Over the past two decades, Niger and China have built strong bilateral relations across various sectors. This collaboration has recently gained momentum in the digital domain.
The People’s Republic of China is ready to partner with Niger in the digital sector, indicated Jiang Feng, China’s ambassador to Niger, during a meeting with Brigadier General Abdouramane Tiani, the president of Niger’s National Council for the Safeguard of the Homeland (CNSP), on April 18.
Jiang Feng was joined by Zhou Jian, the Director General of China’s Emergency Cyber Response Team for Industrial Control Systems and a special representative of the Chinese Minister of Industry and Information Technology. The Chinese diplomat highlighted China’s position as the largest developing country with a highly advanced digital economy and its intent to closely collaborate with Niger, a fraternal nation, to foster its growth in the digital domain.
“China, as the largest developing country with a highly developed digital economy, intends to conduct very close cooperation with Niger, a brotherly country, to develop it in the digital field in order to promote the already excellent bilateral cooperation to a new level for the benefit of our two nations,” he said.
The meeting between the two politicians was held on the sidelines of the first edition of Semaine du numérique (Senum24) organized by Niger under the theme “le numérique et la souveraineté ( Digital and Sovereignty)”. The event aims to discuss mechanisms, solutions, and initiatives to address challenges related to digital transformation in the country.
During the meeting, Jiang Feng expressed his satisfaction with this theme, which he considers a demonstration of the CNSP's will and determination to give paramount importance to this sector in the socio-economic development of the country.
Samira Njoya
After leaving her position at a bank in Ghana, she decided to devote her energy to entrepreneurship. She is driven by a vision of equal access to technology for all, both men and women alike.
Regina Honu (photo), née Agyare, is a Ghanaian computer scientist and social entrepreneur. She is the founder and CEO of Soronko Academy, which she started in 2017 to introduce women and young girls to the intricacies of technology. The academy offers specialized training in coding and digital skills, with a particular focus on women and girls. Its main goal is to narrow the gender representation gap in the tech field across Africa. To date, Soronko Academy has trained over 20,000 women and girls and has expanded its outreach to include boys, men, and disabled children.
Soronko Academy is a project of the Soronko Foundation, a non-profit organization established in 2012. It was created to support the development of initiatives like Tech Needs Girls, a mentorship program of the foundation aimed at teaching coding and technology creation to underprivileged girls aged 6 to 18.
The academy offers a range of technical courses, including computer science, web development, and mobile applications. Besides technical skills, it also provides training in entrepreneurship, leadership, and presentation techniques, among other non-technical skills.
Regina Honu graduated from Ashesi University in Ghana, where she earned a bachelor's degree in computer science in 2005. After her studies, she worked as the manager of information systems and director of research at Fidelity Bank Ghana from 2008 to 2012.
Honu’s dedication and innovative approach have earned her numerous accolades. In 2017, the BBC included her in their list of the 100 most inspirational and innovative women. In 2022, she was honored with the Ghanaian Woman of the Year award for her outstanding contributions to the technology sector.
Melchior Koba
Africa remains the region of the world where health challenges are most critical. Thus, e-health represents an opportunity for the development of the sector, particularly due to the high mobile phone penetration rate on the continent and its widespread use.
On Thursday, April 18, the International Committee of Digital Health Experts in Africa (CEISNA) announced a partnership with the Higher Institute of Medical Techniques of Lubumbashi (ISTM) in the Democratic Republic of Congo. This agreement aims to promote digital health in Africa.
"This agreement marks a decisive step in the promotion of digital health in Africa, by uniting the efforts of CEISNA and the Higher Institute of Medical Techniques to improve healthcare access through cutting-edge technologies," CEISNA stated in a press release.
As part of this partnership, CEISNA will bring its international expertise in digital health to enhance the capabilities of the Higher Institute of Medical Techniques in the areas of training, research, and implementation of innovative health solutions.
This collaboration is part of CEISNA's efforts to promote e-health education in African universities. Earlier in April, the committee also announced a partnership with the Higher Institute of Public Health in Bamako aimed at improving health systems in Mali through digital technology.
These partnerships come at a time when African governments are increasingly looking to leverage innovative technologies in the healthcare sector. It is becoming urgent for Africa to massively develop systems incorporating artificial intelligence techniques to significantly improve care and provide effective responses to some difficult and rare diseases. According to a report by Fortune Business Insights, the global digital health market is expected to reach $559.52 billion by 2027.
Samira Njoya
Convinced of the growth potential of e-commerce in Africa, he is considering ways to contribute to the emergence of this sector. He is developing a technological solution with his friends to make life easier for e-commerce merchants.
Walid Laribi (photo) leads Maystro Delivery, an Algerian startup that helps e-commerce businesses reach their objectives by taking care of their logistics from start to finish.
