The U.S. Department of State's TechWomen program has opened applications for its 2024 edition, offering career development opportunities for emerging female leaders in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) from 11 African countries.
Qualified applicants must demonstrate at least two years of professional experience, hold at least one higher education degree, and possess proficient English language skills. The program targets Algeria, Cameroon, Egypt, Kenya, Libya, Morocco, Nigeria, Rwanda, Sierra Leone, Tunisia, and Zimbabwe.
Seychelles is set to unveil its digital driving license next year, as revealed by the Seychelles Licensing Authority (SLA) during a recent press briefing. Officials from the SLA disclosed that the initial phase of the digital driving license initiative is currently in progress through the utilization of the SeyID digital identity platform. Motorists are now able to complete their registration online and conveniently acquire their driving licenses directly on their smartphones.
Driven by the quest for new avenues of growth, Meta is pouring its efforts into Africa, a continent teeming with promise. The company is actively engaged through a multitude of projects and initiatives with some noticeable successes.
In Africa, over 21,800 businesses received valuable skills and support, empowering them to thrive in the digital age through the programs of Meta –the social media giant behind Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp. According to key highlights disclosed by the company last Wednesday, Meta's dedication to nurturing creativity also shone through, with over 1,000 creators participating in innovation programs, honing their talents and reaching wider audiences. Moreover, the company's digital literacy initiatives made a significant impact, equipping over 160,000 individuals with essential skills to navigate the online world confidently.
"We remain committed to the continent, and our 2023 highlights reinforce some of the impact we’ve been able to create by supporting the growing ecosystems of creators and building communities through technology," commented Kezia Anim-Addo, Communications Director, Africa Middle East & Turkey, Meta.
Nine flagship projects across the continent in 2023 have enabled Meta to record the achievements highlighted. They include Creator Lab Live, a unique educational program for content creators in Nigeria, Ghana, and South Africa; Instagram Creators x Brand Academy’s nano courses; "Made by Africa, Loved by the World"; WhatsApp Channels; EbaSafeOnline; Youth Safety and Wellbeing; My Digital World; African XR Realities Lab and Meta Connect 2023.
According to Meta, its resources have been directed towards "initiatives that align with its core mission of empowering users to build communities and bring the world closer together."
Samira Njoya
OceanHub Africa is an organization dedicated to supporting and investing in companies that pioneer innovative solutions across diverse sectors of the blue economy. Recognized with both national and international awards, these accolades underscore its significant impact on the ocean ecosystem in Africa.
OceanHub Africa, a pan-African organization founded in 2019 by Alexis Grosskopf (photo, center) and Stéphanie Canac, is a catalyst for Africa's ocean impact ecosystem. Functioning as both a connector and investor, its mission is to unite, inspire, and assist entrepreneurs, investors, researchers, businesses, and other stakeholders within the blue economy. The organization is committed to expediting the development and adoption of sustainable ocean solutions across Africa.
Renowned for its impactful accelerator program, OceanHub Africa provides comprehensive personal, product, and business development to equip startups for success in the marketplace. Beyond the accelerator program, the organization actively supports the development of the blue economy and entrepreneurship in Africa, hosting the prestigious African Ocean Innovation Summit for three editions.
In 2022, OceanHub Africa was named the best impact startup accelerator in South Africa by the MEA Business Awards. At COP 28, it won a gold award at the Africa Grows Green Awards in the climate research, education, and training category.
Since its launch, OceanHub Africa has supported, throughout its four cohorts, 24 African entrepreneurs in various sectors of the blue economy. These sectors include aquaculture, fisheries, shipbuilding, marine renewable energies and biotechnologies, coastal tourism, ocean sports, awareness-raising and education, data mining, and the circular economy of ocean plastics.
Melchior Koba
Last Tuesday, U.S tech multinational Mastercard launched its "Tap on phone", "QR Pay by link" and "Payment link" contactless payment solutions in Nigeria.
"As we navigate the evolving landscape of payments in Nigeria, Mastercard is proud to launch its contactless payment solutions. We understand the importance of seamless, secure, and cost-effective digital payment solutions, particularly for small businesses and consumers," said Kari Tukur, Vice President of Customer Solutions for East and West Africa at Mastercard.
In recent years, cybersecurity has become a key issue for African countries. It has therefore become crucial to train talents in the field.
