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LooseChange, founded in 2019 by Michael Okoye, enables small businesses to accept digital payments directly from smartphones without extra hardware.
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The platform centralizes billing, customer data, and accounting to simplify daily financial management.
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Okoye aims to make LooseChange a one-stop digital tool for SMEs to track sales, manage receivables, and generate financial reports.
Nigerian entrepreneur Michael Okoye is reshaping how small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) record and collect payments through LooseChange, a fintech startup that turns smartphones into payment terminals.
Okoye, who serves as founder and CEO, launched the company in 2019 to help business owners manage transactions, invoices, and customer data from a single interface.
LooseChange’s technology allows merchants to accept digital payments, issue invoices, and maintain simplified accounting records using only a smartphone—eliminating the need for traditional point-of-sale terminals.
The solution consolidates financial operations and automates processes such as invoice generation, receipts, and transaction tracking. By doing so, the platform reduces equipment costs, enhances payment traceability, and improves cash flow management for small businesses.
LooseChange’s system integrates sales tracking, receivable management, and financial reporting across all payment methods. The platform positions itself as a digital one-stop shop for business operations, helping SMEs move toward financial transparency and efficiency.
Okoye’s approach reflects a broader trend in Africa’s fintech ecosystem, where startups increasingly focus on low-cost, mobile-first payment solutions to serve the continent’s vast informal and small-business sectors.
Beyond fintech, Michael Okoye sits on the board of the Nur Outreach Programme for Drugs Education & Reintegration, a Nigerian nonprofit focused on drug prevention and mental health care.
A graduate of Caritas University with a bachelor’s degree in electrical and electronic engineering, Okoye began his career in 2012 as executive development manager at Pyrich Group, a software and IT consulting firm.
In 2015, he joined Topaz ICT Solutions as business development manager, a position he held until 2019. He also served as programs head at the National Youth Council of Nigeria in 2018, reflecting his growing involvement in youth and technology initiatives.
This article was initially published in French by Melchior Koba
Adapted in English by Ange Jason Quenum
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Founded in 2023, Juboo automates financial reconciliation across banks, mobile money, and accounting systems.
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The AI-powered platform uses OCR and machine learning to detect and match transactions from multiple data sources.
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Co-founder Tanoor Dieng also leads Baamtu Technologies, a Senegalese firm specializing in AI and enterprise software.
Senegalese entrepreneur Tanoor Dieng is addressing a critical yet often overlooked aspect of business finance—data reconciliation. His company Juboo provides an automated platform that enhances transparency in financial operations and strengthens corporate financial management.
Dieng, a trained computer scientist, co-founded Juboo in 2023 and serves as its Chief Executive Officer. The platform enables companies to maintain control over their financial flows by automatically reconciling data from multiple sources, including banks, mobile money operators, and accounting ledgers.
Juboo uses artificial intelligence to extract and compare transaction data from PDF files, bank statement images, and accounting logs. Through optical character recognition (OCR) and computer vision, the platform processes and matches records without manual input.
The system’s machine learning algorithms can identify discrepancies and associate corresponding transactions even when identifiers differ across systems, ensuring consistency and reliability in financial reporting.
Juboo integrates with various financial partners and adapts to each company’s technological setup. Its core users include finance, accounting, and operations departments that handle multichannel transaction flows and require accurate reconciliations between internal systems, banks, and payment providers.
By automating these tasks, the platform reduces human error, saves time, and provides real-time visibility into financial discrepancies—benefits increasingly valuable to African businesses managing diverse payment ecosystems.
Beyond Juboo, Tanoor Dieng serves as Co-founder and Product Director at Baamtu Technologies, a Senegal-based firm specializing in information systems, data science, and artificial intelligence.
Founded in 2008, Baamtu supports organizations in deploying enterprise resource planning (ERP) software and executing digital transformation initiatives across multiple sectors.
Dieng’s career reflects a consistent commitment to building African technology solutions that improve operational efficiency and promote digital sovereignty.
Dieng earned a master’s degree in computer science from the University of Caen Normandy in 2003 and obtained a postgraduate degree in algorithmics and artificial intelligence in 2004. His expertise in AI has guided his mission to leverage automation for financial and business process optimization in Africa.