Maystro Delivery, founded in 2019 by Walid Laribi, Lagrid Abdelhalim, and Hebbar Walid Choukri, is a digital platform that links e-commerce store owners with delivery staff. Its main goal is to manage delivery logistics for its partner firms, freeing them to concentrate on their primary operations.
The company, with branches in Algeria and Tunisia, has a workforce of over 500 people and runs 16 warehouses throughout the region. With the support of research and development teams, it aspires to be the go-to logistics provider for e-commerce in the region. Its delivery solutions have already been adopted by over 2,000 businesses.
Walid Laribi earned an information systems degree in 2013 from the National Higher School of Computer Science in Algeria. He gained experience through internships at Inode, an Algerian firm specializing in Linux solutions, and GPCdz, a company focused on processing geographical data.
In 2012, he took on the role of director of the Google Developer Group in Algiers. He joined Nokia as a Network Operations Center (NOC) engineer in 2014 and transitioned to a presales engineer role the next year. He was promoted to sales solutions manager within the same company in 2017. In June 2020, he chose to fully commit to Maystro Delivery, leaving his position at Nokia.
Melchior Koba
Last-mile delivery is experiencing rapid growth in Africa. This segment is bolstered by the rise of e-commerce on the continent, with local tech entrepreneurs offering increasingly tailored solutions to African populations.
Yoboresto, a food delivery solution created by a Gabonese startup, enables users to order from a variety of restaurants in Libreville via a mobile application. The delivery time ranges from 40 minutes to an hour, depending on the distance between the restaurant and the delivery location. Founded in 2018 by Anthony Marat, the startup operates in the city where it is based.
The application, is available on both iOS and Android, with the Android app already downloaded over 10,000 times per Play Store data. To register, users are required to complete a form with their first name, last name, phone number, email address, and password. Once registered, users can conveniently place orders from the startup’s partner restaurants from their home or office.
The platform provides a list of restaurants, but users also have the option to search for a specific restaurant by name using the search bar. If time is of the essence, users can search by neighborhood to find the nearest establishments or by the type of cuisine offered by the restaurants. For instance, a search for “African cuisines” will automatically filter out fast food, Chinese, or Indian restaurants.
Upon selecting a restaurant, users can view the menu, meal prices, opening and closing hours, photos of the restaurant, ratings (out of 5 stars), and comments from previous customers. Yoboresto ensures that all necessary information is readily available to aid users in making an informed decision between different orders or restaurants.
In addition to online food ordering, Yoboresto rewards its users with bonus points that can be redeemed for discounts at several establishments on the platform. A feature also allows users to make reservations at restaurants for lunch or dinner. For restaurant promoters, the startup has established a registration procedure on its platform, which requires the provision of certain details.
Adoni Conrad Quenum
A computer engineer, he is passionate about using technology to solve problems. He develops technological solutions and mentors young entrepreneurs.
Mohamed Amine Ouni, a Tunisian computer engineer and entrepreneur, is the founder and CEO of TrustiT. His company aids individuals and businesses in managing their electronic devices throughout their lifecycle.
TrustiT, launched in 2017 and available in Tunisia and Saudi Arabia, was launched to revolutionize the management of electronic equipment. Using eco-friendly methods and advanced technologies, the startup offers a comprehensive solution for managing these devices, from purchase to end-of-life recycling. This includes maintenance, repair, or refurbishment.
As Ouni explained in 2022, “The TrustiT project enables its clients, both individuals and businesses, to centralize their electronic device needs at a single location that offers comprehensive logistical support, optimization of technical choices between repairers and spare parts suppliers, and digital transparency with real-time tracking via the web client space or mobile app.”
At the forefront of technology, TrustiT utilizes artificial intelligence to track and assess the ecological impact of these devices. Its goal is to help businesses make environmentally friendly choices, aiding them in obtaining green certifications. In summary, TrustiT is working to reduce electronic waste and promote a sustainable lifestyle.
In addition to his role at TrustiT, Ouni serves as a growth strategy consultant at Hulool, a company specializing in service development in Saudi Arabia. He also acts as the international coordinator of Webdays, a series of events aimed at fostering interactions among participants from diverse ecosystems for economic and social development.
As a mentor at the Founder Institute incubator, Ouni imparts his expertise to budding entrepreneurs. He is also the founder of Sharek iT Tunisia, another company that manages electronic waste from old devices through a digital process that accepts donations from individuals and businesses.
Ouni boasts an impressive academic background. He graduated from the National Institute of Applied Sciences and Technology (INSAT) in 2009 with a bachelor’s degree in software engineering. He earned a degree in computer engineering and management in 2012 from the Ecole Supérieure Privée d’Ingénierie et de Technologies (ESPRIT) in Tunisia, and a master’s degree in business and small business operations in 2015 from the Graduate School of Business of Tunis.
