Determined to provide Africans with a social networking platform designed just for them, three young Africans have embarked on the adventure of digital entrepreneurship. Their solution is named Umojja, which means "unity" in Kiswahili, a Bantu language spoken in many parts of the continent.
Umojja is a social networking platform developed by a Congolese startup. It enables users to access a variety of creative content, news, and personal moments shared by other platform users. The startup, based in the city of Goma and founded by Congolese Charles Muleka Kitwa Djo Kyadi and Nigerian Temilade Oduwalo, launched its solution in 2023.
"Leveraging the lessons learned from the ravages of war, Umojja aims to provide a secure platform for young people to exchange information. Our focus is on fostering not only the development of our own country but also contributing positively to others, given that our nation is already a member of various organizations. By connecting through Umojja, we strive to extend these benefits beyond our borders, facilitating mutual growth and collaboration," said Charles Muleka Kitwa.
Currently, the solution features only an Android application. Users, whether on the web platform or the mobile app, can register by inputting various personal details, including their name, email address, telephone number, gender, and country of origin. Upon successful registration, users gain access to the platform, enabling them to follow content creators, news media accounts, and other users.
Umojja offers users a range of features, including the ability to broadcast live videos, make video calls, place ads, create a company page, conduct polls, share videos, and send text messages. The platform actively combats the dissemination of fake news. It adopts a unique approach by compensating content creators based on the viewership of their videos. Since the launch of its mobile app in July 2013, it has been downloaded over a hundred times, according to Play Store data.
Adoni Conrad Quenum
Christine Namara is one of Africa's leading investors and mentors most committed to the development of the technology ecosystem. Her appointment to Flat6Labs is proof of her expertise and commitment.
Christine Namara (photo) is a Kenyan businesswoman, investor and mentor. On Wednesday, November 15, 2023, she joined leading MENA seed-stage venture capital firm Flat6Labs as a partner in its Africa Seed Fund (ASF).
"With innovation as our compass and collaboration as our engine, I am honored to join Flat6Labs, a pioneering force in shaping Africa’s entrepreneurial landscape. Together, we will embark on a transformative journey, unlocking the vast potential of startups across the continent. In this interconnected world, every idea has the power to change lives. I am excited to champion these innovations, catalyzing progress and leaving a lasting impact on communities in Africa and beyond," Ms. Namara said, according to a release published by Flat6Labs.
The Africa Seed Fund she is joining was recently set up by Flat6Labs to extend its reach in Africa. The $95 million investment vehicle targets North, West, and East African regions, to invest in over 160 seed-stage startups in the region's tech ecosystem.
With her wealth of venture capital and private equity experience, the new partner will be a key asset in achieving the fund’s objectives. Indeed, in 2012, she graduated from Uganda Christian University with a Bachelor's degree in Economics and Management, specializing in Law and Business Policy. She then kickstarted her professional career as an executive administrator trainee at the Institute of Customer Service Kenya the same year. In 2013, she worked as an intern at CS Consulting Ltd. as well as a member of the customer service and marketing team at Thornsoft International.
Later, in 2021, Christine Namara joined The Baobab Network, a Nairobi-based accelerator that invests in early-stage technology companies across Africa, as a senior venture capital partner. The following year, she was appointed Head of Enterprise at the same accelerator, a position she held until October 2023.
Melchior Koba
O'Botama catalyzes innovation and is a driving force for entrepreneurial change in Africa. It provides support, training, and assistance to young entrepreneurs in securing financing for their businesses.
The O'Botama Collaborative Innovation Workshop (AIC) is a business incubator based in Cameroon. Since 2018, it has been supporting local Cameroonian entrepreneurs and those from the diaspora in the development of their businesses. It was created by the collective O.S.E.R. L'Afrique (a non-profit association established by the diaspora) and is headed by Benjamin Ngongang, an experienced professional in the financial and investment sector.
AIC is dedicated to catalyzing talent and strengthening the entrepreneurial spirit among young Africans, guiding them in creating innovative solutions for their region. To fulfill this mission, AIC provides comprehensive support to project leaders from conceptualization to value proposition assisting in the implementation of their innovation or activity, aiding in the search for financing, and facilitating connections with suitable partners.
It features a coworking space that regularly welcomes professionals and an online platform for events, training, and diverse services, it offers an incubation program specifically designed to support and accelerate innovative projects with a social impact. Program members receive tailored training sessions to address their unique needs, coupled with expert guidance to ensure the successful development of their businesses.
The incubator also has a center of expertise where a team of experts offers technical assistance, consultation, and training in the fields of law, taxation, labor and social security, project management, accounting, and finance. It also offers training in business management, digital marketing, accounting management, and personal development.
