Ugandan entrepreneur Marvin Peter Akankwasa is reshaping access to finance in Africa with digital platforms designed to link small businesses directly with lenders.
Akankwasa is the founder and CEO of Social Lend Africa, a fintech startup launched in 2019 that uses artificial intelligence to connect entrepreneurs with investors, bypassing traditional banking bottlenecks. The platform tailors loan rates through proprietary algorithms while providing lenders with risk assessments to secure their investments.
Borrowers must submit identity details, proof of residence, tax certificates and business documents, while lenders only need to verify the source of their funds. The company primarily targets small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) that often struggle to secure credit.
In 2023, Akankwasa also launched Highlend, a startup developing credit decisioning technology aimed at helping financial institutions manage risk. The company has set a target of working with 10,000 financial institutions across 10 African markets by 2033.
His entrepreneurial track record spans beyond fintech. In 2015, he founded African Food Vending Solutions, a fast-food distribution venture. Three years later, he co-founded Ugabus, an intercity bus network and online booking platform, which was acquired in 2021 by transport startup Treepz. Following the acquisition, he served as head of legal and general affairs at Treepz until 2023.
This article was initially published in French by Melchior Koba
Adapted in English by Ange Jason Quenum
The startup aims to transform urban and intercity mobility with its mobile app, which was designed to be specifically adapted to the local context.
Good’Trip is a carpooling app developed by Togolese startup Anaxar. Designed to provide a flexible and affordable alternative to traditional transportation, the app, available on iOS and Android and connects drivers and passengers with common travel routes.
The app allows drivers to post their trips and available seats, while passengers can view and book rides in real time. Payments are made via mobile money, ensuring a secure and seamless experience. Drivers are automatically reimbursed once the trip is completed.
Good’Trip emphasizes trust and safety. Every driver must submit their license and vehicle documents for verification before they can use the app. The platform also includes a rating and feedback system, allowing both drivers and passengers to review their experiences.
The initiative aims to tackle local challenges like rising transportation costs, urban congestion, and the growing demand for shared mobility. By facilitating carpooling, Good’Trip seeks to lower individual travel expenses, optimize vehicle use, and reduce the environmental impact of daily commutes.
With its fully digital approach, Good'Trip is poised to capitalize on Africa’s accelerating digital transformation. If adoption rates are strong, the platform could become a key player in Togo's connected mobility sector, helping to popularize a new approach to urban and intercity travel.
Adoni Conrad Quenum
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Nigeria, Cape Verde launch African Digital Corridor initiative
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Program trains 500 students in coding, AI, and innovation
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Business mission set to deepen tech, trade cooperation in 2025
Nigeria and Cape Verde have launched the African Digital Corridor (ADC), an initiative designed to strengthen their digital, trade, and innovation ties. The project, unveiled last week in Abuja, is a strategic step toward defining cooperation priorities in artificial intelligence, youth empowerment, and bilateral development.
"This initiative demonstrates that innovation diplomacy can produce tangible results," said Christiana Onoja, co-founder and CEO of SheCode.ai, the organization behind the project. "When governments, innovators, and the private sector collaborate, concrete programs and partnerships become a reality."
As part of the initiative, the "Code the Future – Cabo Verde Rising" program will train over 500 high school students on three islands in coding, AI, and digital innovation. The program also plans to provide STEM tools in Portuguese, offer educational training for teachers, and will conclude with a national showcase highlighting student projects.
Beyond education, the ADC is founded on developing human capital and modernizing infrastructure. For Nigeria, the continent’s largest economy, the digital sector already accounts for about 18% of GDP and is a key driver of economic diversification. Cape Verde sees the initiative as a way to boost its competitiveness and regional integration. With an internet penetration rate estimated at 73.5% at the beginning of 2025, the archipelago plans to leverage its agile digital economy strategy and infrastructure like the TechPark CV, a special technology zone.
Bilateral cooperation will be further solidified by a Nigeria-Cape Verde Business and Innovation mission scheduled for the fourth quarter of 2025 in Praia. The mission aims to connect 20 to 25 Nigerian companies with Cape Verdean partners in key sectors, including digital technology, renewable energy, and tourism.
The corridor is expected to ultimately enhance digital inclusion, foster the growth of local startups, support innovation in strategic sectors, and build lasting bridges between education, technology, and the economy. However, its success will depend on both countries’ ability to sustain investment, ensure connectivity, and adapt their infrastructure to local needs.
Samira Njoya
• Gabon enacts digital law to modernize public services, boost transparency.
