The technological revolution is steadily advancing across Africa, impacting every sector and offering numerous advantages. In the field of education, two tech entrepreneurs have developed a tailored solution specifically for schools.
Tespire is an innovative edtech solution developed by a Nigerian startup that enables schools to fully digitize their administrative systems while allowing parents to monitor every aspect of their children's education. Based in Abuja, the company was founded in 2022 by Abdulkadir Suleiman Lapai and Umar Madugu. In September 2024, Tespire announced the successful completion of a funding round, though the amount raised remains undisclosed, aimed at supporting its expansion efforts.
“Tespire’s vision goes beyond just fixing administrative issues. They are committed to using the power of data to increase access to quality education across Nigeria and other Sub-Saharan African countries, starting with local schools and scaling toward a broader national and international market,” stated Abdulkadir Suleiman Lapai.
The platform operates as a web portal where parents can directly access comprehensive school-related information, including tuition fees, class schedules, and enrollment processes. If a parent selects a Tespire-affiliated school, they can navigate to the school’s webpage from their computer, choose the application portal, and click "Go."
On the left side of the page, they select "New Applicants," fill in the necessary fields, and submit the application. If accepted, the parent receives an application number for their child. Subsequently, they can log into their dashboard to complete the enrollment process.
Access to Tespire's services incurs a fee. The startup offers various subscription plans for schools to join its partner database, with options starting at 2,000 naira (approximately $1.21), 2,500 naira, and higher. Tespire has ambitious plans for growth, aiming to expand its reach across Nigeria and into other countries within the region.
Adoni Conrad Quenum
Morocco aims to build an information society by significantly integrating ICT into all sectors of the economy by 2030. To realize this vision, a strategic roadmap has been developed, with clear objectives and concrete actions to be implemented.
On Wednesday, September 25, Morocco officially unveiled its national strategy, "Digital Morocco 2030," an ambitious roadmap aimed at transforming the kingdom into a regional and international digital hub by 2030. The strategy is built around two main pillars and key objectives to accelerate economic and social development through digital transformation, while enhancing the country's global competitiveness.
Digital Job Creation and Training
A major goal of this strategy is the large-scale creation of jobs in the digital sector. To support this initiative, the government has allocated an investment of 11 billion dirhams ($1.14 billion) between 2024 and 2026. Prime Minister Aziz Akhannouch outlined Morocco’s aim to train 100,000 young people annually in digital professions, a significant increase from the 14,000 trained in 2022. The objective is to create 240,000 jobs in the digital sector by 2030, addressing the growing demand for skilled workers.
Digitization of Public Services Through AI
Another critical pillar of the strategy focuses on the digitization of public services. Morocco aims to improve its global ranking in the United Nations' e-Government Development Index, seeking to move from 90th to 50th place by 2030. The country has already taken concrete steps by digitizing 600 public services: 300 for citizens, 200 for businesses, and 100 for government agencies. Artificial intelligence (AI) will play a crucial role in optimizing these services. Planned AI-based solutions will automate administrative processes and analyze data to anticipate user needs and improve service quality.
Boosting the Digital Economy and Promoting Exports
The "Digital Morocco 2030" strategy also emphasizes developing the digital economy. One key objective is to increase digital export revenues, which are expected to rise from 17.9 billion dirhams in 2023 to 40 billion by 2030. To achieve this, Morocco plans to expand outsourcing services, establish 3,000 startups by 2030 (1,000 of them by 2026), and raise 7 billion dirhams in funding. The country also aims to foster the emergence of one or two unicorn companies, which would significantly enhance its attractiveness in technology and innovation.
Strengthening Digital Infrastructure: 5G and Fiber Optics
Developing digital infrastructure is another central aspect of the strategy. Morocco aims for 70% nationwide 5G coverage and plans to connect 5.6 million households to fiber optics. Additionally, improving internet access in 1,800 rural communities is a priority, ensuring an inclusive digital transition and bridging the digital divide between urban and rural areas. The government also intends to establish a sovereign cloud, a crucial infrastructure to enhance the country's technological independence and secure national data.
Strategic Partnerships and Offshoring Development
The rollout of "Digital Morocco 2030" began with the signing of several partnership agreements between the Ministry of Digital Transition, public institutions, and private sector stakeholders. Among these partnerships is a program contract for developing offshoring, a sector in which Morocco seeks to become a leader. Other partnerships focus on strengthening vocational training in digital professions and attracting more investments in information technology. In the coming years, Morocco aims to forge numerous strategic partnerships across various digital fields.
