After identifying gaps in existing practices, Dossou developed a digital solution aimed at improving the reliability of medical prescriptions and streamlining pharmacy operations.
Gédéon Dossou, a Benin-based entrepreneur, is the co-founder and chief executive officer of Pharmatrack, a digital platform designed to strengthen the traceability of medical prescriptions and improve patient treatment monitoring.
Founded in 2023 with the support of several pharmacists, Pharmatrack develops a secure prescription digitization solution. Built on cloud technology and artificial intelligence, the platform enables fast and reliable prescription analysis, helping pharmacies streamline operations.
Pharmatrack provides an intuitive interface for prescription management, allowing prescriptions to be securely digitized, archived and tracked in real time. The platform integrates with existing pharmacy management systems, features automated prescription recognition, and generates compliance reports.
“At Pharmatrack, we are transforming a process that remains largely manual and inefficient into a seamless, secure and intelligent system,” Dossou said. The solution is currently used by more than 30 pharmacies across southern and central Benin.
Dossou holds a bachelor’s degree in international business from ESM Paris, obtained in 2013, as well as a bachelor’s degree in sociology from the University of Abomey-Calavi in Benin. He later earned a master’s degree in engineering and technology from the Haute École de Commerce et de Management (HECM).
He began his career in 2015 at Africaine des Assurances Côte d’Ivoire, where he worked as a software engineer. Between October 2020 and November 2025, he served as a digital projects specialist at Inklusiiv, an international diversity, equity and inclusion consulting firm based in Benin.
Melchior Koba
High-traffic parking lots pose operational and cost challenges for cities and businesses. A South African entrepreneur has developed a digital system to automate access and payment, reducing queues and operating costs.
Joshua Raphael is a South African civil engineer and entrepreneur based in Cape Town. He is the founder and chief executive of Parket, a startup that digitises parking management.
Founded in 2019, Parket develops a digital parking system built for high-traffic sites, allowing vehicles to enter and exit quickly. The platform is designed to cut operating costs, improve the user experience and simplify parking operations.
Drivers no longer need to collect or keep paper tickets. Access, usage and payment are fully digital, eliminating queues at pay stations. Payments are cashless and processed through the Parket platform, enabling faster throughput, automated operations and precise tracking across parking facilities.
Before launching Parket, Raphael co-founded uKitchen, a South African restaurant, in 2016. In 2017, he co-founded Newmint Capital, a Cape Town-based company focused on bitcoin and cryptocurrency mining.
Raphael graduated from Stellenbosch University in 2013 with a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering. He began his career the same year as a graduate engineer at PRDW Consulting Port and Coastal Engineers, an international engineering consultancy. Between 2014 and 2015, he worked as an engineer at Stefanutti Stocks Civils, a listed South African construction group.
Melchior Koba
Reliable company data is hard to come by in Africa. The Ivorian founder is using tech to bridge the gap.
Aissata Diallo Bah is an Ivorian marketing specialist and entrepreneur. She is the chief executive of Nakani AI, a company she founded with Steve Bah Blesson. Nakani AI provides an online platform that enables easy access to financial, legal and judicial information on African companies, with a particular focus on those in Côte d'Ivoire.
Founded in 2024, Nakani AI aims to centralize key information on companies across the continent. The platform uses a conversational agent to answer user questions about African companies without requiring knowledge of financial or legal jargon.
It provides access to a vast database of corporate financial statements and official African legal texts. By asking a few simple questions, a user can obtain reliable information on a company or the legal framework governing an activity.
Nakani AI serves both international investors and entrepreneurs, lawyers, consultants, and individuals in Africa. The platform helps professionals assess partners and better manage risk, while enabling citizens to better understand the rules governing business.
Since 2017, Aissata Bah has been responsible for customer follow-up at Nouvelle Parfumerie Gandour in Côte d'Ivoire. She holds a master's degree in marketing obtained the same year from Pigier and began her career in 2013 as a marketing and communications agent at Banque de l’Habitat de Côte d’Ivoire.
Melchior Koba
-
Initial phase targets vehicle overloading and seatbelt non-compliance
-
Authorities say broader coverage needed to assess road safety impact
Mauritanian authorities have deployed an artificial intelligence-powered system to automatically detect and record traffic violations nationwide in real time, according to the government. The initiative has been operational since December 25 and is part of efforts to integrate digital technology into road safety management.
