• Ivory Coast and French group Ynov Campus signed an agreement to open the first Ynov Campus in sub-Saharan Africa.
• A second deal with the Magic System Foundation will launch a Digital Academy to train youth in digital skills.
• These projects aim to create 40,000 jobs and attract $1.6 billion in investment by 2028.
Ivory Coast has taken two bold steps to tackle the digital skills gap and fuel its economic growth.
Authorities signed two major agreements to train local youth in tech and prepare the country for a digital future. The Village of Information Technologies and Biotechnology (VITIB), based in Grand-Bassam, signed a deal with French training powerhouse Ynov Campus.
This agreement will establish the first Ynov campus in sub-Saharan Africa. Ynov will offer hands-on training in digital fields like web development, data science, digital design, audiovisual production, cybersecurity, and artificial intelligence.
Officials sealed the deal during the inaugural Ivoire Tech Forum held in Abidjan from July 9 to July 11.
A second agreement between VITIB and the Magic System Foundation will launch the VITIB Digital Academy. This academy will boost local digital skills, help youth integrate into the job market, and improve employability in high-demand tech sectors.
Both projects form part of VITIB’s larger expansion strategy. The site already hosts 96 companies, five data centers, and a one-stop-shop for business setup. VITIB's 2023–2028 plan, budgeted at CFA180 billion ($320 million), seeks to transform Grand-Bassam into a fully integrated smart city.
VITIB wants to create 40,000 jobs and attract $1.6 billion in investment over the next three years.
As digital transformation accelerates, Ivory Coast is under pressure to build a tech-savvy workforce that meets international standards. The Ministry of Digital Transition plans to train thousands in cybersecurity, cloud computing, data management, advanced programming, and AI.
Authorities have made digital upskilling a national priority. They want to support startup growth, ensure digital sovereignty, and fully integrate into West Africa’s digital economy.
Samira Njoya
With a strong background in the tech industry, he now dedicates his expertise to supporting African startups. He works with innovators who are committed to transforming the continent's tech landscape and establishing a global presence.
Zakaria Sabti (photo), a Moroccan entrepreneur and tech executive, is the founder and CEO of Volund Ventures, a Dubai-based venture builder active across North Africa and the Middle East.
Since its founding in 2022, Volund Ventures has aimed to position Africa as a key player in exporting innovative technologies. It achieves this by supporting the creation, growth, and international expansion of high-impact startups. The firm operates as both a tech accelerator and a venture builder.
Volund Ventures focuses on developing startups with the potential for global success, emphasizing innovation, technology, and social impact. As a venture builder, it identifies market opportunities, conceives startup ideas, and then assembles the teams, resources, and funding needed to transform these ideas into viable businesses.
The firm offers tailored support covering areas such as software development, notably through no-code solutions, product strategy, digital marketing, financial structuring, and access to a network of investors and international partners. Its priority areas include artificial intelligence, digital content creation, digital transformation, and the export of African innovations to global markets.
Among the startups supported by Volund Ventures is TwinLink, which is also incubated by Orange Fab. TwinLink enables businesses to create smart digital versions of themselves that can communicate, listen, and assist users. TwinLink was selected for the 2025 edition of Viva Technology, a major event in the tech innovation sector held in June. The startup joined the AI Tech Trail, which showcases the most innovative companies in artificial intelligence.
Before founding Volund Ventures, Zakaria Sabti created Water Economic Technology (WET) in 2016, a startup focused on designing and manufacturing devices to help manage water consumption. He served as CEO of WET until 2017.
Zakaria Sabti holds a master’s degree in information technology, earned in 2017 from the National School of Applied Sciences in Marrakech, Morocco. He also obtained a PhD in business intelligence and big data in 2024 from Cadi Ayyad University.
In 2017, he began working at KBM Consulting, an IT firm, where he served as a business intelligence consultant. In 2018, he joined a Dubai-based recruitment company as a data and business transformation consultant before becoming its regional director in 2019.
From 2019 to 2023, Sabti was a partner at TechnomaX Systems, a Microsoft technology services company also based in Dubai. Concurrently, he served as Chief Technology Officer at Hemicube, a company specializing in extracting actionable insights from data.
Melchior Koba
-
Côte d’Ivoire signed two MoUs with UAE’s G42 Presight to support digital governance and strategy renewal
-
The deal comes as the current digital plan nears its 2025 end, after major infrastructure gains
-
Partnership aims to enhance AI use and public service efficiency, leveraging G42’s regional expertise
The Ivorian government has signed two non-binding memoranda of understanding with G42 Presight, an Emirati tech firm specializing in big data analytics and artificial intelligence. The agreements were signed on the sidelines of the inaugural Ivoire Tech Forum, held in Abidjan from July 9 to July 11.