This article was initially published in French by Melchior Koba
Adapted in English by Ange Jason Quenum
- Dakar Port, Customs launch digital BAD exchange system for Jan 2026 rollout
- Reform streamlines cargo clearance, links all port IT systems via GUPE
- Expected to cut delays, boost traceability, and secure cargo operations
The Autonomous Port of Dakar (PAD) and the Directorate General of Customs (DGD) have launched a pilot program for the electronic exchange of Goods Release Orders (BADs). The system is scheduled to go live on January 2, 2026, via the Electronic Port Single Window (GUPE).
The initiative seeks to improve transparency and efficiency in the logistics chain by streamlining cargo clearance operations.
The new system will connect the IT platforms of all port stakeholders to enable the automatic, near-instant processing of BADs. Previously, although partially digitized, the Goods Release Order, a key document authorizing cargo exit, still required manual validation and separate technical exchanges, causing delays and increasing the risk of errors.
This system interconnection completes the digitalization process undertaken by the Port of Dakar in recent years. The initiative builds on the PAD/DGD/DPW/GAINDE 2000 electronic data exchange protocol signed on June 3, 2025, which established interoperability between port and customs systems. It also forms part of Senegal’s broader effort to modernize its logistics chain through digital transformation, following the rollout of the Orbus Infinity platform in February 2024.
As a strategic player in foreign trade, PAD generates nearly 95% of national customs revenue, around 25% of the state budget, and plays a central role in Senegal’s economy. Through this interconnection, the port expects to achieve significant reductions in processing times, better traceability of operations, and enhanced security for cargo flows.
The electronic BAD exchange is also expected to reduce administrative burdens for operators and give them greater visibility over port activities.
Samira Njoya
MoloMoloPay is a Cameroonian financial technology app that makes installment payments accessible to more consumers.
The fintech app was developed by a Cameroonian start-up of the same name. It lets users “choose an item and start saving until they can buy it.” Founded in 2023 by Oussoumanou Sehou, the company has offices in Abidjan (Côte d’Ivoire), Douala (Cameroon), and Mauritius.
The service operates through a mobile app available on iOS and Android, which has already recorded over 100,000 downloads, according to Play Store data. After installing the app, users register, choose an item, such as a smartphone, home appliance, or motorcycle, and make payments at their own pace. Once the full amount is saved, they can collect the product.
This model addresses regional realities, notably the widespread use of mobile money services like Orange Money and MTN MoMo, and a young population eager to access durable goods. The app integrates these payment methods and offers more than 5,000 products across over 100 categories through its partner network. Since its launch, MoloMoloPay says it has attracted 250,000 active users and generated more than 10 billion CFA francs (around $17.6 million) in revenue.
MoloMoloPay’s rise comes as digital payment solutions grow across Africa, even as the traditional “Buy Now, Pay Later” credit model remains underdeveloped. By using a savings-based approach instead of credit, the app minimizes users’ financial risk and opens installment payment options to those excluded from formal banking.
For partner merchants, MoloMoloPay creates a new distribution channel, enabling them to reach more customers without requiring upfront payment until the purchase is fully funded.
The company still faces key challenges: ensuring users remain consistent in their savings, streamlining delivery logistics, and building trust in a rapidly evolving digital ecosystem.
Adoni Conrad Quenum
- UNDP-backed project boosts digital skills, enables virtual court operations
- Digitization cuts costs, expands access, supports remote testimony for survivors
Malawi’s judiciary launched a new Information and Communications Technology (ICT) policy and a dedicated ICT laboratory on Monday, November 3, in Blantyre.
The initiative, carried out in partnership with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), aims to modernize judicial procedures, improve access to justice, and strengthen the rule of law.
The new policy sets out a framework for digital transformation focused on governance, security, capacity building, and institutional resilience. The accompanying ICT laboratory will serve as an innovation and training center for judges, magistrates, and judicial staff. It aims to strengthen their digital skills and allow them to test technology solutions suited to local needs.
This project builds on ongoing digitization efforts launched in 2024. With UNDP support, the judiciary has already established twenty pilot virtual court sites connecting courts, prisons, and police stations. The system has reduced administrative costs by roughly 375 million Malawian Kwacha (about $216,600) over fifteen months while improving access to justice. Notably, it allows survivors of sexual and gender-based violence to testify remotely.