The "Digital Morocco 2030" strategy represents a major turning point for the country, as it strives to become a key digital hub in Africa and beyond. By combining efforts in training, infrastructure, strategic partnerships, and the growth of the digital economy, Morocco is well-positioned to achieve its ambitious goals.
Samira Njoya
She has over 17 years of experience in media, communication, and technology. She also supports the creation and development of high-impact tech companies in Africa.
Irene Phoebe Kiwia (photo), a Tanzanian tech entrepreneur based in South Africa, is the co-founder and Chief Growth Officer of Adanian Labs, a high-impact tech venture studio that drives digital transformation across Africa. Founded in 2020, Adanian Labs focuses on the creation, development, and scaling of tech startups, emphasizing innovation in areas such as artificial intelligence (AI), blockchain, and the Internet of Things (IoT). The studio provides expert software engineering support to help startups develop tailored solutions and has successfully created over 40 tech startups to date.
In addition to startup creation, Adanian Labs enhances the capabilities of tech teams through training programs in software development, data science, IoT, AI, and blockchain. These offerings include short courses, boot camps, and masterclasses. The studio also provides a comprehensive suite of services, including legal support, accounting, financial planning, technology management, human resources, and marketing.
Irene Kiwia is a member of Top Tier Impact, a global ecosystem of investors and entrepreneurs, and serves as the Tanzanian ambassador for the Women in Africa Initiative. She is also on the advisory board of African Women in Energy and Power.
Before co-founding Adanian Labs, Kiwia established Frontline Media Africa in 2006, a pan-African media and communications firm focused on technology. In 2017, she launched Twaa, an AI-powered knowledge-sharing and mentorship platform for women and girls in Africa. In 2019, she founded eCOBba, an AI-driven fintech company, and in 2021, she established The Africa Blockchain Center, a Web 3 company specializing in blockchain skills and solutions development.
Kiwia holds a bachelor’s degree in International Relations and Public Administration from the University of Dar es Salaam (2004) and a master’s degree in Marketing (2011). In 2015, she was named Africa Woman of the Year by Africa Reconnect, a pan-African platform dedicated to women's empowerment and girls' education.
Melchior Koba
The digital transformation underway in Africa aims, among other things, to equip populations with essential digital skills to adapt to the demands of the modern world. It is crucial that this modernization be inclusive, ensuring everyone can benefit from the opportunities the digital age offers.
The British government has announced a funding of 390 million shillings ($3.02 million) to improve digital access in Kenya. This information was revealed on Monday, September 23, by the British Deputy High Commissioner to Kenya, Ed Barnett (, left), during the launch of a digital agricultural project in Busia County. The funding is aimed at enhancing digital access in the counties of Busia and Mandera, specifically for marginalized populations.
"Putting young people, women and persons with disabilities at the heart of development is transformative. The UK is committed to working with Kenya to ensure these underserved groups within the population enhance their digital skills and their access to vital services like e-citizen, secure jobs and participate meaningfully in this digital world," said Ed Barnett.
This initiative is part of the "Strengthening Digital Communities" project, which seeks to promote the digital inclusion of marginalized groups in these regions. The goal is to reach more than 190,000 people, including 10,000 young people, while contributing to Kenya's ambition to train 20 million citizens in digital skills by 2027.
The collaboration between the British High Commission and the Kenya Information Communication and Technology Action Network (KICTANet) will particularly focus on digital employability. It will identify high-potential young women and youth, training them in job-ready skills, mentoring, financial management, and entrepreneurship.
The financial support will also facilitate ongoing digitization efforts in Busia and Mandera counties, through community awareness campaigns on cybersecurity, digital hygiene, and the benefits of digital inclusion. Furthermore, the project will support the production of research, policy briefs, and other strategic documents aimed at improving public ICT policies.
Samira Njoya
He is an expert in supporting and financing innovation in Africa. He runs a startup incubator in the Republic of the Congo.
Dexter Trésor Omono is a Congolese entrepreneur and businessman. He is the founder and CEO of Kosàla, an organization dedicated to supporting innovative startups in Africa.
Founded in 2020, Kosàla helps develop startups and small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Central Africa, guiding them from the ideation stage to project realization. The organization offers its expertise and network to assist these companies in securing the necessary funding for success. While Kosàla is open to all types of projects, it places particular emphasis on technological and environmental initiatives. The organization provides a structured approach to help entrepreneurs, from data collection to analysis, facilitating effective decision-making. To date, Kosàla has received 16,450 requests for support and has backed 4,186 projects, 3,136 of which were led by women.