One agreement establishes a collaborative framework for public administration reform and digitalization, signed with the Ministry of State in charge of Civil Service and Administrative Modernization. The second involves developing a national digital strategy, in partnership with the Ministry of Digital Transition and Digitalization.
This initiative comes as Côte d’Ivoire’s National Digital Development Strategy (SNDN) is set to expire this year. Launched five years ago, the SNDN aimed to strengthen digital inclusion, cybersecurity, and digital infrastructure development. Its achievements include deploying over 5,207 kilometers of fiber-optic cable, creating several online public service portals, and operationalizing the National Cybersecurity Agency.
In artificial intelligence, the country also adopted a dedicated data management strategy. This strategy aims to build a more efficient, accessible, and resilient administration capable of addressing the challenges of 21st-century digital governance.
While non-binding, these agreements lay the groundwork for stronger technological cooperation between Abidjan and Abu Dhabi. Through this partnership, Côte d’Ivoire seeks to leverage the expertise of G42 Presight, which has previously supported projects in Egypt and Rwanda in big data, AI, and smart governance. The goal is to improve the quality of public services, increase transparency in public action, and enhance state decision-making.
Samira Njoya
African governments push digital transformation to modernize healthcare. Computerized patient records (CPRs) emerge as a key tool in this effort. Although adoption remains uneven, countries make steady progress amid growing digital public services.
Consulting firm McKinsey & Company reported in 2023 that digital health tools including teleconsultations, CPRs, and chronic disease apps could reduce African health expenditures by up to 15%. This cost-saving potential, combined with the need to upgrade healthcare, drives government interest in CPRs. These systems now form the backbone of many national e-health strategies.
CPRs centralize and secure medical data. They improve patient follow-up, coordinate care, and reduce medical errors. By replacing paper records, which often cause information loss and delays, CPRs address urgent modernization needs.
Beyond care quality, CPRs supply health authorities with real-time data. This data helps anticipate, monitor, and manage epidemics. It also supports public health policy decisions.
Pilot Projects Underway in Several Countries
Several countries run pilot CPR projects. Côte d’Ivoire’s health facilities with CPRs generated over CFA1.25 billion ($2.2 million) in tracked medical revenue in 2024, according to the Directorate of IT and Digital Health. More than 268 facilities connect to the Hospital Information System (HIS) and CPR.
Senegal, Rwanda, Ghana, and Kenya have launched similar systems. Nigeria currently tests interoperability between CPRs and its national health insurance database.
A Rapidly Growing Global Market
The global electronic medical records market grows rapidly. Market intelligence firm Mordor Intelligence projects it will reach $42.1 billion by 2029, up from $32.8 billion in 2024, with a 5.11% annual growth rate. The Covid-19 pandemic accelerated this trend by highlighting the need for fast, reliable, and secure clinical data access.
Technological advances, political will, and wider accessibility drive this growth—even in low- and middle-income countries.
Persistent Challenges to Overcome
Despite potential, Africa faces major hurdles. Limited internet access, especially in rural areas, remains a top barrier. The International Telecommunication Union reported only 38% of Africans had internet access in 2024. Training healthcare workers in digital skills also lags. Without it, CPR reliability and adoption suffer. Data protection poses another challenge. Only 40 African countries have personal data protection laws, and cybersecurity remains weak. Patient and professional trust depends on securing medical information.
Towards Pan-African Governance of Digital Health
Experts call for pan-African coordination to overcome these challenges. Harmonizing standards, ensuring system interoperability, and setting common data security rules would create a strong foundation for sustainable e-health.
Widespread CPR adoption could transform African healthcare—if governments invest in digital infrastructure, train professionals, and protect data. CPRs must become more than technology tools; they should form the backbone of modern, resilient, and inclusive public health policies.
This article was initially published in French by Samira Njoya
Edited in English by Ange Jason Quenum
Ivorian tech entrepreneur and engineer Cedric Ceruya Oka Baidai is building digital solutions to make e-commerce easier and safer for users and businesses in Côte d’Ivoire and across West Africa.
Cedric Ceruya Oka Baidai leads Aynid, a startup he founded in 2024. The company develops integrated tools that support buying and selling online—addressing local market needs with customized digital services.
The startup has launched several core services. Aynid Search is a vertical search engine designed for e-commerce. It allows users to find specific products or services in seconds.