The new ICT policy is expected to accelerate the digital transformation of Malawi’s judiciary, improving transparency and efficiency and strengthening public confidence in the justice system.
Malawi joins other African nations such as Rwanda, Kenya, and Ghana that are modernizing their justice systems by introducing online platforms, virtual hearings, and paperless procedures to reduce delays and expand access to justice.
Samira Njoya
Seeking to become a major leader in African subsea infrastructure maintenance, Orange has ramped up its efforts. The multinational company confirmed that it has committed substantial new investments to meet this strategic goal.
French telecoms group Orange is expanding its subsea repair operations with the construction of two new cable-laying vessels that will maintain submarine infrastructure across Europe, the Middle East, and Africa, its subsidiary Orange Marine said on Monday.
Orange Marine and Elettra Tlc president Didier Dillard described the investment as strategic, saying the industry’s aging fleet has become a key concern.
“Building these new ships will enable Orange Marine and Elettra to have the most modern fleet in the world, serving all our clients globally, with an optimized environmental footprint,” Dillard said.
In Africa, the ships are expected to accelerate cable repairs and improve the reliability of coastal internet connections, which are often disrupted by storms, fishing activity, or outdated equipment. Almost all of the continent’s internet traffic runs through deep-sea fiber-optic cables that, when damaged, can slow or paralyze entire countries.
That vulnerability was exposed in March 2024, when multiple cables off Abidjan, including WACS, ACE, MainOne, and SAT-3, were damaged, causing widespread outages across West and Central Africa. Service restoration took several weeks for some systems.
Orange said the new ships, combined with a broader and better-distributed maintenance network, will cut repair times and limit revenue losses in its data business.
The vessels, modern versions of the Sophie Germain launched in 2023, have been ordered from Sri Lanka’s Colombo Dockyard and are scheduled to enter service in 2028 and 2029. They will be capable of maintaining existing systems and installing new cables at depths of up to 1,000 meters.
They will replace the Léon Thévenin, launched in 1983 and based in South Africa, and the Antonio Meucci, launched in 1987 and based in Italy. Those two ships currently handle cable maintenance in the Atlantic, Indian Ocean, Mediterranean, Black Sea, and Red Sea.
Each new vessel will feature hybrid diesel-battery propulsion, a streamlined hull that reduces fuel use by 25%, and Azipod thrusters for greater maneuverability. The design is expected to cut CO2 emissions by 20% compared with the current fleet. Shore-power connections will further reduce emissions while docked, and each ship will carry a remotely operated vehicle (ROV) designed by Orange Marine for rapid cable cutting, inspection, and burial.
Applied to African coasts, these improvements should reduce internet downtime affecting banks, governments, payment platforms, and e-health services.
Through Orange Marine and Elettra Tlc, the group currently operates two cable-laying vessels and one hydrographic survey ship.
“As a leader in global digital infrastructure, Orange manages over 450,000 km of undersea cables connecting all continents,” said Michaël Trabbia, CEO of Orange Wholesale. “This strategic investment in our fleet of cable ships will be a key to ensuring the resilience and security of the global Internet.” Orange’s message is clear: resilience is now a requirement, not a luxury.
Muriel EDJO
- Kenya and Denmark sign a cooperation deal on digital governance and public service modernization.
- The partnership will focus on digital infrastructure, interoperability, and capacity building.
- Denmark ranks first globally in e-government, while Kenya aims to expand digital access through its 2022–2032 master plan.
Kenya’s Cabinet Secretary for Information, Communications, and the Digital Economy, William Kabogo Gitau, and Denmark’s Ambassador to Kenya, Stephan Schønemann, signed a memorandum of understanding on November 6 in Nairobi to strengthen bilateral cooperation in the digital sector. The agreement covers public service modernization, knowledge exchange, and citizen-centered digital service development.
“This strategic collaboration will create joint opportunities in areas such as digital public infrastructure, interoperability frameworks, capacity building, policy dialogue, knowledge exchange, and expert forums between our two nations,” William Kabogo said on X.
