With over 12 years of experience in finance, consulting, and digital transformation, he offers innovative approaches to training, e-learning, recruitment, and onboarding.
Youssef Jbel (photo) is a Moroccan finance expert and entrepreneur in the technology sector. He is the co-founder and CEO of NowEdge, a tech company specializing in learning and development.
Founded in 2020, NowEdge supports organizations in their transformation efforts by enhancing the skills of their teams. The company offers an innovative SaaS platform for training, built around two core principles: gamification and realistic simulations.
“At NowEdge, we offer two main HR solutions: training gamification and digital onboarding. Our approach is to make content more interactive and engaging through storytelling and scenario design. For example, in onboarding, we create fun, digital journeys that help new employees easily grasp the company’s values and mission. These solutions can be tailored to various industries, from pharmaceutical labs to banks,” explained the CEO of the startup, which boasts 2,500 users and seven ready-to-use training games.
Youssef Jbel graduated in 2011 from the National Institute of Applied Sciences (INSA) in Toulouse, France, with a master’s degree in applied mathematics, statistics, modeling, and financial mathematics. In 2012, he earned a second master’s degree in quantitative mathematics and finance from the prestigious École des Ponts et Chaussées, also in France.
That same year, he joined Mosaic Finance, a French investment firm, as a trader. Three years later, he moved to Société Générale Corporate and Investment Banking, working in the equity derivatives pricing and solutions department. In 2017, he returned to Morocco to serve as a senior structurer at Attijariwafa Bank. From 2019 to 2022, he worked as a project manager in quantitative modeling and analytics at OCP Solutions, a firm specializing in business consulting and services.
By Melchior Koba,
Editing by Sèna D. B. de Sodji
Namibia’s Communications Regulatory Authority (CRAN) has issued an order for Starlink to cease operations in the country, citing the lack of a required telecommunications license, according to Reuters.
The cease-and-desist order, issued on November 26, 2024, follows an investigation confirming unauthorized network activities by Starlink.
Starlink has applied for a license in Namibia, but CRAN stated the application is still under review. Meanwhile, the regulator has advised consumers against purchasing Starlink equipment or subscribing to its services, calling such actions illegal.
Egyptian digital payment provider e-finance has partnered with UK-based Cassava Technologies to drive digital transformation across Africa.
The agreement, signed at the 28th Cairo ICT Exhibition and Conference held Nov 17- 20, aims to enhance Egypt’s digital landscape while introducing advanced solutions across the continent.
The collaboration focuses on fostering financial inclusion and supporting digital economies across Africa.
Developped by two tech entrepreneurs, the solution aims to help hospitals secure blood supplies more efficiently.
Wala Digital Health, a Ghanaian e-health startup, is streamlining how hospitals and blood banks order, receive, and manage blood supplies. Founded in 2019 by Dennis Addo and Kanyisola Oyeyinka, the company operates from Accra, Ghana, and Cambridge, USA, combining local impact with global innovation.
“We harness the power of social networks to boost blood product availability and leverage innovative digital solutions for processing, sharing, and delivery, combating the fatal consequences of blood shortages,” the platform explains.
The solution features a mobile app, available on iOS and Android, enabling blood donors to connect with the platform and schedule donations. Through extensive use of digital channels, including social media, Wala Digital Health has built a donor community of around 1,000 members. Donors earn digital tokens after each contribution, which can be redeemed for medical services.
Blood donations are processed and made available within 24 to 48 hours. “Whole blood is separated into components (red blood cells, platelets, and plasma). Red blood cells can be stored for up to 42 days, plasma can be frozen and kept for 12 months, while platelets must be used within five days,” the platform notes.
Hospitals and blood banks can easily access these products through the app to meet their supply needs. In recognition of its innovative approach, Wala Digital Health was among 36 start-ups selected for the regional rounds of the MEST Africa Challenge in 2022.
By Adoni Conrad Quenum,
Editing by Sèna D. B. de Sodji
He is a committed leader driven by a strong desire to promote economic growth and community development. He has founded several businesses, particularly in the trade and agriculture sectors.
Festus Malakia (photo), a Namibian entrepreneur, is the co-founder and CEO of Mepya, a startup specializing in food distribution and agro-processing. The company leverages technology to support smallholder farmers, enabling them to grow their operations and access broader markets.