On Tuesday, December 19, the American Business Council (ABC) launched a virtual center to train Nigerian talent in the field of cybersecurity. The aim is to bridge the skills gap in the sector.
"We are trying to create awareness for the talent gap we have in Nigeria. There is an urgent need for capacity building and upskilling the market that can help drive cybersecurity in Nigeria," said Margaret Olele, ABC’s Chief Executive Officer and Executive Secretary.
The acceleration of digital transformation has made African nations aware of the importance of a secure cyberspace. Nigeria, one of the continent's leading technology nations, is a top performer in the cybersecurity sector. It has a national Computer Incident Response Team (CIRT) and a national cybersecurity strategy. According to the International Telecommunication Union's Global Cybersecurity Index 2020, the country led by Bola Tinubu ranks fourth on the continent with a score of 84.76, just behind Ghana and ahead of Kenya.
Speaking on the subject, Aderonke Adeyegbe, CEO of Commercio Limited (a Nigerian ICT company) said: “We need a talent factory that meets international standards that the students would be exposed to. This is one of the ways to bridge the shortage of cybersecurity skills in Nigeria and the world.”
Adoni Conrad Quenum
In every part of the world, SMEs operating in the agricultural and food industry are required to undergo sometimes complex compliance audits before exporting their products. In South Africa, Nneile Nkholise streamlines the process, providing expert guidance and access to all biosafety audit and verification needs.
Nneile Nkholise (photo) is a distinguished South African entrepreneur and engineer who serves as the founder and CEO of Thola, a B2B trading platform dedicated to facilitating the global export of African agricultural products. A native of South Africa, Nneile Nkholise pursued her academic journey at the University of the Witwatersrand, earning a Bachelor's degree in Physics and Computer Science. She later earned a Master's degree in Mechanical Engineering from the Central University of Technology.
Established in 2021, her trading platform, Thola, offers small and medium-sized enterprises compliance automation in the agricultural and food industry, to accelerate their access to affordable compliance certification enabling seamless access to global trade and export of goods.
A serial entrepreneur, she is either the founder or co-founder of several other startups. In 2015, Nneile Nkholise founded iMed Tech, a company that uses computer-aided design (CAD) to manufacture external dental and breast prostheses, particularly for women who have undergone mastectomy(s) after breast cancer. In 2018, she co-founded 3DIMO, a company that specializes in data analysis and tracking farm animals to monitor their health.
Currently an Atlantic Council Millennium Program Fellow and Northeastern University Founder-in-Residence, the former Dihlase Consulting Engineers Mechanical Engineering Technologist (2015-2016) was a member of the Harambe Entrepreneurship Class of 2018.
Nneile Nkholise has received several awards and honors during her entrepreneurial career. In 2016, she was recognized as Africa's Best Woman Innovator by the World Economic Forum. In 2017, she was named Young South African of the Year by the Office of the President. The following year, she made it to Forbes Africa's 30 under 30, recognized as one of Africa's top 100 young people by the Africa Youth Council, and was awarded Southern Africa's Industrialist of the Year at the All Africa Business Leaders Awards. In 2021, during the Digital Women's Days, she was awarded the Margaret Entrepreneur Africa award.
Melchior Koba
As part of its digital transformation ambitions, the Zambian government wants to accelerate Internet adoption. Connectivity for all projects is underway across the country to enable the population to fully capitalize on the services being digitized.
Next year, the Zambian government will establish community digital transformation centers across the nation, offering citizens free Internet access, Science and Technology Minister Felix Chipota Mutati announced on December 19.
“These centers will not only provide internet access but will also serve as training grounds for digital literacy and skills programs including digital entrepreneurship and innovation, creating opportunities for jobs and empowerment. We believe that empowering our citizens with digital skills is as crucial as providing internet access,” he explained.
The announcement closely follows the government's decision to phase out 2G technology in favor of improved connectivity. These initiatives align with the government's broader goals of bridging the digital divide and ensuring that every citizen can benefit from the opportunities presented by the digital age.
To establish the community centers, Smart Zambia, the institute responsible for implementing e-governance in Zambia, will draw on the infrastructure of the Zambia Postal Services Corporation and other appropriate infrastructures. The services provided by these centers will encompass various e-government functions, including business licenses, cooperative registration, road taxes, and social cash transfers.