Kenya has emerged in recent years as one of Africa’s most dynamic digital hubs. Through its Digital Master Plan 2022–2032, the country aims to deploy 1,450 community digital centers and digitize all public services. These initiatives have already improved its e-governance ranking. According to the United Nations’ 2024 E-Government Development Index, Kenya scored 0.6314 out of 1, ranking 109th out of 193 countries.
Denmark, meanwhile, leads the same index with a score of 0.9847, confirming its global leadership in digital governance. Its 2022–2026 national digital strategy focuses on cybersecurity, data interoperability, and improving state-citizen relations through unified, inclusive platforms.
This new agreement follows an initial memorandum of understanding signed in March, focused on cooperation in higher education, research, and innovation. It reflects the growing strategic partnership between Nairobi and Copenhagen around technology development and digital transformation.
The implementation of this new partnership is expected to benefit both countries, which are each pursuing global leadership in digital innovation. For Kenya, it should promote knowledge transfer, strengthen institutional capacity, and enhance public service performance. Denmark, for its part, gains an opportunity to showcase its expertise in digital governance and expand its technological cooperation with Africa through inclusive, sustainable partnerships.
He is working to formalize the relationship between brands and content creators in a social media-driven market. His efforts are part of Tunisia’s broader digital transformation.
Midox Mbarek Mohamed Salah, a Tunisian entrepreneur and digital strategist, is the founder and CEO of TAWA Digital Talents, a startup that connects content creators with brands to boost visibility.
Founded in 2020, TAWA Digital Talents launched the Content Factory platform, which links brands to a network of more than 9,000 creators for tailored content production. The system uses artificial intelligence to optimize campaign management, offering real-time monitoring and payment only for approved content.
The platform lets brands submit creative briefs and approve content in under 24 hours through an automated process. Brands pay only for the content they choose to keep, helping them optimize budgets and reduce risk. Performance is tracked in real time, with content optimized for social media formats such as TikTok and Instagram Reels.
Alongside his entrepreneurial work, Midox Mbarek Mohamed Salah is also a sports journalist for DAZN France. He holds a bachelor’s degree in applied computer science for management, earned in 2011 from the Arab University of Sciences in Tunis. He also completed a business program at the School of Digital Economy at the University of La Manouba between 2020 and 2021.
His professional experience includes working as a digital project manager at the marketing firm Streamerz from 2011. In 2014, he joined Digidox Marketing Consulting as a digital marketing consultant. From 2021 to 2022, he worked as a digital transformation advisor for the Espérance Sportive de Tunis football club.
Melchior Koba
Tackling the digital sector's biggest challenge, which is the lack of practical skills, he employs active learning to guide the telecom industry's transformation.
Algerian entrepreneur and telecommunications specialist Samir Tahraoui is the co-founder and CEO of LabLabee, an educational technology company that aims to close the practical skills gap in the telecom and digital sectors.
Founded in 2021, LabLabee designed a hands-on training platform to support telecom teams in learning and upskilling. It offers a framework for users to train, experiment, and certify their expertise using real-world scenarios. Each learning path includes comprehensive follow-up, ranging from initial assessment to daily on-the-job assistance.
The solution caters to both technical roles, such as engineers, architects, and developers, and non-technical profiles, including team managers. The platform facilitates learning through tangible tools and structured guidance. By integrating artificial intelligence, the platform assists in searching for telecom standards, vendor documents, and internal corporate knowledge with a high degree of precision.
Focus on Next-Generation Telecoms
LabLabee's content covers key areas of sectoral transformation, including cloud-native environments, 5G, network automation, and other core technologies. Users access concrete use cases that bridge theory and practice. LabLabee also offers "Learning Labs," which are immersive virtual environments promoting active learning from discovery through to certification.
Tahraoui is a graduate of the IMT Atlantique engineering school in France, where he earned a master’s degree in computer networks and telecommunications in 2017.
His professional background includes stints at major telecom players. In 2016, he worked as a network engineer at Nokia. The following year, he joined Capgemini as a telecom cloud consultant. He then spent three years as a telecom network engineer at Orange in France before moving to Mavenir, a U.S. communications technology company, in 2020. At Mavenir, he served as the technical lead for the Europe, Middle East, and Africa region until founding LabLabee.