Since its creation, O'Botama has supported over 40 companies and project leaders in Cameroon and welcomed over 1,000 participants to its activities. It regularly hosts 111 coworkers in its shared workspace. A member of the AfriLabs network, the incubator is supported by Afric'Innov, Genius Center, Kmer Tech, Fiatope, and Objis, among others.
Accra will host the first edition of the Global Conference on Cyber Capacity Building (GC3B) from November 29 to 30.
The GC3B, organized under the theme "Cyber Resilience for Development", aims to build a bridge between politicians and cybersecurity industry leaders. The aim is to contribute to the advancement of cyber capacity building on a global scale. Over 800 cybersecurity experts are expected at the conference.
While presenting promising prospects and undeniable opportunities, technological advances can pose challenges in combating crimes, especially in Africa. This compels defense and security forces to improve their capabilities, notably those related to cybersecurity.
Last Monday (November 13), the Chinese Embassy handed a digital forensics laboratory to the Seychelles police’s cybercrime division. According to the Seychelles News Agency, the laboratory was handed out by Mu Jianfeng (photo, left), Chargé d'Affaires of the Chinese Embassy in Seychelles.
The laboratory is funded, to the tune of one million Yuan ($137,000), by the Chinese government. "The laboratory will be fully operational in the next few days, and its main functions include secure data extraction, storage media backup, rapid data acquisition, data analysis and authentication, and data recovery. It will be an effective tool for the Seychelles police and relevant authorities in digital data investigation and evidence collection," said Mr. Jianfeng.
The new laboratory comes at a time when the Seychelles government is stepping up measures in response to a growing rise in cybercrime in the country. In November 2021, a new law on cybercrime and other related offenses came into force in the country after being approved by the National Assembly.
In January 2023, discussions were also held between the Seychelles police force and an Interpol delegation to set up a unit to combat cybercrime.
Through this acquisition of technical equipment and the training of human resources to combat cybercrime, Seychelles will be able to secure its information systems, which are an indispensable component of digital transformation.
Samira Njoya
Nigerian agritech startup UfarmX, announced on Tuesday, November 14 its expansion into Senegal. The operation was facilitated by a $1.7 million investment from the Senegalese subsidiary of United Bank for Africa.
She connects African entrepreneurs with major international groups in Europe. She has received several awards and distinctions, making her a true pioneer in technology and business.
With a diverse academic and professional background, she earned a master's degree in foreign languages and cultures (USA, UK) in 2001 from Université Paris Cité. Additionally, she holds a certification in entrepreneurship from ESSEC Business School.
In 2015, she co-founded Afrobytes to offer African startups increased visibility, networking opportunities with investors, as well as opportunities for rapid expansion. Afrobytes facilitates access to the African market for European startups, companies, and investors looking for growth and investment opportunities. In addition, the company organizes technology conferences in Paris, providing a platform for meetings with players strongly committed to Africa.
Apart from Afrobytes, in 2019, Ms. Haweya Mohamed co-founded The Colors, a platform that aims to add value to the cosmetics and fashion products of African origin.
Before embarking on her entrepreneurial career, Haweya Mohamed worked for Endemol, where she was a TV production assistant between 2001 and 2003. In 2004, she worked as a reality TV production assistant at Lagardère Active. The following year, she became Channel 4's broadcast rights sales coordinator before being hired in 2006 as executive assistant to the CEO of RTL in France. In 2011, RTL appointed her to the position of Head of Communications.
A member of the Harambe Entrepreneur Alliance, in 2018, Haweya Mohamed was recognized by Entrepreneur Magazine as one of the 50 most audacious entrepreneurs. The same year, U.S. business magazine Fast Company singled her out as one of the most creative minds in business. At the same time, Forbes included her in its list of 92 Women To Follow Who Are Disrupting Tech In France.
Melchior Koba
Iris Hub plays a key role in the fight against youth unemployment in Rwanda and across Africa as a whole. Through its innovative programs and commitment to education and creativity, it is positively influencing the future of Africa.
Iris Hub is an incubation and innovation center that uses technology to address youth unemployment in Rwanda. Founded in 2016 by Benjamin Manirafasha, its president and CEO, it supports young people with innovative projects in the fields of technology, art, textiles, audiovisual, e-commerce, gaming, and cybertech.
Located in the Kicukiro area of Kigali, Rwanda, Iris Hub was set up to encourage innovation and creativity, provide training, and foster connections between entrepreneurs through a variety of activities. Thanks to dedicated coaches and mentors, it provides young people and women with the right support to turn their business ideas into reality. Through workshops, conferences, bootcamps, and hackathons, it offers training, networking, and exposure opportunities.