Samira Njoya
The Guinean government is intensifying efforts to ensure high-speed Internet access for the entire population. In that regard, collaboration with partners, including the World Bank, is expected to play a crucial role in advancing these initiatives.
On Thursday, December 14, the Guinean government and the World Bank signed a $60 million agreement to improve mobile Internet access in Guinea. The agreement was announced by Ousmane Gaoual Diallo, Minister of Posts, Telecommunications and Digital Economy, on his X page.
The new World Bank investment will enable Guinea to build quality digital infrastructure, deploy fiber optic backbones, and reduce the country's pronounced digital divide. The initiative is part of the World Bank-funded West Africa Regional Digital Integration Program (DTfA/WARDIP). Earlier this month, the financial institution announced $266.5 million in funding to improve Internet access in four countries in the region: Gambia, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, and Mauritania.
In Guinea, the initiative comes at a time when the country is grappling with Internet access restrictions and limited access to social networks, while the rate of Internet access in the country continues to rise. According to the latest report from the local telecom regulator ARTP, mobile Internet penetration in Guinea stood at 55.2% in the third quarter of 2022.
This major agreement will strengthen market connectivity by removing obstacles to cross-border telecommunications, thereby increasing Internet access in the region. It will also protect cross-border data exchanges to foster innovation and access to data-based services. It will also contribute to simplifying access to digital services and online transactions and boosting e-commerce in the region.
Samira Njoya
DR Congo: Ingenious City Cultivates Entrepreneurial Skills, Promotes Entrepreneurship and Networking
Ingenious City is a DR Congo-based hub that connects entrepreneurs and enables them to collaborate for the development of impactful solutions. It has already incubated over a hundred projects and continues to promote entrepreneurship.
Ingenious City, a Congolese incubator founded in 2018 by Alexis Indenge and François Ngenyi, promotes entrepreneurship and fosters connections among ecosystem players in DR Congo. Its main goal is to cultivate collaboration among entrepreneurs to create impactful solutions.
In practical terms, Ingenious City offers tailored training modules focused on entrepreneurship, specifically designed for the Congolese ecosystem. The incubator offers guidance and advice to enhance the performance of innovative ideas. To facilitate networking and cooperation, Ingenious City provides a well-equipped 1,200-square-meter physical workspace for entrepreneurs. Through its business incubation service, it supports the launch of startups by offering a professional workspace and access to essential resources, including financing.
Ingenious City identifies projects that provide tangible solutions to societal challenges, offering them logistical support and financial backing to kickstart their operations. The incubator extends its support to projects spanning technology, agri-food, industry, and services.
Leveraging a network of over 150 experts and mentors, Ingenious City has successfully incubated over 100 projects since its inception. The incubator enjoys support from more than 25 partners and sponsors, including RAWBANK.
Melchior Koba
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Egyptian health technology startup Chefaa announced, Tuesday, December 19, the successful completion of a $5.25 million funding round. The raised funds are earmarked for various purposes, including the advancement of its technology, broadening its range of offerings, and supporting its growth in Saudi Arabia—a market the startup recently entered.
He studied business administration, accounting, and finance. However, he specializes in communications and digital technology. He developed, with his team, an app to facilitate fleet management.
Loic Kapitho (photo), a seasoned Gabonese entrepreneur with expertise in communications and digital sectors, co-founded POZI App, a tracking application designed to make life easier for vehicle owners and fleet managers.
The entrepreneur holds a bachelor's degree in business administration from ICN Business School, earned in 2008, and a master's degree in accounting and finance from Gabon's National Institute of Management Sciences, also obtained in the same year. In 2020, he joined forces with Thomas Leluc to establish POZI App, aiming to empower vehicle owners and fleet managers by providing tools for monitoring, analyzing, and optimizing their business operations.
Specializing in vehicle tracking and fleet management, POZI App analyzes users' journey performance, identifying risks, and highlighting opportunities across all their vehicles.
"Our application has three specific features. Firstly, we offer the most accurate and local mapping on the market. Secondly, we offer a modern, innovative user experience with, for example, the possibility of real-time, contextualized incident notifications on one's smartphone and automatically generated analytical reports. Our interface is very 'user friendly', accessible, and takes into account the increasing mobility of users," said the entrepreneur in 2021.