Melchior Koba
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Egypt, GIZ, and tech firms launch ServiceNow training initiative
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Program targets youth digital upskilling for local, global job markets
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Part of broader MCIT strategy to build national digital workforce
Egypt’s Information Technology Institute (ITI) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the German Agency for International Cooperation (GIZ) on Wednesday, Nov. 5. The agreement also involves several multinationals, including Capgemini, Deloitte Innovation Hub (DIH), and Vodafone Intelligent Solutions (VOIS).
The partnership aims to launch a national initiative to train young talent on the ServiceNow platform, enhancing their technical skills for both local and international job markets.
Described by Egypt’s Ministry of Communications and Information Technology (MCIT) as the “first of its kind in Egypt,” the initiative offers internationally recognized training on ServiceNow, a digital transformation platform used by organizations to manage IT, HR, and operational services. The platform improves efficiency, streamlines workflows, and cuts costs by integrating systems into a unified digital environment.
Under the agreement, Capgemini, DIH, and VOIS will help select top graduates, provide technical and advisory support to align training with market needs, and recruit top performers. GIZ Egypt will provide international licenses and certified training materials, while ITI will design and implement specialized training programs based on the latest technology curricula.
Digital Workforce Strategy
Developing digital skills is a core pillar of Egypt’s national digital transformation strategy. The MCIT stresses that a “digital society cannot be built without the right level of expertise and sufficient human resources to carry out this mission.”
The ministry’s strategy focuses on four key areas: digital literacy, intermediate technology training, advanced programs to train a new generation of competitive technicians, and a professional master’s degree program offered annually through the Digital Egypt Builders Initiative (DEBI), implemented in partnership with global technology firms and international universities.
In related efforts, the MCIT signed an MoU with Microsoft in April to train and certify 100,000 people, including young professionals and IT staff from ministries and digital transformation units. A similar five-year agreement was concluded with IBM. In February, the ministry also signed an MoU with Cisco to improve the digital skills of about 250,000 trainees over the next five years.
Isaac K. Kassouwi
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Gozem launches Brazzaville operations, expanding across Francophone Africa
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App offers green taxis, rentals, and digital tools for drivers
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Entry follows Yango’s exit, targets mobility formalization and fintech growth
Pan-African super app Gozem officially launched its operations in Brazzaville on Wednesday, Nov. 5, marking a key step in its expansion strategy across Francophone Africa. Already operating in Togo, Benin, Gabon, and Cameroon, the application now seeks to address the mobility needs of the Congolese population with its digital model.
Brazzaville residents can now use the mobile application to book various types of transport, including geo-localized "green" taxis, high-end air-conditioned vehicles, and hourly rentals. Gozem emphasizes a social impact model: its partner drivers, designated "Champions," gain access to new revenue streams and digital tools, including geolocation, traceability, and digital payment options.
Capitalizing on Market Opportunity
The launch comes as the digitalization of mobility services in Congo-Brazzaville is still nascent, but meets a growing demand for efficiency, safety, and modernization. Gozem is well-resourced to fund its growth, strengthen its vehicle fleet, and activate new financial and logistics services, thanks to a $30 million Series B funding round, combining equity and debt, orchestrated by investors including SAS Shipping Agencies Services Sàrl (a subsidiary of the MSC Group) and Al Mada Ventures.
Gozem enters the market at an opportune time. The Yango application, which launched in Brazzaville several years ago, has ceased operations, leaving a void in the structured digital transport market in the Congolese capital. This lack of a major digital player offers Gozem a significant chance to establish itself as a leader, provided it successfully adapts its offerings to local specificities.
The company must navigate notable challenges, including the adoption of the new model by informal drivers, adherence to local regulations, user sensitization, and establishing reliable, high-quality service.
Gozem’s entry into Brazzaville could yield several positive results: improved quality and traceability of trips via geolocation and cashless payments, new economic opportunities for partner drivers, the gradual formalization of the informal mobility sector, and a catalytic effect on the local digital ecosystem.
Beyond mobility, this expansion reflects Gozem’s ambition to evolve into an "African Super App," progressively integrating delivery, mobile payment, and FinTech services, thereby contributing to the region's economic and digital dynamism.