Iris Hub has a magazine on entrepreneurship and innovation for young people, called Iris Magazine. It has also introduced a 3-6 month accelerator program that includes an initial investment, networking opportunities, sales strategies, mentoring, and a public presentation event where participants unveil their prototype at a demo day. The program aims to accelerate selected startups’ growth.
Furthermore, the center coordinates business events and conferences while providing software design and development services for managers seeking to incorporate technology into their businesses.
Since its creation, Iris Hub has incubated 15 startups, including edutech platform East African Dictionary, fintech BetaPay, cybersecurity company Intore Security Lab, and healthtech Mentale. A member of the AfriLabs network, it is supported by several partners, including ICT Chamber, Deep Ecosystems, and the Africa Europe Innovation Partnership.
Melchior Koba
He is an accomplished software developer with a demonstrated track record in the financial sector. Through his financial technology company, EvMak, he has garnered numerous awards and distinctions.
Evans Makundi (photo) is a Tanzanian IT specialist with a career in digital health, business consulting, and banking. He is the founder and CEO of EvMak Tanzania, a financial technology company offering a range of tools and services to help other businesses prosper.
He graduated from Bangalore University in 2010 with a Bachelor's degree in Computer Science and holds a Business Administration and Management Certificate from HarvardX (2020).
The tech entrepreneur founded EvMak Tanzania in 2012 to bring change to the communications, banking, and financial industries as well as to small and medium-sized enterprises and large corporations such as airlines.
His company offers a unified payment solution for both online and offline businesses, enabling them to automatically send payments to customers, employees, and various beneficiaries.
"We are focused more on software development, helping mostly the non-governmental organizations but also the government organizations as well as the Ministry of Health, focusing on developing their software, enhancing their sub sales and billing integration on the payment side, and anything else related to software development," said Evans Makundi in 2021.
Evans Makundi is also the Managing Partner of DIGI FARM, a social enterprise that leverages technology and data to empower smallholder farmers in Africa. Since 2021, he is also Head of Software Quality Assurance at CRDB Bank Plc.
Before establishing EvMak Tanzania, he worked at the Kenya Medical Research Institute in 2012, where he was an expert in geographic information systems. He has also been a CRDB Bank software developer between 2014 and 2020. During this period, he deployed SWIFT GPI, a digital payment solution.
In 2019, EvMak was named one of the best business-to-business companies in Tanzania by Clutch, a company that helps companies find the right partners to grow their business. In 2022, the entrepreneur was recognized as one of the country's top 100 CEOs and Managing Directors.
Melchior Koba
Africa has the lowest Internet penetration rate in the world. Authorities are joining forces with various partners to improve these figures, and are also considering collective action to achieve their goal.
The East African Community has decided to invest in the installation of a satellite to provide Internet access to the entire sub-region. The decision was taken at the ministerial meeting of the Information and Communication Technology Infrastructure Development Group of the Northern Corridor Integration Projects (NCIP), held on Wednesday, November 8, and Thursday, November 9 in Nairobi, Kenya.
"The Ministers agreed to fast track the modalities of establishing a Regional Owned Satellite for communication that will provide high-quality, dependable broadband internet services and broadcasting capabilities," reads the joint statement issued at the end of the meeting.
The collective solution is the most viable since, according to NCIP coordinator Amb Richard Kabonero, “The cost of a satellite is about USD 300m which is very expensive for individual countries but as a region, we can work together."
The need for Internet connectivity on the continent is constantly growing with the ongoing digital transformation. Traditional Internet service providers are unable to cover all areas, especially rural and landlocked ones, for a variety of reasons. According to DataReportal, the Internet penetration rate in East Africa was 23.1% in January 2023. The sub-region lags behind other parts of the continent, and satellite can be an interesting alternative.
It is worth mentioning that the cost of satellite internet is still high for average Africans. In January 2023, Starlink started deploying its satellite services in African countries. To access Starlink’s services, users need to buy kits that cost around $372 in the cheapest country (Nigeria) and almost $650 in Benin, where the service was launched earlier this month.
Adoni Conrad Quenum
More...
With this orbiting, Djibouti has joined the exclusive group of African nations with satellites in space, alongside Kenya, Zimbabwe, Egypt, Uganda, and Angola.
The Republic of Djibouti successfully launched its first satellite, Djibouti 1A, on Saturday, November 11, from the Vandenberg spaceport in California, USA. The satellite lifted off aboard SpaceX's Falcon 9 rocket.
"We have put in place all the necessary elements to succeed in this project: firstly the selection of Djiboutian students, because the objective was to make the satellite but not to buy it, and have it manufactured by our students to make this technological leap and say in an uninhibited way that Djibouti is capable of manufacturing a satellite, launching it, collecting results for the climate but also getting started in development perspectives. The result is that 10 technicians and engineers were trained," said Nabil Mohamed Ahmed, Djibouti's Minister of Higher Education and Research.
