Africa is the world's youngest continent, with over 60% of its 1.4 billion people under 25. This youth demographic offers a significant opportunity to nurture a tech-savvy generation that can lead the continent's digital future and drive economic growth. However, many African organizations still struggle to find the necessary tech skills to support their digital transformation efforts.
Nigerian Software solutions provider CodeGarageAfrica launched the "1000 Lines of Code" initiative on July 15 in Ibadan, Nigeria. The initiative aims at empowering 1000 senior secondary students through technology and is set to inspire and educate the next generation of tech enthusiasts.
1000 Lines of Code Commences Today!
— codegarage_africa (@CodegarageA) July 15, 2024
We are thrilled to announce the commencement of the #1000LinesofCode event today!
A big thank you to our amazing partners:@oyostategovt@386konsult @zeeh_africa
Stay tuned for updates and highlights as we kickstart!#CodeGarageAfrica pic.twitter.com/5AxvMnfQFx
The event, held at the International Conference Center in Ibadan will last a week, from July 15 to July 19, 2024. It introduces 1000 senior secondary students from 110 schools across 11 local governments in Ibadan to coding and technology. The program features hands-on workshops, industry talks, and interactive sessions designed to ignite a passion for computer science. Participants will engage in coding challenges, receive mentorship, and explore software development.
A 2022 report by SAP Africa, an enterprise software and software-related services provider, titled "Africa’s Tech Skills Scarcity Revealed," highlights that four in five organizations across the continent are negatively impacted by a lack of tech skills. In Nigeria, all surveyed organizations reported some effect from this skills gap, with 47% experiencing employee turnover or the risk thereof due to inadequate tech skills, and 60% suffering customer loss for the same reason. Bridging this gap is crucial for Africa's digital transformation and economic growth.
Hikmatu Bilali
Liquid C2, a subsidiary of Liquid Intelligent Technologies has expanded its Cloudmania business into Egypt, the leading pan-African technology group announced on July 16.
Cloudmania is an award-winning distribution unit for cloud and cyber security solutions. It operates in 35 countries across the Middle East and Africa.
The company provides innovative cloud technology, enabling businesses to deliver superior solutions to customers.
In recent years, Morocco has embarked on a digital transformation, marked by the modernization of various sectors, including higher education. With the support of partners, these advancements are becoming increasingly tangible.
Morocco secured a €120 million loan from the African Development Bank (AfDB) to digitize its universities, according to a financing agreement signed in Rabat on Tuesday, July 16.
The agreement was signed by Achraf Hassan Tarsim, AfDB's country manager for Morocco, and Nizar Baraka, Morocco's Minister of Higher Education, Scientific Research, and Innovation.
The funds will be used to develop and implement new university training programs in digital fields. These programs will be tailored to meet job market needs and the expectations of national and international investors. Additionally, universities will be equipped with new computer hardware and their services will be digitized.
This €120 million loan is part of a larger €604 million AfDB financing package for Morocco. The other allocations include €200 million for the Territorial Competitiveness Improvement Program, €200 million for the construction of the 104-kilometer Guercif-Nador highway and €84 million for the Integrated and Sustainable Development Support Project for Forest Areas.
The Moroccan government views this investment in university transformation as key to achieving the goals of its Plan for Accelerating the Transformation of the Higher Education, Scientific Research, and Innovation Ecosystem (ESRI 2030). Launched in 2020, ESRI 2030 aims to create a high-performing and attractive higher education system aligned with the country's needs. It emphasizes incorporating entrepreneurship into curricula and promoting excellence and innovation.
Morocco has set ambitious targets: graduating 22,500 students annually by 2027 and increasing the number of graduates with digital specializations or competencies across all disciplines and levels to 50,000 by 2035.
Samira Njoya
Tech services provider TD Africa and Cisco recently launched a month-long training program under the TD Academy banner to tackle Africa's technology skills gap.