Dexter Trésor Omono also serves as an observer on the Local Development Council at the French Embassy in Congo. He is a consultant for the World Bank’s Digital Transformation Acceleration Project and is part of the scientific team of the National Digital Summit, which is affiliated with Congo’s Ministry of Posts, Telecommunications, and the Digital Economy.
Omono holds a technical diploma in human resource management from the Institute of Advanced Management Studies, obtained in 2011. In 2021, he earned a postgraduate diploma in project management from the Canadian Academy of Management and Technology, followed by a master’s degree in international trade from HEC Morocco in 2022.
His career began in 2011 at Escom Group, an investment management firm in Congo, where he worked as a logistics officer. In 2018, he joined Oukaley, a crowdfunding platform for sub-Saharan Africa, as the representative for Congo and the DRC. In 2021, he became a specialist consultant for the International Association of Francophone Mayors.
Melchior Koba
In 2023, Rwanda adopted a national artificial intelligence (AI) policy, aiming to leverage this technology to drive growth across various sectors.
Rwanda and Singapore unveiled the "AI Playbook for Small States" on Sunday at the United Nations General Assembly, offering guidance for smaller nations navigating the complexities of artificial intelligence (AI) adoption.
The playbook, developed by the Digital Forum of Small States (Digital FOSS), highlights best practices and lessons learned from its members. Small states often face unique challenges in implementing AI strategies, including limited resources, talent shortages, and the intricacies of developing governance frameworks.
According to the document, small states face unique challenges in adopting AI, such as limited resources, difficulty accessing talent, and the complexity of developing governance frameworks. Josephine Teo, Singapore’s Minister for Digital Development and Information, noted that her country has worked to identify common obstacles and spotlight successful solutions for effective AI adoption.
In this era of digital transformation, AI is increasingly becoming one of the key technologies. A study conducted by McKinsey in collaboration with Rwanda’s Ministry of ICT and Innovation suggests that an investment of $76.5 million in the implementation of Rwanda’s national AI strategy could generate $589 million in the next five years.
The "AI Playbook for Small States" covers a range of topics, including AI development, its impact on governance, security, and society. The document will be regularly updated with new practices and solutions implemented by countries in their journey toward AI adoption.
Adoni Conrad Quenum
Payment technology company Flutterwave announced, on September 24, the expansion of its money transfer service, Send App, to 49 states across the United States.
Implemented through a strategic collaboration with American MainStreet Bank, the expansion aims to provide Africans in the Diaspora with a seamless way to send money back home.
The move highlights Flutterwave's commitment to offering secure and efficient banking solutions, compliant with regulatory standards.
Digital payments in India have experienced explosive growth in recent years, largely due to the success of its Unified Payments Interface (UPI) system. Buoyed by this achievement, India has expressed its readiness to support other nations in developing their own digital payment systems.
India is working to assist several African nations in establishing their own digital payment systems, inspired by the success of its Unified Payments Interface (UPI). The National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) has begun discussions with at least 20 countries across Africa and South America to adapt the UPI model, with the goal of enhancing financial inclusion on the continent.
Launched in 2016, UPI facilitates real-time payments, allowing users to transfer funds directly between bank accounts for both peer-to-peer transactions and transactions between customers and businesses. The system has already been successfully implemented in countries such as Sri Lanka, the United Arab Emirates, and most recently, Namibia. In February 2023, Mauritius also adopted UPI as part of a broader strategy that includes the introduction of RuPay cards.
The initiative to implement this payment system in Africa is motivated by the positive outcomes observed in India, where UPI has significantly transformed the financial landscape. By December 2023, UPI transactions reached 12 billion for that month alone, totaling over 100 billion transactions for the year and exceeding a value of $2 trillion.
In Africa, where a substantial portion of the population remains unbanked, this digital solution offers a vital opportunity to promote both digital and economic inclusion. A report from November 2023 by AfricaNenda, an independent organization focused on developing instant payment systems on the continent, indicated that 27 African countries have yet to adopt instant payment functionalities. Additionally, a McKinsey study forecasts that electronic payment revenues in Africa could reach $40 billion by 2025, underscoring the growing interest in investing in this infrastructure.
Samira Njoya
About two weeks ago, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) presented its financing needs and business opportunities in the digital sector in China. The country plans to implement several major projects.