Next is Aynid Shop, a smart marketplace. It includes automated store management, marketing tools, a sales tracking dashboard, and an instant messaging system. Sellers can manage offers, track sales, and handle payments through one streamlined interface.
Aynid is expanding its portfolio. Soon, it will launch Aynid Pay, a payment gateway to handle collections and withdrawals. The company also plans to roll out Aynid Delivery, a logistics service that uses QR code tracking and affordable pricing.
Aynid showcased its platform at Viva Technology, a major startup and innovation event held on June 14–15.
Before launching Aynid, Cedric Ceruya Oka Baidai co-founded Fermentuse, a web development agency, in 2012. He served as technical director there until 2020.
Cedric Ceruya Oka Baidai holds a diploma in electronics from the Félix Houphouët-Boigny National Polytechnic Institute (2010) and a telecommunications engineering degree from HETEC in Abidjan (2013).
He became a software engineer in 2015 at Raven’s Digital Team. A year later, he joined VEONE as a programmer analyst. He now heads the company's research and innovation department.
This article was initially published in French by Melchior Koba
Edited in English by Ange Jason Quenum
Benue State’s push to create jobs through digital transformation comes at a critical time for both Nigeria and Africa as a whole.
The Benue State Government is actively seeking collaborations with regional and international organizations to create jobs for its citizens, with a strong focus on opportunities in the digital space.
Speaking at the 3rd African Job Creation Forum held at the Adwa Victory Memorial Museum in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia from 7-9 July 2025, the Managing Director of Benue Digital Infrastructure Company (BDIC), Mr. Terwase Gbande — representing the state government — emphasized Benue’s commitment to building a resilient digital economy that empowers youth, creates sustainable jobs, and enhances governance.
Organized by the African Union, the Government of Ethiopia, and the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA) Secretariat, the forum brings together pan-African stakeholders committed to accelerating job creation through digital transformation, trade integration, and infrastructure development across the continent.
The forum’s focus strongly supports BDIC’s mission to build a robust digital economy that drives sustainable job creation, empowers young people, and strengthens governance. Discussions emphasized a key takeaway: Africa’s progress depends on shared digital infrastructure, inclusive innovation, and open, borderless opportunities.
For Benue, this translates to fast-tracking broadband rollout, developing e-governance systems, implementing smart agriculture technologies, and broadening digital skills training. According to a joint report by the World Bank and the IFC, by 2030, 35–45% of all jobs in Nigeria will require some level of digital skills. Notably, most of this demand will come from roles outside traditional ICT fields, as businesses increasingly adopt digital technologies, underscoring the urgent need for broad-based digital training initiatives like those being pursued in Benue State.
Hikmatu Bilali
He develops projects that let him explore how technology affects daily life. He leverages his technical skills to modernize the agricultural sector.
Thioube Samba (photo), a Senegalese computer engineer and entrepreneur, founded and is CEO of Sotilma. His company designs technology solutions for the agricultural sector.
Established in 2022, Sotilma develops tools to boost farming efficiency. The company provides automated water management systems that allow remote control of irrigation and fluid distribution. These systems operate without internet or electricity by utilizing long-range communication and solar power.
Sotilma's main solution, Sotilma Farm, uses smart valves and connected water meters controlled via a mobile or web application. Users can monitor real-time data on soil moisture, water levels, and other environmental factors.
The system allows remote irrigation adjustments, which helps reduce water consumption and increase crop yields. Farmers can also automate key operations, from irrigation to crop monitoring, through an easy-to-use interface.
Beyond agriculture, Sotilma also offers tools for industrial pipeline management, water treatment, and fluid distribution across various sectors. Orange Startup Studio supports the company. Sotilma was among the Orange-backed startups representing Senegal in June at Viva Technology 2025, an international tech and startup event hosted by telecom operator Orange. Sotilma also received the "Social Impact" award from Yas Sénégal during its Innovation Challenge.
Thioube Samba earned a degree in computer engineering from the Polytechnic Institute of Saint-Louis in 2022. He began his career in 2021 as a data science intern at the African Centre of Excellence in Mathematics, Computer Science, and ICT in Senegal. In 2022, he joined Sonatel, the country’s main telecom operator, as a data science intern. By 2023, he was appointed regional delegate for the GRFI Filaha Innove Incubator in the ECOWAS region.
Melchior Koba
-
Tunisia used AI to draft its 2026–2030 development plan
-
Plan prioritizes digital reform, healthcare, and energy
-
Goal is data-driven, transparent governance
Tunisia's Development Planning Commission used artificial intelligence (AI) to draft the nation's 2026–2030 national development plan, Commission President Mohamed El Kou announced on Wednesday, July 9. The plan outlines Tunisia's economic and social priorities for the next five years.