The system’s first phase focuses on two main violations: vehicle overloading, detected automatically when a vehicle exceeds its authorized weight, and failure to wear a seatbelt, detected by smart cameras. The solution aims to modernize monitoring through automatic alerts and improved data tracking, particularly during intercity travel.
The use of digital technology for road safety in Mauritania remains at an early stage, however. Expanding the system to cover a wider range of violations will be necessary to assess its real impact on road safety.
AI’s potential extends beyond detecting violations. The International Telecommunication Union (ITU), for example, launched the “AI for Road Safety” initiative in 2021, promoting a “safe system” approach built around six pillars: road safety management, safer roads and mobility, safer vehicles, safer road users, post-crash response, and speed control.
According to the UN agency, AI can improve the collection and analysis of crash data, generate insights to prevent collisions, and optimize post-crash response, helping to strengthen regulatory frameworks.
The ITU cautions, however, that AI is not a cure-all. Adequate safety standards, rigorous system testing, and safeguards against risks to human rights and privacy are essential to ensure these technologies are used reliably, securely, and ethically. Developing robust telecommunications infrastructure, such as 5G, will also be necessary to support such systems.
Isaac K. Kassouwi
-
Coverage spans 13 African markets, including group and knockout games
-
Move strengthens Max it as pan-African digital content platform
Orange’s Middle East and Africa unit (OMEA) will broadcast 35 matches of the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) on its Max it super app, the company said on Monday. The tournament will be held in Morocco from Dec. 21, 2025, to Jan. 18, 2026.
The broadcasts will be available in 13 sub-Saharan African countries where Orange operates, including Burkina Faso, Botswana, Cameroon, the Central African Republic, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Ivory Coast, Guinea, Madagascar, Mali, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Liberia and Guinea-Bissau.
Coverage will include all group-stage matches involving national teams from countries where Orange has operations, as well as a selection of knockout-stage fixtures. These will include the round of 16 and quarter-finals, one semi-final, the third-place playoff and the final. Pre-match and post-match programming is also planned.
“This year, with Max it, we are bringing our digital vision to life by offering a fully integrated experience,” said Yasser Shaker, chief executive of Orange Middle East and Africa. “This initiative reflects our commitment to supporting our customers’ passion for football and to creating shared moments across the continent.”
Orange said the agreement strengthens its digital offering for African football fans during AFCON. These include a dedicated fan platform providing real-time content, statistics, interviews and match highlights. The group is also deploying artificial intelligence tools, including a multilingual chatbot designed to answer fan questions. In addition, Orange plans to install connected fan zones in several African countries.
The initiative aligns with OMEA’s strategy to position Max it as a pan-African digital content platform focused on inclusion, innovation and the promotion of African talent.
Launched in November 2023, Max it combines telecommunications, financial services, entertainment and digital content. Users can access online games, music, television, videos, films and news through the app.
Orange had 178 million subscribers across 17 countries in Africa and the Middle East in the third quarter of 2025. Max it had 17.4 million active users across 14 markets at the end of December 2024. At launch, the company said it expected the platform to reach 45 million users by the end of 2025.
The group is betting on smartphones as the primary gateway to digital services in Africa and the Middle East, where adoption among connected customers is expected to reach 61% in 2025.
Isaac K. Kassouwi
African startups are invited to apply for the 5th edition of the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Global Water Award. With a total prize pool of $1 million, the award honors innovative solutions that use clean energy for water production, distribution, storage, desalination, or purification. The competition features several categories for projects, research, individuals, and crisis solutions. Applications are open through April 30, 2026.
Last week, Moroccan startup Woliz raised $2.2 million in a pre-seed round led by insurer Sanlam Maroc to modernize the country’s vast network of local retail shops. Its platform leverages automation, data, and AI to connect shopkeepers, suppliers, and financial partners, optimizing inventory management and streamlining access to financial services. Looking ahead, the company plans to expand into other African markets.
Tanzanian fintech NALA announced last week that it has secured Payment Service Provider and Payment System Operator licenses from the Bank of Uganda, adding to its existing money transfer license. This new status allows NALA to operate on the country's primary regulated payment rails and supports a $2 million investment plan to bolster local infrastructure and serve the diaspora.