In addition to his entrepreneurial accomplishments, Ouni has also taught at the Higher Institute of Technological Studies in Communications in Tunis, at SUP’COM, and at ESPRIT. From 2018 to 2020, he served as a consulting partner for North Africa at eleva8or, a virtual accelerator for tech startups.
Melchior Koba
On Wednesday, April 17, Dr. Batakao Grégoire, advisor to Chad's Ministry of Public Health and Prevention, initiated a workshop to develop the National Digital Health Strategy Plan for Chad. This plan will serve as the primary reference for all actions and developments related to digital health in Chad, aiming for its effective implementation at the national level.
To enhance healthcare access for the population, a Beninese startup launched an e-health application. The solution integrates multiple features that allow patients to receive medical care.
goMediCAL is an e-health solution developed by the Beninese startup Open SI, established in 2013 by Gilles Kounou. Launched in 2017, this Android-exclusive app, which has been downloaded over 10,000 times, offers users the ability to schedule medical appointments, discover on-call pharmacies, maintain a digital health record, and conduct teleconsultations.
Users can create an account using their email address, granting them access to a variety of services. The platform provides a dedicated search bar that allows users to find doctors by surname or specialty, regardless of whether the doctor is a specialist or a generalist. This feature enables users to locate all doctors on the platform who share a specific name or surname. Furthermore, the platform provides a comprehensive list of specialists in the chosen field.
It’s worth noting that goMediCAL also integrates insurance options. Users can track their specific procedures and select their pre-registered insurance on the platform. Additionally, it offers the convenience of paying medical fees for a relative, irrespective of whether they reside in Benin or abroad. Doctors on the platform utilize a digital agenda that allows them to work according to their availability, providing greater flexibility. The e-health solution proudly hosts more than 300 doctors, 60 health centers, and facilitates 250 daily appointments.
goMediCAL has been the recipient of several awards, most notably the Afric’innov prize in 2018, presented by the World Bank, the French Development Agency (AFD), and the International Organization of La Francophonie (OIF). It also secured third place in the startup awards in the health sector at the International Conference of Ministers of Health and ICT on Healthcare Safety in Africa (CIMSA).
Adoni Conrad Quenum
The Irish Tech Challenge South Africa calls on South African startups to collaborate with Irish counterparts. Organized with Wits University’s Tshimologong Digital Precinct and Dogpatch Labs, with support from Department of Science and Innovation DSI, Technology Innovation Agency TIA, and the Embassy of Ireland, the initiative aims to expand tech companies owned by South Africans, aligning with the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals.
Selected startups will receive EUR10,000 each, a 10-day trip to Ireland, tech expertise, and government support. Applications are open until April 26th.
In 2024, a series of internet disruptions across Africa were linked to cuts of undersea fiber optic cables. As a countermeasure, Seacom, a Pan-African submarine cable provider, has launched internet services through low earth orbit (LEO) satellites in South Africa.
Seacom, a Pan-African submarine cable provider, recently unveiled its satellite internet services in South Africa. These services leverage low Earth orbit (LEO) satellites, as announced in a press release on Monday, April 15.
For the launch, Seacom joined forces with Eutelsat Oneweb, a renowned British satellite internet provider. The partnership is designed to deliver superior internet connectivity, especially to businesses, in response to the growing need for high-speed connectivity throughout Africa.
The launch of Seacom’s satellite internet service is timely, given the recurrent disruptions in undersea cables that have been affecting connectivity in several parts of the continent. In February of last year, Seacom faced disruptions in its cable network in the Red Sea, which hindered internet connectivity between Africa and Europe, impacting countries like Egypt and Kenya. In March, technical glitches on the West African coast affected the WACS, MainOne, ACE, and SAT3 cables, leaving people in roughly ten countries without internet access.
In light of these incidents, satellite internet has emerged as a favored solution. Seacom has chosen to adopt LEO technology, which involves satellites orbiting the Earth at distances of approximately 2,000 kilometers or less. This technology promises lower latency for quicker communications and improved coverage for remote areas.
Alpheus Mangale, President and CEO of the Seacom Group, stated, “The end goal is to make the LEO service an essential value offering for organizations of all shapes and sizes. Connectivity is on track to become a wholesale service made up of different technologies that work together to meet clients’ needs and deliver the uptime and performance that’s expected from market leaders.”
Adoni Conrad Quenum
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Launched in 2020, the Margaret Junior Awards celebrate the talents of young girls aged 7 to 18. Abigail Ifoma won this prestigious award thanks to MIA, the smart assistant solution project she submitted.
Abigail Ifoma (photo), a dynamic and passionate young Cameroonian, won the Margaret Junior Africa Awards in March 2024 for her project, MIA (My Intelligent Assistant). MIA is a system designed to manage and monitor patients in medically isolated areas.
