On Wednesday, June 17, CYSEC MENA will bring together technology decision-makers, security officers and experts in Manama, Bahrain, for a three-day conference on regional cyber threats. The agenda includes panels on critical infrastructure protection, IT/OT strategies, compliance and digital resilience. The event is expected to promote international collaboration and networking among governments, businesses and cybersecurity solution providers across the Middle East and North Africa (MENA).
Gebeya (Ethiopia) and VukaOS (South Africa) are joining forces to combine their artificial intelligence technologies and create a seamless pipeline from planning to execution for entrepreneurial projects. Entrepreneurs validate their ideas on VukaOS and then bring them to life in Dala Studio, a no-code platform that allows users to build apps, websites, games, and multimedia content using natural language.
European venture capital firm Speedinvest is launching its first fund focused on growth-stage companies in the Middle East and Africa, backed by the Qatar Investment Authority, Mubadala and the European Investment Bank. With $1.4 billion in assets under management, the initiative strengthens ties between Europe and the Middle East and Africa, giving founders direct access to a global network of experts and strategic investors.
- Riaz Moola launched HyperDev in 2025 to generate full applications from simple text descriptions.
- The platform enables users to design, test and deploy apps without complex coding processes.
- The solution offers flexible architecture choices and unlimited iterations to refine applications.
Riaz Moola is a South African computer scientist, investor and entrepreneur. He founded and chairs HyperDev, an online platform that uses artificial intelligence to transform ideas into functional applications without lengthy and complex processes.
Founded in 2025, HyperDev allows users to design, test and deploy full applications from a simple natural-language description. The user defines requirements and operating rules, and the platform automatically generates an application that runs directly in a web browser.
HyperDev differentiates its offering through flexibility. The platform does not impose a single project model and instead allows users to select backend architecture and data storage options.
As a result, users retain full control over project structure and long-term evolution. Consequently, the platform positions itself as a customizable alternative to rigid no-code solutions.
HyperDev also removes constraints on creation volume. The platform allows users to create, test and iterate as many times as needed.
Users can explore multiple approaches, compare different versions of the same project and progressively refine applications until they reach optimal performance. Therefore, the solution encourages experimentation and rapid prototyping.
Riaz Moola also founded and leads HyperionDev, an online certification and education technology platform established in 2012. In addition, he co-founded Dark Math Games in 2023 and invested in Longdue, a British company focused on gaming technologies.
Riaz Moola earned a bachelor’s degree in computer science and mathematics from the University of KwaZulu-Natal in 2011. He then earned a bachelor’s degree in computer science and artificial intelligence from the University of Edinburgh in 2014, followed by a master’s degree in technology policy from the University of Cambridge in 2016.
Before his entrepreneurial career, he held several roles in the technology sector. In 2014, he worked as a developer and technology analyst at Bank of America Merrill Lynch. In 2015, he became an associate product manager at Google in Switzerland. In 2016, he served as chief technical advisor at Injini.
This article was initially published in French by Melchior Koba
Adapted in English by Ange J. A de Berry Quenum
- Senegal launched a national digital library for students as part of a $206 million education digitization plan for 2025–2029.
- The platform offers validated educational content across all levels and supports both in-class and remote learning.
- Unequal internet access, especially in rural areas, remains a major constraint to adoption.
Senegal decided in January 2025 to invest $206 million to finance its digital education strategy for 2025–2029. As a result, authorities have started to implement concrete initiatives.
The government announced on Monday, April 20 the launch of a national digital library dedicated to students. The platform aims to facilitate access to educational resources and ensure continuity of learning amid recurring disruptions to the school calendar.
The digital library is accessible online via smartphones, tablets and computers. The platform provides content across multiple education levels, from preschool to secondary education.
Teachers validated the resources, which include lessons, interactive exercises and revision tools. Two solutions structure the offering: Senkala focuses on assessments and exercises, while Promet delivers educational content and supports autonomous learning.
The initiative aims to guarantee pedagogical continuity by enabling students to continue learning outside the classroom. In parallel, the program supports a broader strategy to modernize education by integrating digital technologies into teaching methods.
The platform also aims to reduce educational inequalities, particularly between urban and rural areas. Therefore, authorities position the initiative as both an access tool and a structural reform lever.