• Framework stresses inclusion, data security, local private sector role.
• Gov’t targets higher UN e-gov ranking, job creation and investment inflows.
Gabon has introduced a legal framework to accelerate the digital transformation of its public administration, part of efforts to boost competitiveness and modernize services.
The ordinance, signed by transitional President Brice Clotaire Oligui Nguema and published in the country’s official gazette on Sept. 7, sets out guiding principles for e-government reforms. The measures aim to improve efficiency and transparency, curb corruption through process traceability, and foster economic growth via digital innovation.
The framework emphasizes universal access to technology, interoperability of systems, data security and privacy, and digital inclusion to narrow the digital divide. It also calls for greater participation from local private-sector players, including a preference clause for domestic firms in public tenders related to digitalization.
Gabon currently ranks 174th out of 193 countries in the United Nations’ e-government development index (EGDI), with a score of 0.5741. Authorities say the reforms are designed to close that gap and position the country among Africa’s leaders in digital governance.
The initiative is expected to stimulate the local tech ecosystem, create jobs and attract investment in a sector considered vital to diversifying Gabon’s economy beyond oil.
This article was initially published in French by Samira Njoya
Adapted in English by Ange Jason Quenum
• Nigerian entrepreneur Foluso Ojo co-founded truQ to digitize and streamline logistics.
• truQ connects companies with nearby vehicles to cut delays and increase transparency.
• The start-up won Lagos AOT mobility award in 2022 and ranked among Nigeria’s top 10 innovators in 2023.
Foluso Ojo, a Nigerian tech entrepreneur, co-founded and now leads truQ, a logistics start-up that aims to digitize and optimize freight transport across Africa.
Founded in 2020, truQ operates a platform that connects businesses with available logistics vehicles nearby. The system enables faster and more efficient transport of goods.
The start-up works as digital infrastructure for third-party logistics providers, helping reduce delays, optimize routes and make operations more transparent.
truQ explained: “On the users’ side, we save them the stress of making several phone calls to different vehicle owners each time they need to move something, spending time negotiating prices, and depending on a driver’s availability, with occasional disappointments.”
Ojo graduated from Adekunle Ajasin University in Nigeria with a bachelor’s degree in communication in 2014.
She began her career in 2012 as an intern at public relations firm CMC Connect. In 2016, she joined Nigerian management company Brooks and Blake as a project manager.
In 2020, she became community manager at eTradeforWomen, an initiative that supports female digital entrepreneurs.
truQ’s progress has earned industry recognition. In 2022, the start-up was named best mobility start-up of the year at the Art of Technology (AOT) Lagos event.
In 2023, it was ranked among Nigeria’s top 10 most innovative companies by NSIA Group, a financial services firm specializing in banking and insurance.
This article was initially published in French by Melchior Koba
Adapted in English by Ange Jason Quenum
• Togolese expert Radia Ouro-Gbele leads Paris-based OG IT Consulting with operations in Africa.
• Her firm trained 500+ young Africans in cybersecurity for global companies.
• She aims to make Africa a global cybersecurity hub within 15 years.
Radia Ouro-Gbele, a Togolese cybersecurity specialist, has built her career working with global companies in energy, nuclear and industrial sectors, designing identity and access management (IAM & PAM) systems and leading large-scale cybersecurity projects.
She is the founder and president of OG IT Consulting, a Paris-based cybersecurity advisory and integration firm launched in 2021 with operations across Africa. The firm provides audits, identity and privileged access management services, as well as executive training. It also runs awareness and skills-building programs, training more than 500 young Africans who have since joined international firms.
Ouro-Gbele told We Are Tech Africa that the venture stemmed from a desire to protect the continent’s digital assets after hearing the struggles of an African executive. Her mission, she said, is to “protect Africa, by Africans and for Africans” through local structures and workforce development.
She has set a long-term target of making Africa a global hub for cybersecurity expertise within 10 to 15 years, envisioning a “cyber Silicon Valley” capable of securing organizations in North America, Europe, Asia and the Middle East.
Ouro-Gbele holds a telecommunications diploma from the École supérieure multinationale des télécommunications (ESMT) in Dakar, and a master’s degree in information systems security from the Université de technologie de Troyes in France. Her career began at Togocom in 2013, followed by a stint at ASECNA in Senegal. She later joined Accenture France as a cybersecurity consultant and worked as a cybersecurity project manager at Thales from 2021 to 2023.
This article was initially published in French by Melchior Koba
Adapted in English by Ange Jason Quenum
• Chad to invest $1.5bn by 2030 in digital transformation and e-government.