Founded in 2021, Mepya is a B2B tech-focused start-up in the food distribution and agro-industry sector. It connects producers directly with buyers, aiming to make nutritious food more accessible while strengthening food security.
“Our goal is to create an integrated market where farmers can connect with a larger customer base and utilize resources efficiently. Through this marketplace, we aim to reduce waste, increase farmers' income, and contribute to agricultural sector growth,” states the company’s website.
Before launching Mepya, Malakia founded Central Commerce Group in 2017, a multi-sectoral social enterprise operating in agriculture, agri-tech, e-commerce, logistics, and more. In 2018, he co-founded the Unique Empowerment & Employment Initiative Foundation (UEEIF), an organization focused on youth development, where he also serves as CEO.
An active member of the Global Shapers Community, Malakia has worked as a business consultant since 2012, collaborating with over 5,000 young professionals and entrepreneurs on projects across Africa, the Middle East, Europe, and North America.
Malakia graduated from NUST Namibia in 2014 with a bachelor’s degree in Human Resource Development. His career began in 2011 at Namibia’s National Planning Commission as a data collector. He later worked as a banker at Nedbank Namibia in 2015 and as a data entry clerk at the Ministry of Health and Social Services in 2017.
By Melchior Koba,
Editing by Sèna D. B. de Sodji
Throughout 2024, Côte d’Ivoire implemented several projects aimed at enhancing digital inclusion for its population. However, challenges remain.
On Monday, November 25, Côte d’Ivoire's Ministry of Digital Transition and Digitalization announced that its budget had been approved by the National Assembly's Economic and Financial Affairs Commission. Valued at 60.78 billion CFA francs (approximately $96.8 million), the budget aims to enhance connectivity, ensure equitable access to technology, promote digital skills, and support youth and women in the digital sector.
The budget includes 8.1 billion CFA francs to investments, 5.7 billion CFA francs to personnel expenses, 1.9 billion CFA francs for general administration, 19.9 billion CFA francs for the digital economy and postal services, 35.5 billion CFA francs for rural technology development, and 4.6 billion CFA francs to support activities in the electronic communications sector.
To achieve its goals, the ministry has outlined a series of initiatives. These include advancing the implementation of the E-Government Strengthening Support Project (PARAE), training 265 specialists in information and communication technologies, organizing the Ivoiretech forum, and bolstering state employees’ proficiency in digital tools.
Minister of Digital Transition and Digitalization Kalil Konaté highlighted key priorities such as fostering an innovative digital ecosystem, bridging the digital divide through rural investments, and strengthening ICT regulations to ensure secure development.
Côte d’Ivoire's digital progress is evident in recent metrics. According to the International Telecommunication Union, the country achieved a 2024 ICT development index score of 65.3 out of 100. Its online administration development index improved to 0.5587 out of 1 in 2024, up from 0.5467 in 2022.
By Adoni Conrad Quenum,
Editing by Sèna D. B. de Sodji
Kenya will host the 61st Biannual Plenary Session on the FinTech Revolution in Africa on December 1, 2024. The forum will bring together FinTech leaders to discuss banking sector advancements and the integration of financial technology.
Organized by the African Economic Research Consortium (AERC) in partnership with the Central Bank of Kenya (CBK), the event will highlight Africa’s growing role in financial innovation and its potential to drive inclusive growth and transformation.
This plenary aims to position Africa as a global leader in digital finance, fostering financial inclusion and economic transformation.
In 2016, Guinean authorities intensified efforts to take control of the country’s top-level domain. At the time, the resource was managed by the U.S.-based registry PSGNet.
The Guinean government has completed the repatriation of its national top-level domain, .GN, marking the end of "over 20 years of effort and determination." The Ministry of Posts, Telecommunications, and Digital Economy announced on Wednesday, November 27, that the official launch is scheduled for December 4.
Discussions to repatriate management of the domain, previously overseen by U.S.-based registry PSGNet, began in 2016. A key milestone came in 2017 with a decree signed by then-President Alpha Condé, which established rules for the technical and administrative management of the national Internet domain. In January 2022, Aminata Kaba, then Minister of Posts, Telecommunications, and Digital Economy, was tasked with securing Guinea's control over its domain.