However, access to home internet remains highly unequal across Senegal, according to a survey published in July 2025 by the National Agency of Statistics and Demography (ANSD). Only 43.8% of households in Dakar have internet access, while the rate falls to 16.3% in other urban areas and drops below 3% in rural areas.
DataReportal estimates higher levels of mobile internet access. By the end of 2025, Senegal had 11.5 million internet users, representing a penetration rate of 60.6%. Nevertheless, these disparities could limit the full impact of the digital library.
This article was initially published in French by Adoni Conrad Quenum
Adapted in English by Ange J.A de Berry Quenum
- Cliniva combines teleconsultations and physical clinics to improve access and continuity of care.
- The Nairobi-based startup targets women and underserved patients with affordable, patient-centered services.
- The company plans to expand beyond Kenya as hybrid healthtech models gain traction across Africa.
Cliniva is an e-health solution developed by a Nairobi-based startup founded in 2022 by Yulia Sidorova. The company aims to transform the patient experience, particularly for women who remain underserved by traditional healthcare systems.
“We challenge the idea that high-quality, patient-centered care is inaccessible and expensive. To prove this, we are building a continent-wide platform where every woman can access affordable, compassionate care of exceptional and consistent quality,” the startup said.
Cliniva built its model on seamless integration between in-person consultations and telemedicine services. Patients can access care remotely or visit local clinics, while the system reduces waiting times and improves personalized follow-up.
The company delivers continuous care that covers routine services, chronic disease management, gynecology, pregnancy and family planning. Consequently, Cliniva positions itself as a comprehensive healthcare provider rather than a single-service platform.
Cliniva differentiates its offering through a strong focus on user experience. The startup targets common barriers in African healthcare systems, including long travel distances, high costs, low service quality and brief consultations.
The platform combines digital tools, personalized monitoring and physical presence to offer a more accessible and efficient alternative. As a result, the company seeks to improve both access and quality of care.
Cliniva leverages data and preventive care programs to improve long-term health outcomes. In addition, the company develops corporate health solutions that enable employers to monitor employee health, reduce absenteeism and lower healthcare-related costs.
The startup already operates several service points in Nairobi. It now plans to expand its model to other African markets.
Cliniva reflects a broader trend across the continent. Hybrid healthtech solutions are emerging as scalable responses to structural healthcare challenges by combining digital innovation, local access and patient-centered design.
This article was initially published in French by Adoni Conrad Quenum
Adapted in English by Ange J.A de Berry Quenum
- Burundi approves a 2025–2030 national AI strategy to support governance and growth.
- Authorities structure the roadmap around six pillars including governance, infrastructure, and human capital.
- Government plans pilot projects in health and agriculture to demonstrate economic impact.
Burundi has stepped up efforts to position itself in emerging technologies by adopting a national artificial intelligence strategy for 2025–2030, authorities said following validation of the plan on Wednesday, April 22 in Bujumbura.
The Ministry of Finance, Budget and Digital Economy, with support from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), designed the roadmap to make artificial intelligence an operational tool for governance, economic growth, and public service modernization. Authorities aim to structure the local ecosystem and capture economic gains linked to data exploitation as AI adoption accelerates globally.
A Strategy Structured Around Six Priorities
Authorities anchored the strategy on six core pillars, starting with governance. The government plans to create steering bodies, draft an ethical charter, and adapt the regulatory framework to oversee AI development. In parallel, authorities will promote ethics, inclusion, and sustainability by introducing algorithm oversight mechanisms, integrating local languages, and supporting responsible AI practices.
On the technical front, the government will strengthen digital infrastructure and data management capacity. Authorities plan to modernize data centers, establish sector-specific hubs, and develop sovereign cloud solutions while expanding telecom networks.
The government has also prioritized human capital development. Authorities aim to align university training with AI-related jobs, train more than 1,000 public officials, and foster talent through programs targeting youth and women.
In addition, the strategy emphasizes innovation and entrepreneurship. Authorities will introduce dedicated financing mechanisms, set up incubators in several cities, and provide incentives to support the emergence of AI-focused startups.
Finally, the government will prioritize practical applications. Authorities plan to deploy around 15 pilot projects in key sectors such as healthcare and agriculture. These projects will include diagnostic support tools, telemedicine solutions, climate alert systems, and advisory services for farmers, with the goal of quickly demonstrating productivity gains and improved public services.
A Position Still Under Development
However, Burundi still faces structural constraints in digital infrastructure and data utilization. As in several African economies, challenges include limited data availability, weak system interoperability, and evolving regulatory frameworks.