• ARCEP, ITU push to train civil servants, young professionals in digital skills.
• 2,000 youths trained in AI as Chad seeks to boost startups, jobs, innovation.
Chad plans to invest $1.5 billion through 2030 to accelerate its digital transformation, focusing on digitizing public services. However, the government faces challenges in ensuring public employees can effectively use the new digital platforms.
The Chadian government wants to enhance cooperation with the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) to develop digital skills among its young cadres. This objective emerged during the 2025 Global Symposium for Regulators (GSR-25), held from August 31 to September 3 in Saudi Arabia.
At this event, Haliki Choua Mahamat, Director General of Chad’s Regulatory Authority for Electronic Communications and Posts (ARCEP), met with Doreen Bogdan-Martin, ITU Secretary-General. Both emphasized investing in training young professionals, especially in regulatory roles, to support digital transformation and manage strategic infrastructure effectively.
This initiative builds on recent efforts by Chad to strengthen local digital capacities. In late July, the Agency for Development of Information and Communication Technologies (ADETIC) signed a framework agreement with the International Institute for Water and Environmental Engineering (2iE) based in Ouagadougou. The agreement includes training Chadian cadres in artificial intelligence and emerging technologies. Additionally, the National School of ICT (ENASTIC) and 2iE signed a separate protocol to facilitate academic exchanges and joint program development.
Between August 4 and 14, Chad organized free AI training for 2,000 young people aged 15 to 35, with partners including UNESCO and the World Bank. Authorities present this program as a gateway to employment, innovation, and digital entrepreneurship through startup creation. This comes amid projections by the World Bank that approximately 230 million jobs in sub-Saharan Africa will require digital skills by 2030.
The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) stresses the need to invest in public officials’ skill development, as digital technologies can transform administration by enabling more accessible and efficient service delivery.
The February 2024 OECD report Developing Skills for Digital Government: A Review of Good Practices across OECD Governments stresses that building a digital government—where technology shapes processes, policies and services tailored to citizens’ needs—requires public administrations to adopt new working methods and skills, while also fostering the abilities, attitudes and knowledge that allow civil servants to thrive in a digital environment and generate public value.
This article was initially published in French by Isaac K. Kassouwi
Adapted in English by Ange Jason Quenum
The financing will enable iXAfrica to meet the demand for cloud services, AI workloads, and hyperscale data needs accelerating across East Africa.
IX Africa Data Centre Limited (iXAfrica) has closed a multi-tranche funding package with Rand Merchant Bank (RMB), a division of FirstRand Limited, to accelerate the next phase of its expansion in Kenya, it announced September 4. The financing amount was not disclosed.
The financing will enable iXAfrica to add 20 MW of IT power at its Nairobi campus, building on the initial 2.25 MW already operational. Guy Willner, Chairman of iXAfrica, said the agreement secures the company’s next growth stage. “Closing this financing with RMB positions us to welcome more hyperscale and AI customers. We remain committed to expanding our East African footprint and deepening our investment in Kenya.”
RMB designed a customised financing solution, underscoring its commitment to supporting Africa’s digital infrastructure. “This transaction reflects RMB’s commitment to supporting scalable, high-impact digital infrastructure across Africa,” said Corrie Cronje, Senior Transactor at RMB.
iXAfrica’s Nairobi One Campus is designed to deliver a total capacity of 22.5 MW, making it the largest data centre project in the greater East African region. Serving a population of over 300 million people, the facility is strategically located near key fibre optic arteries and resilient power sources.
The expansion highlights a growing trend across Africa, where data centre capacity is rapidly scaling to meet the continent’s digital transformation goals. According to a joint report by the Africa Data Centres Association (ADCA) and Xalam Analytics, Africa needs around 1,000 MW of additional IT power and 700 new data center facilities to meet the growing demand driven by cloud adoption, e-commerce, and AI applications.
This surge is largely due to structural shifts in the continent’s digital landscape—like the doubling of broadband users and the rapid expansion of Tier III and above data centers. For Kenya, the availability of robust data infrastructure is critical to supporting innovation, attracting investment, and positioning Nairobi as a regional tech hub.
For iXAfrica, the financing secures the resources needed to accelerate its Nairobi campus buildout and expand its total capacity to 22.5 MW. This positions the company to attract hyperscalers, cloud service providers, and AI-driven businesses that require high-density infrastructure.
The partnership with Rand Merchant Bank not only strengthens iXAfrica’s credibility in the investment community but also signals its financial stability to prospective clients. With demand for data hosting and cloud services surging across Kenya and East Africa, the deal creates significant revenue growth opportunities.