POZI App's ambition is to become the market leader in Gabon by 2024. The startup has already reached the symbolic milestone of 1,000 active vehicles, positioning itself as a benchmark application for businesses and semi-professionals.
Loic Kapitho is also the founder and CEO of TOUCH Innovative, a digital communications agency and digital advertising sales house set up in 2016. He is also chairman of TECH 241, Gabon's technology business union, which brings together major companies and professionals in the digital and technology sectors.
His professional career began in 2008 at Trade & Services, a Gabonese SME specializing in graphic design and creation, where he was director. Between 2011 and 2015, he worked at JTC Consulting in Gabon as Strategy and Communications Manager.
Melchior Koba
Through its programs and activities, TechBuzz Hub empowers young African entrepreneurs to develop innovative solutions. With international awards to its credit, it continues its ascent, impacting Africa.
TechBuzz Hub is a Ugandan startup incubator and coworking space helping entrepreneurs turn their ideas into sustainable businesses. Established in 2016 by Keneth Twesigye, who serves as its CEO, the hub is dedicated to fostering the growth of early-stage startups led by individuals aged 18 to 35.
Its offerings to achieve that goal encompass inclusive coworking spaces, startup incubation programs, and informative seminars. Beyond physical spaces, the hub extends critical business development services, including mentoring, consulting, and networking opportunities. These initiatives have proven instrumental in empowering numerous entrepreneurs, enabling them to fulfill their dreams and turn their ideas into reality.
TechBuzz Hub introduced Offisa, a virtual space network serving as a remote office that allows entrepreneurs to efficiently manage their business operations. It also organizes meetings that bring together entrepreneurs, startups, and business owners, fostering collaboration, and sharing of experiences, and providing a platform to track company progress while benefiting from expert support.
The incubator also hosts the Fortnyt Series, a series of fortnightly workshops designed to offer mentor-to-entrepreneur and peer-to-peer technical assistance. Additionally, the hub has launched the Young Professionals Program, geared towards supporting recent graduates and those entering the job market. This program focuses on equipping young individuals with practical skills and knowledge highly sought after in the job market, enhancing their job readiness.
TechBuzz Hub's commitment to capacity building is evident in its diverse training programs covering business modeling, roadmap, and strategy development, project management, business planning, graphic design, website design, computer applications, and financial projections. These training courses are designed to be open and customized, providing a holistic approach to building business capacity.
In 2023, the incubator won the prize for best coworking space at the Global Startup Awards Africa. A member of the AfriLabs network, it is supported by Mastercard Foundation and Startup Uganda, among others.
Melchior Koba
According to DataReportal stats, in early 2023, Libya’s internet penetration rate was 45.9% for 3.14 million users. To fill the gap, internet service providers are teaming up with major international groups.
On Wednesday, December 13, Eutelsat OneWeb, a British satellite Internet provider, announced a memorandum of understanding with Libyan Internet service provider Rafawed Libya for Telecommunications & Technology (RLTT) to use its constellation of low-Earth orbit (LEO) satellites to improve the quality of high-speed, low-latency connectivity throughout Libya. The contract will take effect from 2024.
"We have been working with Eutelsat Group for several years now and are excited to bring its high-speed, low-latency connectivity to our customers across the oil and gas, cellular backhaul, and humanitarian sectors. By combining both LEO and GEO-powered connectivity, we can meet the different needs of our customers without having to use multiple providers. Through this exclusive deal, we look forward to bringing unmatched connectivity across Libya," said Taha Ellafi, Chairman of RLTT.
The partnership, which is part of the British satellite Internet provider's planned African expansion, reinforces the longstanding partnership between the Libyan operator and Eutelsat, dating back to 2013. With Eutelsat's recent merger with OneWeb, the company is now equipped to provide not only geostationary solutions but also low-Earth orbit alternatives. These expanded capabilities are being passed on to RLTT as part of the enhanced contract.
"We continue to see huge demand for high-speed connectivity as we roll out our LEO services globally, with the wide variety of potential use cases that the increased resilience offers proving highly attractive to customers. By building on existing customer relationships, we can grow the business in international markets and continue to bridge the digital divide globally," explained Cyril Dujardin, Co-General Manager of Eutelsat OneWeb.
Adoni Conrad Quenum