This achievement is significant for Guinea’s digital sovereignty, as the country has identified digital transformation as a cornerstone of its socio-economic development. Local management of the domain is expected to bolster national cybersecurity, especially in an era of rapid technological change. In the Global Cybersecurity Index 2024 by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), Guinea is classified as a Tier 3 country, indicating a "basic commitment to cybersecurity" with a score of at least 55/100.
“The world we live in is profoundly shaped by technology, and the future of our independence largely depends on our ability to control our digital infrastructure. Guinea must, more than ever, carve its own path in technological development by safeguarding its data, fostering local innovation, and ensuring equitable access to information and digital services for all its citizens,” said Rose Pola Pricemou, Minister of Posts, Telecommunications, and Digital Economy, in the October edition of the ministry’s Digital Bulletin.
By Isaac K. Kassouwi
Editing by Sèna D. B. de Sodji
On November 26, Huawei handed over smart boards and other technology to the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development, received by Permanent Secretary Maambo Hamaundu.
This move reaffirmed Huawei’s commitment to supporting Zambia's digital transformation through enhanced collaboration with the government.
The equipment, featuring video conferencing and wireless sharing, aims to boost connectivity and streamline operations, reducing the need for travel.
A specialized computer scientist, he is an expert in machine learning, artificial intelligence, and big data. Leveraging this expertise, he develops innovative technological solutions to enhance language learning and mastery.
Pascal Uriel Elingui (photo) is a Côte d’Ivoire-based tech entrepreneur and the co-founder and CEO of Wakkeh, a software development company.
Founded in 2022, Wakkeh focuses on creating innovative educational solutions. Its flagship product, Dictable, is a French language learning platform designed to enhance writing and communication skills for young Africans and users worldwide. Powered by artificial intelligence, Dictable enables users to perform dictation exercises autonomously.
The platform features an automated error detection tool, provides contextual assistance, and includes interactive functionalities that make the learning process engaging and enriching. Dictable also hosts online dictation contests, expanding its educational reach and fostering competitive learning.
Pascal Uriel Elingui is an instructor on Coursera and holds a master's degree in mobile networks and services from the Ecole Supérieure Multinationale des Télécommunications (ESMT) in Senegal, obtained in 2010. He has also completed online courses in machine learning and big data at institutions such as ESSEC Business School and the University of Washington.
Professionally, his career began in 2011 as an IT consultant for Qualisys Consulting in Senegal and a systems administrator at Global Technics in Mauritania. In 2012, he joined Voxygen SAS, a software development company, as a research and development engineer. Between 2020 and 2023, he mentored students on the OpenClassrooms platform, sharing his expertise in cutting-edge technology.
In 2023, Elingui's commitment to leveraging technology for educational innovation was recognized when he won the Orange Social Entrepreneur Prize in Africa and the Middle East (POESAM) in Côte d’Ivoire for Dictable. The award underscores his mission to transform education through creative tech solutions and make a lasting impact on learners worldwide.
By Melchior Koba
Editing by Sèna D. B. de Sodji
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Without robust security measures, digital transformation in Africa risks failure. In Congo, where significant investments are driving ICT growth, a strong focus on digital security is placed on protecting online users and safeguarding critical systems.
Léon Juste Ibombo (photo), Congo's Minister of Posts, Telecommunications, and the Digital Economy, delivered the keynote address on Monday, November 25, at the second edition of the Brazza Cybersecurity Forum. He emphasized the critical importance of digital security in light of the exponential rise in cyber threats across all sectors and affirmed that cybersecurity lies at the heart of Congo's strategic development.
"Cybersecurity is no longer optional but an imperative in an increasingly connected world," Ibombo said.
In recent months, Congo has ramped up strategic partnerships as part of its national digital transformation strategy, "Congo Digital 2025." Although cybersecurity is a priority within this initiative, the country remains behind in this domain. According to the Global Cybersecurity Index 2024 published by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), Congo is ranked in Tier 4 with a score of 27.61 out of 100, highlighting significant gaps in digital protection and underscoring the urgency to accelerate efforts. It was thus placed in the “Evolving” category.
"Evolving represents countries that obtained an overall score of at least 20/100 by demonstrating a basic cybersecurity commitment to government-driven actions that encompass evaluating, establishing or implementing certain generally accepted cybersecurity measures in at least one pillar, or several indicators and/or sub-indicators," the ITU explained in its report.