Beyond Kenya, the transaction demonstrates iXAfrica’s ability to raise large-scale capital, laying the groundwork for future regional expansion and reinforcing its status as East Africa’s largest carrier-neutral hyperscale data centre operator.
Hikmatu Bilali
- Ghana, Code Raccoon discuss €4M digital training for 350,000 youth
- Program covers coding, AI, cybersecurity; aims for global accreditation
- Builds on “One Million Coders” initiative launched in April 2025
Ghana is exploring a partnership with private firm Code Raccoon to train 350,000 young people in digital skills, according to a government statement.
Communications Minister Samuel George met with a Code Raccoon delegation on Thursday, September 4, to discuss a three-month training program valued at 4 million euros ($4.7 million). The initiative will be supplemented by an annual software development course.
The curriculum, which has been piloted in Germany, will focus on high-demand skills such as Python and JavaScript programming, along with modules on artificial intelligence and cybersecurity. The government aims for the program to be accredited by both the state and major global technology companies.
"This initiative aligns with our national vision of creating a digital workforce ready for the opportunities of the AI-driven economy. With the right partnerships, we can empower our young people with the skills to thrive locally and internationally," the minister said.
The move builds on Ghana's "One Million Coders" program, a four-year initiative launched in April to provide essential digital training to one million Ghanaians. The government had previously engaged in discussions with local tech company TECHAiDE, which offers an offline learning management system called Asanka.
Isaac K. Kassouwi
The fintech company is positioning itself as an insurtech that combines cultural sensitivity, mobile accessibility, and blockchain technology to address a significant financial and social need.
Urban Ubuntu, a South African startup, has developed a digital solution specializing in funeral and repatriation insurance for the African diaspora. The company, founded in 2019 by Shingie Maramba, is beginning its service with the Kenyan community in South Africa.
"Funerals are often the biggest expense for diaspora families, costing US$7,000–US$10,000 per case. Families rely heavily on remittances, which can drain savings and delay burials. Traditional insurance providers lack cultural sensitivity, fast payouts, and mobile-first convenience," said Maramba.
The platform combines innovative technologies, including an AI that considers cultural rites to offer funeral services aligned with tradition, blockchain for transparency, and diaspora-friendly payment options compatible with M-Pesa, foreign exchange services, and banking apps.
To further streamline the process, Urban Ubuntu partners with Old Mutual for underwriting, AVBOB for repatriation logistics, Kenbright for 24/7 customer service, and KEDASA SACCO for product distribution.
Following its launch for the Kenyan market, the startup plans to expand to diaspora communities in the United States, Europe, and Australia. It also intends to deploy its services across the 14 African markets covered by its partner Old Mutual, where remittance flows exceed $30 billion annually.
"With US$5 billion in remittances flowing into Kenya annually, the founders saw an opportunity to redirect a portion of that into structured funeral cover that is affordable, customisable, and digital," Maramba added.
Adoni Conrad Quenum
More...
• Mauritius launches $13M nationwide E-Health digital records project.
• "One patient, one file" system to unify medical data.
• UNDP partners; rollout underway with pilot hospital training.
Mauritius has launched a nationwide "E-Health" project to digitize medical records and modernize its public healthcare system. The large-scale initiative aims to improve the efficiency and quality of patient care through digital transformation.
Dubbed "E-Health," the project is built on the principle of "one patient, one file," which will provide every citizen with a single electronic medical record accessible across all hospitals and health centers. The rollout is already underway, with hospital staff receiving training at several pilot facilities. Authorities say the system will be highly secure and accessible only to authorized professionals, which is expected to reduce lost paper records and streamline patient care pathways.
The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) is partnering on the initiative, which is estimated to cost 600 million Mauritian rupees, or nearly $13 million.The data will be housed in the government's national data center, protected by international security protocols and continuous monitoring. The system will also allow patients to access their records via an online portal and a mobile application, paving the way for more interactive and connected healthcare.
This project is part of a broader push to digitize public services in Mauritius. For several years, the government has pursued numerous e-government initiatives in areas ranging from civil registration to tax administration and business formalities. E-health is now a strategic pillar aimed at bolstering the quality and efficiency of services provided to citizens.
While the project faces challenges related to digital inclusion, particularly for the elderly or those less familiar with digital tools, it is expected to profoundly transform the relationship between patients and doctors. Simplified access to medical data, reduced administrative procedures, and optimized hospital management are all seen as key to building a more modern, transparent, and responsive healthcare system.