The Democratic Republic of Congo's (DRC) Minister of Posts, Telecommunications, and Digital Economy, Augustin Kibassa Maliba, is seeking opportunities in the United States to advance the country's digital sector. From Friday, September 20 to Friday, September 27, he is in New York, leveraging his participation in the 79th United Nations General Assembly to meet with key partners at Google’s Manhattan office, as well as with various government and international organizations. The discussions will focus on innovative solutions for digital cooperation.
The Ministry of Posts, Telecommunications, and Digital Economy has stated that the visit will also showcase investment opportunities within the DRC's digital sector. Kibassa Maliba is set to participate in a bilateral meeting between DRC President Félix Tshisekedi and Polish President Andrzej Duda at the Polish consulate in New York.
The DRC has made digital transformation a core part of its strategy for economic diversification. The sector is viewed as a key growth driver for the country’s future. Priorities include improving high-speed connectivity across the nation to enhance digital inclusion, transforming public services, and opening the market to international investors offering high-value digital products and services.
According to the GSMA, broadband availability combined with digital technologies could boost agricultural yields by 10.5% to 20% and increase profits by 23% in sub-Saharan Africa. In small and medium-sized enterprises, internet access and digital solutions could enhance labor productivity by 2% to 4%. The DRC stands to benefit from similar growth.
In its national digital plan, the DRC government aims to make digital technology "a lever for integration, good governance, economic growth, and social progress." The country requires expertise and funding to realize this vision, and the discussions and potential agreements formed in New York could significantly contribute to these efforts.
Muriel Edjo
She earned her university degree in France. After several years of experience in the financial sector, both in France and Africa, she established her own fintech company.
Magalie Gauze-Sanga is a Cameroonian economist and entrepreneur, serving as the founder and CEO of Koree, a rewards application aimed at fostering customer loyalty in Francophone Africa.
Founded in 2022, Koree enables users to create digital loyalty cards that allow merchants to credit cashback and provide change. The platform addresses the persistent issue of small change shortages prevalent in Francophone Africa and supports various payment methods, including cash, mobile money, and bank cards.
The inspiration for the app struck Gauze-Sanga after she faced a shortage of change while purchasing pastries at a bakery in Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire. "Working in the payments industry in sub-Saharan Africa allowed me to refine my idea for digital cards similar to an 'Apple Wallet' that could tackle this problem. I aimed to incorporate several additional services to simplify life for consumers and enhance their purchasing power, such as earning cashback," she explained in April 2024.
In January 2024, Koree secured $200,000 in pre-seed funding to facilitate its expansion throughout Francophone Africa, enhance its merchant network, broaden its user base, and tailor the product to meet market demands.
Gauze-Sanga also serves on the board of African Women in FinTech & Payments (AWFP). She holds a master's degree in industrial economics from Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne University and a master's in management from Em Lyon Business School.
Her professional journey began in 2012 at BGFIBank Cameroon, where she interned in private wealth management. In 2013 and 2014, she worked as an assistant in private banking at ODDO BHF, a financial group based in France. In 2015, she became a consultant at PayPal and transitioned to a research analyst role at BNP Paribas in 2016.
In 2019, Gauze-Sanga was appointed head of financial services for e-commerce startup Jumia in Francophone West Africa. From January to June 2021, she held the roles of COO and later CMO at Ivorian fintech Julaya. Subsequently, from July 2021 to November 2022, she managed payments for Ivorian online commerce startup ANKA.
In 2023, she became the first woman to win the Ecobank Fintech Challenge, earning a prize of $50,000.
Melchior Koba
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With over a decade of experience in the African financial sector, he is a seasoned computer scientist specializing in fintech. He has already created three fintech companies.
Stone Atwine (photo) is a Ugandan computer scientist and tech entrepreneur. He is the co-founder and CEO of Eversend, a fintech startup.
Founded in 2017 with Ronald Kasendwa, Eversend offers an all-in-one payment platform specializing in cross-border mobile money transfers, virtual cards, bill payments, and cryptocurrencies, particularly serving expatriates. The platform allows users to manage money via cryptocurrencies, using APIs (Application Programming Interfaces), enabling easy payments and currency exchanges.
"For Africans and Africans in the diaspora that experience inconvenient and expensive financial services and hidden fees, Eversend is a one-stop financial services hub that provides a multi-currency wallet allowing them to exchange, save and send money at the best possible rates, while offering personal loans, payments, investments and and other financial services," said Stone Atwine in 2020.
Today, the company supports nine currencies and boasts over 700,000 satisfied users. It operates in Uganda, Kenya, Nigeria, Ghana, France, the UK, and the United States.