-
Burkina Faso approves $109.4 million digital transition budget for 2026
-
Funds target fiber expansion, internet access and public service digitization
-
Investment doubles 2025 budget despite weak e-government and internet rankings
Burkina Faso’s Ministry of Digital Transition, Posts and Electronic Communications has allocated 61 billion CFA francs (about 109.4 million dollars) for 2026. The budget was approved during the second ordinary session of the Ministerial Sector Administrative Council held on Monday, December 29.
The Annual Work Plan covers 156 activities, including the deployment of 270 km of optical fiber, the extension of mobile and broadband internet coverage to 750 identified white zones, the commissioning of mini data centers, the digitization of 100 administrative procedures, the construction of so-called “citizen houses,” and the strengthening of digital legislation.
The 61-billion-franc allocation is nearly double the 30.4 billion CFA francs budgeted in 2025. Last year’s results included the rollout of the CIM and CIMEX platforms across several public institutions, the issuance of 338 IT accreditations, the expansion of the national fiber-optic network to more than 11,292 km, and the connection of 88 additional buildings to the RESINA network.
Other achievements included the acquisition of five data centers, digital skills training for 169 young girls, the recruitment and training of 214 IT specialists, and the launch of “Zama tchéy” citizen houses aimed at bringing postal services closer to local communities.
The budget increase aligns with the government’s ambition to position the country as a regional leader in the use of information and communication technologies across public administration, education, health, commerce and agriculture. Authorities see digitalization as a key driver of socio-economic development and have identified 12 priority projects to support this strategy by 2030.
Despite these efforts, the country ranks 175th out of 193 in the United Nations E-Government Development Index, with a score of 0.2895 out of 1. This is well below the averages for West Africa (0.3957), Africa (0.4247) and the global benchmark (0.6382).
In cybersecurity, Burkina Faso is ranked in the third tier out of five under the International Telecommunication Union’s Global Cybersecurity Index. The country scores relatively well on governance, legal frameworks and international cooperation, but remains weaker in technical measures and capacity building.
Telecom data for 2024 show mobile voice coverage at 85%, compared with 64% for 3G internet and 46% for 4G. Nationwide, 1,700 white zones have been identified. Of these, 183 were covered in 2022 and 138 in 2024, with a further 750 scheduled for coverage in 2025. According to ITU figures, internet penetration stood at 17% in 2023, compared with 55.9% for mobile telephony.
Isaac K. Kassouwi
His technology is reshaping how real estate is managed by automating operational bottlenecks that have long relied on manual processes.
Ronald Mutuku is a Kenyan computer scientist and entrepreneur. He is the co-founder and chief executive of Silqu, a proptech startup developing digital property management solutions for owners, agencies and property managers across Africa.
Founded in 2020, Silqu has built a rental management system that allows users to track rents, tenants and expenses remotely via computer or mobile phone. The platform is designed for individual property owners, real estate agencies, developers and estate managers.
Silqu enables rent and service charge collection with detailed payment tracking for each tenant. It includes tenant management tools such as centralized records, communication features, status monitoring, and move-in and move-out management. The system also tracks financial accounts and reconciles property-related cash flows.
The platform automates the management of visitors, vehicles and parking, strengthening access control and streamlining billing, receipts, expenses and payments. It also generates reports and analytics on property performance, including revenues, costs and payment status.
The company says more than 900 property owners now use its platform, with over 10,000 properties under management.
Alongside Silqu, Mutuku serves as chief technology officer at UbaPesa Ltd, a Kenyan platform connecting lenders and borrowers. He is also chairman of Sqrool, a Nairobi-based software development company.
He earned a diploma in mathematics and computer science from Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology in 2012. He began his career in 2013 as an IT officer at Eastafrisat Communications, a computer security firm, before joining Craft Silicon Campus the same year as a software engineer.
Melchior Koba
More...
By leveraging digital tools to drive equal opportunity, he is providing a practical solution to the educational and economic gaps that persist in rural areas.
Ntende Beka Isabirye is a Ugandan entrepreneur and the founder of Tech Reach Africa, a non-profit organization working to expand access to digital skills for students, teachers and young people in rural Uganda, with the aim of improving educational outcomes and income opportunities.