The program, “Introduction to Cisco Networking Solutions and Workplace Professional Skills,” aims to tackle Africa’s technology skills gap. It combines technical training with vital soft skills, providing participants with a well-rounded skill set for today’s job market.
Driven by a commitment to empowering small African farmers, he has developed a technological platform that connects them to agricultural markets and financing opportunities. The platform aims to address their challenges with innovative solutions.
Francis Obirikorang, a Ghanaian entrepreneur, is the co-founder and CEO of AgroCenta Technologies, a fintech company dedicated to the financial inclusion of rural communities in Africa.
Founded in 2015 by Obirikorang and Michael Ocansey, AgroCenta Technologies aims to improve market access and financial services for smallholder farmers across the continent. The company offers digital payments, loans, insurance, and pensions for these farmers.
To achieve its objectives, the startup developed Velociti, a platform that leverages big data, machine learning, and artificial intelligence. Velociti constructs alternative data to enable small rural farmers to access financial services such as microloans, mobile payments, insurance, savings, and pensions. It also provides a digital identity for stakeholders in Africa's agricultural value chain.
In addition to AgroCenta Technologies, Obirikorang co-founded Swappaholics Holdings Ltd in 2015, where he served as CEO until 2016. This company developed an online platform allowing individuals and businesses to exchange products, skills, and services without using money.
Obirikorang graduated from Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology in 2006 with a bachelor's degree in materials engineering. Before venturing into entrepreneurship, he worked from 2008 to 2013 as a technical writer for tech companies Esoko and Corenett, and from 2013 to 2015 as a business analyst at TXT Ghana, a wireless application service provider.
Melchior Koba
Ensuring consistent and improved satellite services is vital for supporting digital transformation efforts across African nations. By leveraging advanced satellite technology, the continent can effectively bridge the digital divide and drive economic growth.
The Nigerian Communications Satellite Limited (NIGCOMSAT) is set to replace its aging communications satellite, NIGCOMSAT-1R. To this end, it seeks global investors and collaborators for the project. This move, announced by Managing Director Jane Nkechi Egerton-Idehen, on July 14, comes as NIGCOMSAT-1R nears the end of its 15-year lifespan in 2026.
Operational since 2011, NIGCOMSAT-1R is essential to Nigeria's communications infrastructure. The NigComSat-1R satellite was launched to replace the failed NigComSat-1 in 2007. To maintain and enhance service, NIGCOMSAT plans to develop NIGCOMSAT-2 and NIGCOMSAT-3. The two new satellites will replace NIGCOMSAT-1R.
In 2016, the Nigerian government announced its intention to acquire two new satellites. Adebayo Shittu, then Nigerian Minister of Communications, said the project would require around $500 million. He added that the government was negotiating a loan with Exim Bank China to implement the project.
The launch of two new satellites by NIGCOMSAT will reinforce the development strategy being pursued by the public company. In terms of services, the company has won several contracts with its single satellite. Between June and July, two new agreements were added to its portfolio. On July 5, NIGCOMSAT signed a one-year internet service agreement with Dimension Data, emphasizing its commitment to enhancing digital infrastructure. Additionally, in June, NIGCOMSAT partnered with Hotspot Network Limited, a company specializing in rural connectivity solutions, and telecom giant Infratel to bolster rural connectivity.
NIGCOMSAT's proactive steps to replace NIGCOMSAT-1R and global collaboration underscore the need for continuous investment and innovation in Nigeria's satellite technology.
Hikmatu Bilali
TurnStay.com, a South African travel fintech, has secured $300,000 in funding from DFS Lab and DCG, based in Silicon Valley and New York. The company plans to use this investment to expand across Africa and build on its existing momentum.
Founded by Alon Stern of Slide Financial and James Hedley of Quicket, TurnStay aims to reduce payment costs for African travel merchants by employing strategies used by major global booking companies to lower international payment fees without compromising safety or efficiency.
An IT engineer, he provides digital solutions to improve business operations. He also assists brands in increasing their visibility.