Before founding Eversend, Stone Atwine co-founded two other startups in 2013: Useremit and Yetu Credit Finance. Useremit facilitates international money transfers, particularly for those in rural Africa, often underserved by traditional banking services. Yetu Credit Finance, a microfinance company, provides salary loans to Ugandan civil servants. He served as its managing director from its inception until 2017.
Atwine holds a bachelor's degree in computer science from Mbarara University of Science & Technology in Uganda, earned in 2004. Before diving into entrepreneurship, he worked for Payment Solutions International, a fintech firm based in South Africa, where he was responsible for the company’s business development in Uganda and served as the country manager for Kenya.
In 2015 and 2016, Atwine was recognized by the Choiseul Institute in Paris as one of the top African leaders under 40 to watch for his contributions to the continent's economic development. In 2017, the French government named him an exceptional talent in entrepreneurship.
Melchior Koba
Raxio Group is continuing its expansion in Africa, having already deployed data centers in Uganda, Ethiopia, Mozambique, and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
Data center operator Raxio Group announced earlier today the inauguration of its data center in Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire, as part of its African expansion strategy. Raxio Côte d'Ivoire (CIV1) aims to meet the growing demand for connectivity, storage, and data processing in Côte d'Ivoire and across the West African Economic and Monetary Union (WAEMU).
Certified as a Tier 3 facility, CIV1 offers neutrality regarding telecom operators and cloud services. The data center can accommodate up to 800 racks and provide 3 MW of computing power.
"Abidjan is the ideal location for organizations and businesses from across the economic region to colocate their mission-critical infrastructure in a highly reliable and secure facility. We are proud to contribute a fundamental cornerstone to facilitate Côte d’Ivoire’s continued digital growth and cement its hub status in the region," said Robert Mullins, CEO of Raxio Group.
CIV1 is Raxio Group's fifth data center in Africa. Its inauguration follows the launch of DRC1, Raxio's data center in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), about a month earlier. This expansion aligns with Raxio's 2019 commitment to build 10 to 12 data centers across the continent to meet the increasing demand for digital services.
These investments come amid a significant shortfall in supply, caused by the late adoption of data centers in the region. As of mid-2023, Africa hosted less than 2% of the global colocation data center capacity, with more than half located in South Africa, according to the "Data Centres in Africa Focus Report" by Oxford Business Group, published in April 2024. The report also notes that Africa needs 1,000 MW and 700 facilities to meet demand and bring capacity density in line with that of South Africa, the region's leader.
Isaac K. Kassouwi
Uganda's Agent Banking Company (ABC) has received an undisclosed investment from Goodwell Investments, marking the Dutch firm's entry into Uganda’s financial inclusion sector, Goodwell announced September 19.
Through Goodwell’s €150 million uMunthu II Fund, the funding will help ABC expand its client base, increase agent coverage, and introduce new services.
Goodwell’s uMunthu II Fund focuses on early-stage growth companies in financial services, food, agriculture, mobility, and logistics across Africa.
The first-ever Arewa Tech Fest is scheduled for September 25 and 26, 2024, in Kano, Nigeria. To support young Nigerian innovators, a tech fund will be launched as part of the event.
On Monday, September 23, the Arewa Tech Fest, a technology festival in northern Nigeria, announced the launch of a $50 million fund named the Arewa Tech Fund. The initiative aims to foster a strong digital ecosystem in the region.
“The Arewa Tech Fund represents a significant step towards harnessing the potential of our youth and fostering a culture of innovation that will not only benefit Northern Nigeria but also have a far-reaching impact across the nation. We are committed to investing in solutions that drive sustainable growth, and this fund will play a vital role in building the next generation of tech leaders and innovators,” said Mallam Nasir El-Rufai, former governor of Kaduna State and one of the project’s initiators.
This initiative comes at a time when investment in Africa’s tech sector has been declining. According to the Africa 2023 Investment Report Crisis or Adjustment by Briter Bridges, this drop is not due to a lack of sector appeal but rather the absence of mega-deals ($100 million+ funding rounds) as global venture capital markets slow down.
This global slowdown has impacted African start-ups, with 89% of venture capital in the continent’s tech ecosystem coming from foreign sources, according to the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). In Nigeria, start-ups raised $1.8 billion in 2021, $1.2 billion in 2022, and just $469 million in 2023, according to Partech Africa data.
The Arewa Tech Fund will provide local innovators with the capital and resources necessary to develop their tech projects. In the long term, the fund is expected to stimulate economic growth and create jobs in the region.
Adoni Conrad Quenum