Tableau, Alteryx, Snowflake, and Databricks.
BlueSky offers cloud architecture, data analysis, automation, app development, CRM integration, cybersecurity, customer experience management, and team support.
Matt Surkont co-founded Lodestone, a venture capital company dedicated to developing innovative technology projects. He holds investments in Pandora Health, an AI-based precision medicine platform, and Coot Club, an accommodation venture located in a 464-hectare private nature reserve.
He joined the international YPO network and in 2004 founded Resolve Red, providing Oracle services to clients across public and private sectors.
Surkont earned a Bachelor’s degree in Information Systems from the University of Cape Town in 1999 and began his career as a software engineer at the Bank of Ireland. He later invested in multiple South African startups, including Bloomable, an online flowers and gifts platform, and Khonology, a technology services company.
This article was initially published in French by Melchior Koba
Edited in English by Ange Jason Quenum