According to El Kou AI tools analyzed extensive sector-specific indicators to objectively identify key strategic priorities. The plan prioritizes digital transformation, legislative reform, support for small and medium-sized enterprises, regional equity, healthcare, and renewable energy. This approach, he noted, aims to base decisions on genuine needs rather than arbitrary political choices.
"Using artificial intelligence in planning is now a necessity. Those who fail to adapt risk marginalization," El Kou said. He added, "In a rapidly changing world, Tunisia cannot lag behind. It must seriously embrace the digital shift and fully commit to it." He clarified that AI complements human intelligence within a vision for an "intelligent state," rather than replacing it.
This initiative reflects a drive to modernize public policy, enhance transparency, and prepare Tunisia’s economy for global digital competition. It comes as AI remains a central topic of global debate. The World Bank suggests that AI, when combined with human-led management and decision-making, can assist governments in addressing development challenges.
The institution noted that disruptive technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI) have the potential to transform governments. It added that AI can be used as a tool to deliver personalized service experiences, improve the efficiency of management processes, strengthen policy compliance, and help detect fraud.
Adoni Conrad Quenum
Flutterwave, Africa’s payments technology company, has secured a Payment Institution license from the Central Bank of West African States (BCEAO), officially allowing it to operate in Senegal, it announced July 10.
This license enables Flutterwave to offer its full suite of secure, seamless payment solutions to businesses in Senegal and to those expanding into Francophone Africa.
This expansion allows businesses to offer popular local payment methods, process payouts easily, and access robust APIs and no-code tools like payment links and invoices.
Pan-African logistics technology company Leta has announced its official launch in Ghana, marking a major milestone in its mission to streamline delivery and supply chain operations across the continent.
Leta provides intelligent delivery and logistics solutions designed to automate operations for businesses in sectors such as fast food, grocery, and e-commerce. By leveraging advanced technology, the company helps its clients improve delivery efficiency, reduce operational costs, and enhance customer satisfaction.
As Ghana’s fast-growing retail and food service sectors continue to demand faster and more reliable delivery services, Leta’s entry into the market aims to support local businesses in meeting these evolving consumer expectations.
More...
A young startup in Benin is making it easier for small farmers to sell their goods and reduce post-harvest losses. Africereal, a tech company based in Abomey-Calavi, built the Ikena platform to help cooperatives and producers reach more buyers.
Ikena allows farmers, cooperatives, and agribusinesses to create digital storefronts where they can display and sell their produce. The platform promotes transparency by giving buyers clear information on product origin, availability, and price.
Founded in 2017 in Abomey-Calavi, Benin, as AfriRice by Steve Hoda and Maya Dohou, the startup received the official “startup” label from the Beninese Ministry of Digital Economy and Digitalization on July 3, valid for three years.
Users can browse listings of fruits, tubers, grains, and processed agro-industrial products. The platform currently works only through a web browser—no mobile app is available yet.
“To sell your products, simply create an account, complete your seller profile, and post your listings with details such as name, quantity, price, description, and photos. Once approved, your listing will be visible to potential buyers,” the company states.
Buyers can message sellers directly to resolve issues. If problems persist, they can report disputes through their account. Ikena’s support team reviews each case and takes action when needed.
Delivery times depend on the seller and the shipping method, usually ranging from 3 to 7 business days. Once shipped, the buyer receives a tracking number to monitor the order.
Ikena focuses on making digital commerce accessible to farmers who are often left out of traditional online markets. Its design prioritizes ease of use and seller assistance.
This article was initially published in French by Adoni Conrad Quenum
Edited in English by Ange Jason Quenum
Kamal ElSoueni designs his projects by studying how people move in cities. He focuses on practical solutions that solve real problems, with a strong interest in clean technology applied to urban mobility.
ElSoueni, an Egyptian entrepreneur, co-founded and now leads Rabbit Mobility, a micro-mobility platform that offers electric scooters and bikes for short-distance travel.
Launched in 2020, Rabbit Mobility uses clean technology to reduce traffic congestion and pollution in Egypt’s major cities. The company operates a fleet of electric vehicles accessible through a dedicated mobile app.
The platform provides two rental options: on-demand “Unlock & Go” and longer-term “Day Rentals.” Users locate a vehicle, scan a QR code to unlock it, and return it to a designated area after their ride. The app also allows users to book vehicles, manage payments, and subscribe to plans such as Rabbit Prime, which offers discounts on unlocking and booking fees.