Samira Njoya
The University of Dar es Salaam, in partnership with China’s Zhejiang Normal University, has inaugurated the China-Africa Regional Cooperation Center for Digital Education, aimed at accelerating the integration of information and communication technologies (ICT) in African classrooms.
The new center, launched on September 2, will focus on improving digital literacy among teachers, especially in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM), and embedding ICT into school curricula in line with Tanzania’s revised education policy.
The China-Africa Regional Cooperation Center for Digital Education is expected to serve as a hub for training, research, and cross-border partnerships, advancing inclusive and innovative learning across Africa.
Without structured cooperation, cybercrime investigations remain fragmented, leaving gaps for attackers to exploit. This makes partnerships like the NITDA-Kaspersky MoU vital for strengthening Nigeria’s cyber defence capacity.
The National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) announced on September 3 that it has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with global cybersecurity company Kaspersky to strengthen Nigeria’s cybersecurity ecosystem.
The agreement was formalised at GITEX Nigeria 2025 in Lagos, with NITDA’s Director General Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi and Chris Norton, General Manager for Africa at Kaspersky, representing both parties.
Under the partnership, Kaspersky will support capacity-building programmes to develop local cyber talent, collaborate on public awareness campaigns such as NITDA’s Cybersecurity Alphabet initiative, and engage in joint research and analysis to boost nationwide cyber defence literacy.
The MoU also opens the door for intelligence sharing on threats and attacks targeting Nigerian citizens, government institutions, and digital infrastructure. In addition, Kaspersky will provide strategic advisory services to guide NITDA in developing frameworks and standards for securing the country’s critical information infrastructure, in line with President Bola Tinubu’s national security priorities.
Cybersecurity threats are on the rise in Nigeria, where digital adoption is accelerating. According to INTERPOL’s 2025 Africa Cyberthreat Assessment Report, cybercrime accounts for more than 30% of all reported crime in Western and Eastern Africa. Notable incidents have included hacks of Nigeria’s National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), while ransomware attacks alone surged to 3,459 cases in 2024. The report also revealed that cybercrime investigations increasingly depend on private sector collaboration, yet 89% of African countries said such cooperation needed “significant” or “some” improvement due to unclear engagement channels, low institutional readiness, and other barriers.
This challenge is highlighted by findings from the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA), which estimates that weak cybersecurity preparedness costs African states an average of 10% of GDP—about $4 billion annually—due to cybercrime.
Recognizing this urgency, the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has stressed the importance of public-private partnerships in building stronger cyber resilience. By working with telecom operators, internet service providers, and technology companies, the NCC is promoting information sharing, capacity building, and joint initiatives to counter rising cyber threats.
These findings underscore the significance of the NITDA-Kaspersky MoU. With cyber threats rising in scale and sophistication, the partnership represents a critical step toward building a resilient, collaborative, and globally competitive cybersecurity ecosystem in Nigeria and across Africa.
Hikmatu Bilali
Digital finance is rapidly evolving across Africa, driven by local initiatives that are reshaping how businesses and individuals interact with money. Young entrepreneurs are creating solutions tailored to the continent’s unique needs.
Amin Ben Abderrahman is a Tunisian entrepreneur at the forefront of Africa’s fintech sector. He is the co-founder and CEO of Konnect Networks, a start-up specializing in financial technology.
Founded in 2021, Konnect Networks aims to simplify complex financial flows and support the growth of businesses of all sizes through diversified, intuitive, and secure payment solutions.
The platform offers a range of services, including payment gateways, digital wallets, and financial inclusion tools. It enables individuals and businesses to send, receive, and manage payments in real time. Konnect supports transactions both online and in-person via instant payment links, e-commerce API integrations, QR code payments, and real-time notifications. Merchants benefit from an advanced administrative interface, multi-account management, and personalized support.
Konnect states, “We believe everyone should have equal access to financial opportunities. Our commitment is to promote inclusion by providing accessible financial solutions that enable individuals and businesses to access quality financial services, regardless of their background or location.”
Amin Ben Abderrahman earned an engineering degree in IT consulting and management from CY Tech in France in 2010. He began his career in 2012 at the Royal Bank of Scotland in Scotland as a quality manager for financial services.
In 2016, he joined Swiss fintech Leonteq as a risk and finance data specialist. The following year, he became a technical manager at Mars, the confectionery manufacturer. He then worked as a senior consultant for BeeSoSmart Consulting in Paris and later for OneStream, a fintech company based in the UK.
Melchior Koba