Congo lags in four of the five pillars comprising the index. While it scored 14.12 out of 20 in legal measures, it earned a dismal 0 out of 20 in technical measures, 0.72 in capacity building, 3.9 in organizational measures, and 8.87 in cooperation with regional, continental, and global partners.
To achieve its goal of becoming a technology hub, Congolese authorities must prioritize several actions. These include establishing technical infrastructures such as Computer Emergency Response Teams (CERT/CSIRT) and cybersecurity threat protection measures, investing in education, awareness, and research to build cybersecurity skills, and forging international and regional partnerships to combat cyber threats. Active participation in agreements and collaborative initiatives will also be essential.
Adoni Conrad Quenum
Artificial intelligence (AI) is rapidly transforming industries worldwide. While Africa stands to benefit significantly from its advancements, the limited integration of African languages into AI systems poses a major obstacle to its full potential.
Orange announced, yesterday, a partnership with OpenAI and Meta to advance this initiative. The project, set to launch in the first half of 2025, aims to develop AI systems capable of recognizing and interacting with African languages.
West African languages such as Wolof and Pulaar will be the first to be included in the project. These languages will be integrated into OpenAI's Whisper and Meta's Llama technologies, which specialize in language recognition and translation.
Current AI models are predominantly trained using English-language data, which limits their capacity to support African languages. The underrepresentation stems from the scarcity of data available in these languages. To address this gap, Orange will contribute data from its local applications, particularly those used in customer service, to enhance AI processing of African languages.
One of the key objectives is to allow Orange users to interact with customer service in their native languages, making the user experience more seamless and accessible. The advancements achieved through this collaboration will extend beyond Orange’s services. The AI models developed will also be made available for non-commercial use, supporting public health and education initiatives.
By Servan Ahougnon
Editing by Sèna D. B. de Sodji
He has over ten years of experience in technology, education, and entrepreneurship. A former intern at NASA, he leverages his expertise in geospatial technology to gather valuable data that supports various development sectors.
Richard Folly (photo) is a Togolese geospatial analyst and technology entrepreneur. He is the founder and CEO of African Geospace, a company specializing in space technologies and big data analytics.
Founded in 2019, African Geospace develops solutions based on satellite data analysis and artificial intelligence, empowering clients to make informed decisions and optimize their operations using cutting-edge tools. The company serves several key sectors.
In agriculture, African Geospace provides solutions for improved crop monitoring, promoting optimal production while prioritizing environmental sustainability. In mining, the firm offers tools to maximize resource extraction while ensuring sustainable practices. Additionally, it plays a significant role in advancing the energy transition.
Richard Folly earned a bachelor’s degree in geography from the University of Lomé in 2016. He also holds a 2017 public management certificate from Arizona State University.
In 2016, he taught digital literacy at ESIG Global Success, a university specializing in IT and management. The following year, he interned at NASA, focusing on geospatial technologies. Between 2020 and 2022, he worked as a data scientist at Togo’s Ministry of Digital Economy and Digital Transformation.
Melchior Koba
To bolster its digital transformation efforts, Ethiopia is forging strategic partnerships, including closer ties with an Asian country on cybersecurity matters.
Tigist Hamid (photo, right), Director General of the Information Network Security Administration (INSA), recently met with Chen Hai (photo, left), China's Ambassador to Ethiopia. According to the Ethiopian News Agency, which revealed the meeting on Monday, November 25, the discussions focused on cybersecurity.
The news agency reveals that Tigist Hamid presented the Chinese official with "cybersecurity products and services provided by the administration as well as ongoing efforts to enhance the country's cybersecurity infrastructure." She also highlighted the need for sustained support and collaboration between the Ethiopian and Chinese governments in the field of cybersecurity.
Ethiopia is currently ranked as a Tier 3 country on the International Telecommunication Union's (ITU) Global Cybersecurity Index, with a score of 76.34 out of 100. This ranking reflects a basic level of commitment to cybersecurity, as measured by public initiatives to evaluate, establish, or implement generally accepted measures across a moderate range of indicators.
China, by comparison, scored 91.64 out of 100 in the 2024 index, placing it in the Tier 2 category. While not among the leading nations in cybersecurity, China’s advanced expertise and its influential tech companies—such as Huawei, ZTE, Tencent, and Xiaomi—could prove valuable for Ethiopia as it seeks to strengthen its digital defenses.
Adoni Conrad Quenum