Samira Njoya
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Nigeria launches upgraded NgREN to connect higher education institutions
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New platform supports online learning, research, and digital services
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Full national rollout planned by 2026 under digital education strategy
Nigeria’s Federal Ministry of Education recently announced the rollout of an upgraded version of the Nigerian Research and Education Network (NgREN) and its integration with the Tertiary Education, Research, Applications and Services (TERAS) platform.
Officials said the initiative aims to boost digital connectivity, research collaboration, and innovation across the country’s higher education system.
Education Minister Alausa said the new NgREN will serve as a national high-speed education network, linking universities, research institutes, polytechnics, and colleges of education through a shared digital platform. The system will support online learning, cloud computing, plagiarism detection, digital libraries, research services, high-performance computing, and institutional analytics.
Digital Transformation Goals
The minister said the pilot phase will begin in 2025 in selected universities, polytechnics, and colleges of education across the country’s geopolitical zones. Nigeria plans to connect all higher education institutions by 2026.
This initiative is part of a broader digital transformation drive for Nigeria’s education sector. For instance, on October 30, Alausa unveiled a national program to distribute tablets in all public schools to make digital education universal by 2027. In September, the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) signed an agreement with U.S. firm Digital Learning Network (DLN) to supply digital devices to nearly 47 million students and teachers nationwide.
Isaac K. Kassouwi
He designs tools tailored for the local audience by focusing on streaming and digital management, illustrating a practical, everyday application of digital technology.
Charles Maleshila, an entrepreneur and computer scientist from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), has launched Plustube, a streaming platform created to give Congolese audiences a local alternative to international services like Netflix and Canal+.
Launched in 2024, Plustube offers a streaming service featuring both international and original content. It targets film and series enthusiasts with a multilingual interface, showing ambitions for international expansion.
Plustube emphasizes personalized user experience, letting viewers choose content that matches their preferences. Designed for users aged 18 and above, the platform includes an advanced search tool to sort videos by rating, release date, or country of origin.
Maleshila has also founded other digital ventures. In 2020, he launched Plustune, a platform for discovering, sharing, and streaming music and videos. The following year, he introduced Kookin, a digital tool for restaurants to simplify operations. The app lets restaurants create a professional page and manage menus, staff, delivery partners, and payments.
Maleshila earned a bachelor’s degree in Information Technology from Stratford University in India in 2018. He also trained in programming and web design at Aptech Learning and NIIT Pune, two Indian tech institutes.
Melchior Koba
He aims to establish Alissa IA as a key player in African automation. His startup designs localized solutions to meet the communication and management challenges faced by institutions across the continent.
Gabonese entrepreneur and developer Samuel Nkenke Eyebe is working to establish his company, Alissa IA, as a key player in Africa’s automation sector by developing virtual agents and chatbots for public and private institutions across the continent.
Founded in 2024, Alissa IA creates conversational solutions and AI tools tailored for government agencies, ministries, businesses, and the general public. The company combines technological development with support services, including training and awareness programs focused on the use of AI in Africa. Its goal is to respond to communication and assistance needs through automation and machine learning.
The company designs custom chatbots for support, information, and user interaction. It also builds AI tools for various sectors to improve internal processes and strengthen the connection between institutions and citizens. Its solutions include tools that accelerate content production, from idea to final text.
In addition to product development, Alissa IA organizes training and awareness initiatives focused on artificial intelligence, aiming to promote digital upskilling and access to technology careers.
Samuel Nkenke Eyebe graduated from Omar Bongo University in 2022 with a bachelor's degree in business law, and earned a higher technical certificate in software engineering from Simplon Roanne in France the same year.
He began his professional career in 2021 as a software developer at Ogooué Labs, a Gabonese startup incubator, where he worked until 2024. Between 2023 and 2024, he also served as an IT development trainer at Ecole 241 Business, an institution focused on digital careers.
In February 2025, Nkenke Eyebe won first prize in the web and mobile development category at the Gabon National Crafts Competition. That same year, he participated in the Osiane conference, a major digital event in Central Africa, as well as in VivaTech in France, an international event focused on innovation and technology startups.
Melchior Koba