Available on both Android and iOS, the app includes a zone management system that ensures users follow traffic regulations. So far, Rabbit Mobility has saved over 50,000 kilograms of CO₂ and logged more than one million kilometers traveled.
ElSoueni earned a finance degree from the American University in Cairo in 2013. In 2018, he studied blockchain strategy at Oxford’s Saïd Business School.
He began his career in 2011 as a sales intern at PwC Egypt. In 2014, he joined Easy Taxi Egypt, a Brazilian urban mobility firm, as a business development analyst. A year later, he interned in marketing at Etisalat Misr, the telecom operator. In 2016, he became a business development analyst at Barclays Egypt, and later joined PwC Middle East as a management consultant, a role he held until 2019.
This article was initially published in French by Melchior Koba
Edited in English by Ange Jason Quenum
He develops tools to help companies monitor their online presence or digital reputation. With data-and media-driven projects, he's making a name for himself in Morocco's tech sector.
Anas Acherrat is a Moroccan entrepreneur specializing in marketing, technology, and artificial intelligence. He is the co-founder and CEO of Petalens, a startup focused on media monitoring, data analysis, and brand reputation tracking. Founded in 2022, Petalens offers a platform that allows companies to capture, track, and analyze real-time mentions of their brand, products, or competitors across all media channels. Powered by AI tools, the platform converts this data into actionable insights for crisis management, trend monitoring, and decision-making for marketing, communications, and executive teams.
Petalens provides detailed reports, sends instant alerts for significant changes in digital reputation, and offers a comprehensive view of a brand or sector’s media landscape. Its services cater to both large corporations and small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) looking to manage their image and optimize communication strategies through data-driven insights tailored to their needs.
The startup participated in the Orange Fab acceleration program in Morocco. Orange also selected Petalens as one of three Moroccan startups to represent the country at the 2025 edition of Viva Technology, the global innovation and startup event held in June.
Anas Acherrat also co-founded Creastation in 2020, a company specializing in IT services and digital marketing. In the same year, he co-founded Mouhim, a content aggregation platform and app that allows users to access articles and books based on their interests.
Acherrat earned a bachelor’s degree in marketing and finance from Al Akhawayn University in Morocco in 2016. He then received a master’s in strategic marketing from Imperial Business School in the UK in 2018. That year, he worked as a marketing consultant for Group Lotus in Norwich, England, a company known for developing technologies for the automotive industry. He then joined BPG Group, a marketing agency in Dubai, as an account executive, a position he held until 2019.
Melchior Koba
• My Afro Origins platform is dedicated for Afro-descendants seeking citizenship under a new return law recognizing descendants of enslaved Africans.
• Move aligns with global diaspora initiatives like Ghana’s “Year of Return” and Guinea-Bissau’s citizenship program.
• Platform offers application tools with a $100 fee, aiming to strengthen diaspora ties and development.
Benin officially launched My Afro Origins, a digital platform designed to accept applications for Beninese nationality from Afro-descendants. The portal went live on Friday, July 4, 2025.
The platform supports the implementation of Law No. 2024-31, passed on September 2, 2024, which for the first time guarantees the right of return and citizenship to descendants of sub-Saharan Africans who were deported during the slave trade and the transatlantic triangle trade.
“Our brothers and sisters in the diaspora, forcibly uprooted during the dark hours of the transatlantic slave trade, must reclaim their place within the African community,” said Benin’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Olushegun Adjadi Bakari. “It is time to heal these wounds and recreate that sacred bond with those who, though physically distant, carry Africa in their hearts.”
The announcement comes as many Afro-descendants, especially African Americans and Afro-Caribbeans, seek to return to Africa, reconnect with their heritage, and contribute to the continent’s development. It also aligns with the United Nations’ International Decade for People of African Descent from 2015 to 2024, which promotes human rights, justice, and development for people of African heritage living outside the continent.
Benin has launched several initiatives to encourage the return of Afro-descendants and strengthen ties with its global diaspora. The Vodun Days festival has become a major event for the African diaspora, attracting visitors from Haiti, the United States, Brazil, and increasingly from Guadeloupe, all seeking to reconnect with their roots.
This initiative follows similar efforts in other countries, such as Ghana’s Year of Return in 2019 and Guinea-Bissau’s recent decision to grant citizenship and issue national passports to an initial group of people of African descent.
Beyond granting Beninese nationality to Afro-descendants, the program offers opportunities for economic, cultural, and educational development.
The My Afro Origins platform allows users to access information, prepare their application, and pay the $100 processing fee.
Lydie Mobio