Nevertheless, authorities designed the strategy to address these gaps by aligning investments, skills, and use cases within a coherent vision. The plan also fits within the country’s Vision 2040–2060 framework, which identifies digital technology as a key driver of economic transformation.
Once implemented, the strategy could position Burundi alongside African countries that have already structured their AI approaches, including Rwanda, Senegal, Morocco, and Benin. However, authorities must now translate this ambition into concrete deployments capable of delivering measurable economic gains amid growing competition around data and advanced technologies.
This article was initially published in French by Samira Njoya
Adapted in English by Ange J.A de Berry Quenum
Qubators, a Christian network of technology experts and innovators, is launching AI Foundry — a free, intensive program designed to help students and young professionals move beyond using artificial intelligence tools to building applications. Guided by mentors, participants design, develop, and launch real-world products through a structured “learn, build, earn” path, ending with a project showcase to connect them with growth and funding opportunities.
Google has selected 15 African startups for the 10th cohort of its accelerator program focused on artificial intelligence and advanced technologies. The companies will benefit from mentoring, hands-on workshops and technical support without taking equity from April through June 2026.
From June 9 to 12, the SIT Africa Forum will bring together more than 70 cybersecurity vendors and 350 IT decision-makers from across Francophone Africa in Marrakech. The four-day event will feature conferences, workshops and business meetings focused on cyber risks, data protection, cloud computing, digital identity and the use of artificial intelligence to strengthen organizational security.
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- Terra Industries started building a major drone factory in Accra.
- The plant targets annual production of 50,000 drones by 2028.
- The project follows a $34 million funding round to scale industrial capacity.
Terra Industries announced on Sunday, April 19, that it launched construction of “Pax-2,” its second autonomous systems manufacturing plant. The company is building the facility in Accra, Ghana. The site will cover more than 3,150 square meters (34,000 square feet). Once operational in June 2026, it will become the largest drone production facility in Africa, surpassing the flagship “Pax-1” site in Abuja, Nigeria.
The company is making this investment after raising $34 million to expand industrial capacity and strengthen engineering teams in Nigeria and allied countries. The Ghanaian site will focus on high-volume production of strategic aerial systems. These include the Archer surveillance and strike drone, the Iroko tactical unit, and the Kama high-speed interceptor, which can reach speeds of 300 km/h to counter hostile drones.
Beyond the industrial investment, this initiative reflects broader shifts in security dynamics across the continent. Armed groups in several regions, particularly in the Sahel, are increasingly using drones, sometimes adapted from civilian technologies. This trend is transforming operational methods and increasing demand for integrated solutions combining surveillance, electronic warfare, and interception capabilities.
At the same time, the global market is expanding. According to Fortune Business Insights, the global military drone market could reach $30.9 billion by 2034, up from $18.2 billion in 2025 and $20.8 billion in 2026. The growth is driven by expanding use cases in security environments.
The company selected Ghana based on the availability of technical skills and the country’s ambition to position itself as a regional industrial hub. The project should create around 120 direct jobs, mainly in engineering, and operate continuously to meet demand. By 2028, the plant aims to achieve an annual production capacity of 50,000 units.
This article was initially published in French by Samira Njoya
Adapted in English by Ange J.A de Berry Quenum
- Fapshi offers an integrated platform to collect, manage, and track business payments.
- The startup uses a transaction-based pricing model with no installation fees and a test environment.
- Founder Joachim Ukaegbu combines fintech entrepreneurship with software engineering experience in health tech.
Joachim Ukaegbu is a Cameroonian software engineer and entrepreneur. He co-founded and leads Fapshi as chief executive officer. The platform helps businesses collect payments and manage finances in a simple and structured way.
Founded in 2022, Fapshi provides a suite of tools that allows companies to collect payments, manage funds daily, send money to multiple accounts, and track all operations through a single interface. The platform offers a testing environment before live deployment and does not charge installation fees. It applies fees only to successful transactions.
Moreover, Fapshi enables users to receive different types of payments through easily shareable links with clients or communities. Once distributed, these links centralize payments within the interface, which facilitates collections for contributions, donations, sales, registrations, and other financial flows.
In addition, companies can integrate the solution into a website or an existing application. The platform emphasizes practical and efficient financial management. Beyond collections, Fapshi allows users to send funds and organize withdrawals with ease.