Edwin Bruno, a Tanzanian serial entrepreneur, is the founder and CEO of Smart Codes, a digital transformation company. The startup's mission is to address African challenges through technology.
Founded in 2010, Smart Codes provides digital solutions to tackle issues in Africa. The company specializes in advertising, social media, and the creation of websites and mobile applications. Among its flagship products are M-Paper, a digital newspaper app, and Kwanza, a platform that aggregates bloggers and websites to streamline the purchase of local media.
Smart Codes is part of the Smart Africa Group (SAG), where Edwin Bruno also serves as CEO. SAG is an innovation and digital consulting company aimed at creating integrated platforms that connect people and organizations to unlock limitless possibilities in Africa and beyond. SAG has four other subsidiaries: Smart Foundry focuses on innovation and product development, Smart Lab connects startups and businesses, Smartnology specializes in the development and management of cutting-edge technologies, and Smart Studio handles the production of innovative content.
Edwin Bruno is a member of the American Chamber of Commerce in Tanzania and the business leaders’ forum CEO Roundtable of Tanzania. Since 2020, he has also been part of the advisory committee of the Tanzania Private Sector Foundation, an organization promoting the social and economic development of Tanzania's private sector.
Before founding Smart Codes, Edwin Bruno established Popote Media in 2011, a social media and digital marketing agency, where he served as CEO until 2015. He holds a degree in computer science and engineering from St. Joseph University in Tanzania, earned in 2011.
Melchior Koba
Mastercard has partnered with Kalabash54, the fintech subsidiary of Wakanow Group, to launch a travel card for customers in Nigeria and Ghana, the company announced on July 15.
This initiative aims to provide a secure and convenient payment solution tailored for regional travelers. Users can fund their trips directly through the Kalabash54 app using physical or virtual cards, with options to use local currency or USD.
With the launch of these travel cards, Mastercard and Kalabash54 aim to redefine travel payments in West Africa, simplifying financial management for travelers.
After studying at prestigious American universities, two Nigerian tech entrepreneurs have embarked on a mission to solve the global challenge of receiving international payments. They decided to start this venture in their home country, Nigeria.
Cleva, a fintech solution developed by a Nigerian startup, enables individuals and businesses to receive international payments in US dollars directly into a US-based account.
Headquartered in Lagos, Nigeria, Cleva was founded in 2023 by Philip Abel and Tolu Alabi. In January 2024, it secured $1.5 million to fund the project's development and commercial offering. The fintech was also selected for the Winter 2024 cohort of the California-based accelerator Y Combinator.
Discussing Cleva's services, co-founder Tolu Alabi explained: "The problem that we're trying to solve, which is enabling people to receive international payments, is not a Nigerian problem nor an African one. It's a global problem; people in Latin America, Asia and even Canada need to receive dollars for their work and service."
Cleva has launched a mobile app available on both iOS and Android, which has already been downloaded over 10,000 times according to Play Store data. Users can create an account using their email address and must provide identification to verify their account. Currently, the solution is targeted at Nigerians. "We're starting with Nigeria because we know the market and it's also a big market," added Tolu Alabi.
Beyond receiving international payments, Cleva allows users to convert US dollars into local currency and conduct transactions with local bank accounts. The fintech also offers virtual US dollar bank cards to facilitate commercial transactions. "We feel like because of our backgrounds, we're very well positioned to solve this problem at a global scale," concluded Tolu Alabi.
Adoni Conrad Quenum
More...
As part of the digitalization of various sectors, Algerian authorities have made significant strides in human resources management.
The Algerian Ministry of the Interior, Local Authorities, and Territorial Planning has completed the digitalization of administrative documents related to human resources management at both central and local levels. The announcement was made in a statement released on Saturday, July 13.
"This initiative has resulted in the digitalization of 25,792,410 documents, including those of senior executives, employees, contract agents in service, and retirees. These documents are organized into 735,926 electronic files, each containing 35 digitized documents," the statement reads.