Inspired by her grandmother's experience, Abigail felt a deep empathy for people suffering from chronic diseases. The challenge of regularly taking temperature and blood pressure was a personal obstacle for her, driving her to find an innovative solution.
Her project, a smart bracelet paired with an app, is the culmination of her efforts. She hopes her solution will reduce waiting times in hospitals and improve patient care. For Abigail Ifoma, this recognition validates her work and provides an opportunity to raise awareness about the importance of innovation in healthcare.
Currently a student at Tassa Academy, a secondary school in Yaoundé, Abigail is determined to pursue medical studies while nurturing her passion for technology. She acknowledges the challenges she faces, including a lack of material resources and infrastructure issues, but remains optimistic about the future of her project.
As a young innovator, Abigail Ifoma aims to inspire other young people, especially girls, to engage in technology and science. She firmly believes that innovation can change the world and encourages young people to explore their creativity and face challenges with courage and determination.
The government aims to transform Cameroon into an emerging country by 2035. To accelerate the achievement of that goal, the executive is focused on developing information and communication technologies.
On Tuesday, April 16, in Yaoundé, the construction of the Digital Transformation Center of the Ministry of External Relations (CTDM-MINREX) was officially initiated by the Cameroonian Minister of External Relations, Lejeune Mbella Mbella. This center, slated to be fully operational within a year, is designed to digitize and secure consular data.
The CTDM will be housed in a four-story, eco-friendly building, outfitted with cutting-edge technologies. It will encompass an ICT laboratory, a management unit for the procurement, storage, and distribution of consular materials, a training room, a round-the-clock call center, and a data storage unit, among other facilities.
The establishment of this center is a key component of a wider modernization initiative undertaken by the Ministry of External Relations. This initiative encompasses the roll-out of a digital platform for managing consular services, the equipping and operationalizing of diplomatic and consular posts, and the enhancement of consular officers’ skills.
In executing these projects, Cameroon is backed by Impact Palmarès R&D SAS, an Ivorian firm specializing in biometric solutions. Headquartered in Abidjan, this company was a technical ally to Cameroon in the successful deployment of e-visas a year prior. As per MINREX, from April 30, 2023, to March 30, 2024, Cameroon welcomed 158,000 visitors.
Once operational, the CTDM-MINREX is expected to improve the quality of Cameroon’s consular services to meet international standards. The center will also streamline consular procedures and speed up the process, enabling applicants to receive their electronic visas within 24 to 48 hours.
Samira Njoya
Education, a fundamental right, is a powerful catalyst for development worldwide. For that reason, Mumbe Mwangangi is striving to improve child literacy in Kenya.
Mumbe Mwangangi (photo), a Kenyan social entrepreneur, co-founded and currently leads Nyansapo AI. This startup, established in 2019, leverages technology to enhance the learning experience of primary school children and provides key data to NGOs engaged in educational initiatives.
Nyansapo AI is dedicated to boosting literacy rates among primary school students by creating personalized educational tools powered by artificial intelligence. These tools are designed to streamline the workflow of educators, offering insightful data on student engagement and pinpointing areas that require attention.
Among these tools is an analytical dashboard that empowers educational program managers to evaluate the efficacy of their interventions and implement impactful strategies to improve children’s reading, writing, and arithmetic skills. The Nyansapo mobile app is another such tool that accurately identifies pronunciation errors as students read aloud on a screen, thereby providing trainers with detailed data to craft effective learning activities.
On April 17, 2024, Nyansapo AI was recognized as one of the 16 finalists in the Burning Heroes Africa Startups Awards. The company is set to participate in the competition’s final stage, scheduled for April 23 and 25, 2024.
Mumbe Mwangangi is an alumnus of Maseno University, where she earned her bachelor’s degree in international relations. She also holds a master’s degree in disaster management and sustainable development from Masinde Muliro University of Science and Technology.
Following an internship at UNESCO in 2017, Mumbe Mwangangi joined Pacemaker International in 2019 as a fellowship coordinator, contributing to efforts to enhance children’s access to education. In 2021, she took on the role of program coordinator at Peace First, an American incubator specializing in social innovation. These experiences have shaped her vision and fortified her dedication to education and community development.
Melchior Koba
The AgriTech4Egypt Innovation Challenge is now accepting applications from scientists and entrepreneurs with agri-tech solutions that can enhance Egypt’s agricultural system.
Selected ventures will benefit from a fully funded bootcamp, professional advice, a six-month acceleration program, and an equity-free grant of up to EGP300,000 (US$6,500) from the Academy of Scientific Research and Technology (ASRT) of Egypt. The program runs from June to October, with a demo day in November. Applications are open until April 21st.