Alongside his entrepreneurial activities, Joachim Ukaegbu works as a software engineer at OpenMRS, an open-source medical record system designed for low-resource environments.
He graduated from the University of Buea in 2022 with a master’s degree in software engineering. Between 2018 and 2022, he worked as a software engineer and web developer at several organizations, including LibreHealth, which develops technology solutions for the healthcare sector.
This article was initially published in French by Melchior Koba
Adapted in English by Ange J.A de Berry Quenum
- Zambia plans to connect 2,500 more schools to the internet by end-2026.
- Only 5,487 schools currently have internet access for teaching, out of 13,987 nationwide.
- The initiative relies on public-private partnerships and digital learning platforms backed by UNESCO, UNICEF, and Microsoft.
The government of Zambia plans to connect 2,500 additional schools to the internet by the end of 2026. It frames the initiative as part of a wider strategy to digitalize the education system.
In this context, telecommunications companies and financial institutions in Zambia committed last week to support the Ministry of Education in expanding school connectivity. They made this commitment during a stakeholder meeting focused on school internet access.
Noriana Muneku, Permanent Secretary for Administration at the Ministry of Education, stated that the collaboration transformed learning conditions in the country. She said that classrooms once limited in resources now introduce students to digital tools, while teachers expand their teaching methods and students access knowledge beyond their immediate environment.
The initiative aligns with Zambia’s broader strategy to use technology as a driver of socio-economic development across sectors. The government implements the education component in partnership with private sector actors and international organizations.
The Ministry of Education stated that schools can use a wide range of ICT tools to communicate, create, store, and manage information more efficiently. It added that information and communication technologies provide learners with access to digital textbooks, e-books, and specialized educational software available anytime and anywhere.
The ministry further stated in its “Education Statistics Bulletin 2025” that ICT integration enables students to learn at their own pace and schedule. It said this flexibility allows learners to balance studies with personal or professional commitments, unlike traditional teaching methods.
In parallel, the government launched the “Digital Learning Passport” platform in collaboration with UNESCO, UNICEF, and Microsoft. The platform offers interactive lessons, audio and video content, and digitized curriculum-aligned resources. In 2024, more than 300,000 students used the platform to study subjects including English, mathematics, science, and social studies.
According to Ministry of Education data, 8,239 schools out of 13,987 had internet access for administrative purposes by end-2025. However, only 5,487 schools had connectivity for teaching and learning, while 3,276 schools had what authorities classified as reliable connections.
The initiative faces several challenges. These include the scale of connectivity rollout, network reliability, availability of ICT equipment, and the digital skills of teachers and students. Electricity access also remains a major constraint, as 5,812 schools lacked power supply in 2025.
This article was initially published in French by Isaac K. Kassouwi
Adapted in English by Ange J.A de Berry Quenum
- Lambdaa develops digital tools including websites, mobile apps, and enterprise solutions.
- Founder Oben Desmond Ashu also works at UK-based Social Finance.
- The company built Pulse Medical Wears, an e-commerce platform for medical professionals in Africa.
Oben Desmond Ashu uses software engineering to help businesses transition to digital operations. He leads Lambdaa, a technology firm that designs solutions to support organizational efficiency, expand service access, and drive growth.
Lambdaa provides a broad range of digital services tailored to business needs. The company builds websites that help clients establish a strong online presence. It also develops mobile applications that allow businesses to deliver services directly to users’ smartphones.
Moreover, Lambdaa focuses on user experience by improving interface design and usability. The company also deploys integrated digital systems that optimize internal operations and enhance overall performance.
The company’s portfolio includes Pulse Medical Wears, an e-commerce platform dedicated to healthcare professionals in Africa. The platform enables medical staff to easily access essential professional clothing.
In parallel, Oben Desmond Ashu works as a software engineer at Social Finance, a British firm that designs, funds, and scales solutions to social challenges.
He also founded the Hustler Engineering Community, a network that provides students and professionals with a platform for exchange and learning.
Oben Desmond Ashu graduated from the University of Buea in 2022 with a bachelor’s degree in computer engineering. He started his career in 2018 as a software engineer at Quesers, an educational application.
In 2023, he joined OPUVIA, where he worked as lead software engineer in areas including social innovation, educational technology, talent development, and professional management.
This article was initially published in French by Melchior Koba
Adapted in English by Ange J.A de Berry Quenum