The new satellite is the result of collaboration between the Djiboutian government and Centre Spatial Universitaire Montpellier-Nîmes (CSUM) in France. In 2020, the Centre began training Djiboutian engineers who played a key role in designing, constructing, and testing the nanosatellite. Successfully passing vibration tests in March, Djibouti 1A was deemed launch-ready by July. This satellite, intended for space research and communications, will gather real-time national data from climatological and seismic stations. It aims to monitor variables like temperature, rainfall, river depth, and hydrometry, contributing to enhanced agricultural production and environmental change monitoring.
Samira Njoya
To accelerate their digital transformation, African countries are forging strategic partnerships. With this MoU, Rwanda wants to further develop its tech sector.
Paula Ingabire (photo, right), Rwandan Minister of Information and Communication Technologies and Innovation, and Mohammed bin Ali Al Mannai (photo, left), Qatari Minister of Communications and Information Technologies, signed an ICT memorandum of understanding on Thursday, November 9 in Kigali. The aim is to strengthen collaboration between the two countries in the fields of public key infrastructure and the formulation of information and communication technology policies and strategies.
"This collaboration is a testament to our commitment to promoting innovation and technological advancement on both local and international levels. [...] This partnership aims to strengthen synergy for mutual growth and development, fostering knowledge and resource exchange in various key areas of the information and communication technology sector," said Mohammed bin Ali Al Mannai.
Like many African countries, Rwanda is multiplying partnerships to ensure its digital transition, with the signing of memorandums of understanding with Kenya and Guinea earlier this year. Rwandan authorities have taken, several steps to strengthen their artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, and smart cities segments. The country is one of the best in Africa when it comes to digitization and it is establishing itself as a tech hub in the Great Lakes region.
Support for research and development in the field of artificial intelligence, exchanges of experience in digital transformation and e-commerce, cooperation in the field of smart cities, and cross-border data flows are other ICT segments covered by the memorandum of understanding signed.
Adoni Conrad Quenum
In the digital age, students need to access some tech tools. Unfortunately, in certain settings, this is challenging. In that context, South Africa is taking steps to provide some of those tools for its inmates.
The South African Supreme Court of Appeal has granted the government a 12-month deadline to formulate and promulgate an updated policy for correctional centers, enabling inmates to use personal computers in their cells for educational purposes.
Henceforth, an inmate enrolled in an accredited higher education institution requiring a computer for academic purposes will be permitted to use one without internet access in their cell.
"I observe that ever more educational materials are available in electronic form, and such materials are most conveniently and economically accessed on a computer. [...] Coursework is now routinely composed and submitted electronically. I have found that the right to further education includes the right to pursue that education. If a prisoner has a personal computer, it is a tool of indispensable value in the pursuit of many courses of further education, " said Judge David Unterhalter.
The decision to review the policy comes after a Johannesburg inmate, serving a 20-year sentence for robbery, complained that he was struggling to complete his computer course because he couldn't work from his cell, where he spent most of his time. Pending a review of the policy, the judge declared that the inmate has the right to use his PC in his cell as long as he remains enrolled at a recognized institution of higher or university education in South Africa.
However, the inmate must make the computer available for inspection at all times, and any breach of the rules by an individual inmate could result in the computer being seized.
Samira Njoya
Tourism, like almost every sector, is undergoing a major digital transformation in Africa. To successfully implement that transformation, some countries are teaming up with tech giants to support their strategies.
Patricia de Lille (photo, right), South Africa's Minister of Tourism, and Alistair Mokoena (photo, left), Country Manager of Google South Africa signed an agreement in Cape Town on Monday, November 13. The aim is to promote South Africa as the choice tourist destination and provide training and support in the sector.
"In an era of digital transformation, collaboration between technology giants and government entities has the potential to reshape industries and enhance public services. [...] This visionary partnership between Google and the Ministry of Tourism, focusing on non-monetary exchanges to leverage each parties’ strengths for mutual benefits," said Patricia de Lille.
This partnership is part of the Ministry's mission to improve the attractiveness of the sector, harness its technological power, and increase the number of tourist arrivals in the country to support economic growth and job creation. Google, the world's largest search engine, has several tools at its disposal, such as Google Arts & Culture, with which the Mountain View firm can highlight the country's tourist destinations, encouraging Internet users to develop a greater interest in South Africa. Startups operating in the sector can be supported by Google programs such as the Start-up Accelerator and the Black Founders Fund.
"As a company that prides itself in organizing the world’s information and making it universally accessible and useful, we look forward to rolling out various programs in conjunction with the department, to fast-track digital transformation in the sector, helping with digital skills and showcasing South African tourism through our Google Arts & Culture platform," said Alistair Mokoena.
Adoni Conrad Quenum