Founded in 2021 under the name ICT4Education and later rebranded as Tech Reach Africa, the organization operates primarily in eastern and central Uganda. Its work focuses on bringing practical digital learning to rural schools and underserved youth, positioning digital skills as a key driver of long-term community development.
As part of its school outreach, Tech Reach Africa deploys mobile computer labs to remote schools, giving students and teachers hands-on experience with basic computing and digital tools.
The organization also runs training programs for out-of-school youth and recent graduates, designed to help participants overcome financial and geographic barriers to employment. Courses cover web development, graphic design, videography and photography.
So far, 2,650 students from 21 schools have taken part in the school program. In addition, 350 teachers from those schools have been trained as digital mentors, enabling them to pass on skills and integrate digital tools into classroom teaching. Separately, more than 870 young graduates have completed the organization’s vocational training programs.
In 2017, Isabirye became a youth issues consultant for Swisscontact, a Swiss technical cooperation foundation, in Uganda. Between 2018 and 2024, he worked as a trainer with Dance4Life, an organization focused on sexual and reproductive health and rights. From 2019 to 2020, he also served as a project coordinator for Irise International in Uganda, which specializes in menstrual health management. He holds a diploma in organizational leadership and civic engagement from Louisiana State University, obtained in 2024.
Melchior Koba
By combining technology and sustainability, he’s transforming the African travel landscape. His approach ensures a better experience for travelers while delivering meaningful benefits to local communities.
Ryan Apreala is a Rwandan computer scientist specializing in artificial intelligence. He is the founder, chief executive, and creative director of Outside Hospitality, a technology startup operating in the tourism sector.
Founded in 2022, Outside Hospitality advocates a form of tourism grounded in respect for people, cultures, and the environment across Africa. The company seeks to present a more authentic image of the continent by moving away from stereotypes and focusing on meaningful experiences that benefit both travelers and local communities.
The startup is developing a digital platform that connects travelers with distinctive experiences while supporting hospitality businesses through creative services. These services include brand strategy, storytelling, and digital marketing, with a strong emphasis on sustainability.
“Sustainability is embedded across all our activities, from the experiences we offer to the businesses we support. Looking ahead, we plan to introduce a sustainable financing mechanism that rewards environmentally responsible companies and funds innovation in sustainable travel,” Apreala said.
Apreala graduated from the African Leadership University in Rwanda, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in software engineering and artificial intelligence in July 2025. He began his career in 2020 as a research assistant at the Boston University School of Technology in the United States. In 2023, he worked as a business development analyst.
Melchior Koba
Ghanaian startups are invited to apply for the sixth cohort of the UNICEF StartUp Lab, a six-month accelerator focused on tech-driven solutions for the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) impacting children and youth. Selected teams will receive expert mentoring, industry-specific support, and up to $6,000 in prototype funding. Additionally, the top three startups will be awarded $15,000 to help scale their impact. Applications are open until February 20.
-
Chad accelerates “Tchad Connexion 2030” digital transformation strategy
-
Government, Huawei discuss expanding connectivity and digital public services
-
Low internet access highlights urgency, with just 13.2% online in 2025
Chad is moving to accelerate the rollout of its national digital strategy, “Tchad Connexion 2030,” as it seeks to expand connectivity and modernise public services.
The Minister of the Digital Economy and Digitalisation, Boukar Michel, held talks on Wednesday, December 24, with a Huawei North Africa delegation to discuss priorities for the country’s digital transformation. The delegation was led by Jason Ye, Huawei’s Vice President for North Africa.
Talks focused on expanding telecommunications infrastructure, widening access to connected services, and speeding up the digitalisation of public administration. With internet access still uneven across the country, these areas are central to the government’s digital policy goals.
Authorities are relying on partnerships with technology providers to narrow the digital divide, particularly in rural areas, and promote broader digital inclusion. Improving network coverage, deploying solutions tailored to local conditions, and strengthening technical skills were highlighted as central drivers of the transition.
For Huawei, which is involved in several digital infrastructure projects across Africa, the discussions fit within its broader approach of working with governments seeking to modernise their economies. Both sides explored the possibility of turning the talks into concrete projects aligned with the objectives of “Tchad Connexion 2030.”
The talks come against a backdrop of low connectivity. According to DataReportal, only 13.2% of Chad’s population had internet access at the start of 2025, with sharp disparities between urban areas and rural regions.
Samira Njoya