Additionally, the ministry developed a decision-support system for human resources management, called "system power BI." This system utilizes data from the integrated and comprehensive Human Resources Information System (HRIS) to provide precise and real-time data analysis, as well as a forward-looking perspective in decision-making related to human resources management.
The acceleration of digital transformation in Algeria aligns with the directives of President Abdelmadjid Tebboune. Aiming for full digitalization of the country by 2034, the authorities are undertaking numerous actions across various sectors as part of the 2024-2029 digital transformation strategy.
The initiative is expected to enhance the efficiency and productivity of human resources services in state entities by reducing human errors and document processing delays, improving transparency and accountability within organizations and the government, eliminating phantom employees, and facilitating citizen access to services such as social benefit applications, payroll information consultation, and leave requests.
Adoni Conrad Quenum
In 2018, his brother passed away due to uncontrolled hypertension. Since then, he has been using his technical skills to combat heart disease and reduce health inequities.
Peter Njongwe (photo), a South African software engineer, product manager, and entrepreneur, is the founder and CEO of Oben Health, a startup focused on improving healthcare access for people of color in the United States. Founded in 2020, Oben Health, previously known as Lapis Health, aims to enhance the quality of care, improve the quality of life, and reduce sudden deaths related to heart disease in communities of color. The startup has developed an AI-based platform that delivers healthcare services in barbershops and beauty salons.
The Oben Health platform seamlessly integrates clinical screenings, social determinants of health (SDOH), health coaching, and treatments. It fosters team-based care, coordination, and population health management through interoperability and data analytics. The inspiration to start this company came after the loss of Njongwe's brother in 2018. "My brother passed away from uncontrolled hypertension at age 36. He went to bed and never woke up, leaving a wife and two children behind. If my brother had gotten screened for hypertension, I think he would still be alive" Njongwe explains on the reasons behind the platform.
Njongwe holds a degree in computer information systems and entrepreneurship, earned in 2013 from Mount Royal University in Canada. He began his professional career the same year at Hitachi Solutions Canada, an enterprise application consulting firm, as an IT consultant. In 2014, he became a software developer at Evans 2 Design, now E2 + Associates, a company specializing in housing construction and land development. In 2015, he was hired by Shopify as a product manager. From 2019 to 2021, he served as an executive-in-residence at Connection Silicon Valley, an organization that helps Canadian companies collaborate, innovate, and establish partnerships within the Silicon Valley tech ecosystem.
Melchior Koba
Streamlining vehicle registration and documentation processes aids in combating vehicle-related crimes such as terrorism, banditry, kidnapping, and armed robbery. Digital systems can be adapted to provide real-time data to help law enforcement agencies track and recover stolen vehicles, enhancing overall security.
In a recent development, the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun, has ordered the immediate suspension of the proposed enforcement of the digitalized Central Motor Registry (e-CMR), which was initially set to commence on July 29, 2024. This directive was announced in a press release dated July 14, just a day after the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) announced the deadline for vehicle owners to register for the e-CMR, costing N5,375 per vehicle.
The decision aims to provide sufficient time for mass enlightenment and education of all citizens and residents on the e-CMR process, its benefits, and its effectiveness in addressing vehicle-related crimes and protecting vehicle ownership.
"The Inspector-General of Police, IGP Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun, Ph.D., NPM, has ordered an immediate suspension of the proposed enforcement of the e-CMR initially scheduled to commence on the 29th of July, 2024. This is to give ample opportunity for mass enlightenment and education of all citizens and residents on the process, benefits and effectiveness in solving the challenge of vehicle-related crimes, and protection of individual and corporate vehicle ownership," the statement read.
In light of the suspension, the IGP has instructed all police officers to refrain from requesting e-CMR certificates. Any officer found extorting or exploiting the public under the guise of enforcing e-CMR compliance will face strict sanctions. The NPF clarified that the e-CMR is not intended as a revenue-generating platform but as a digital policing initiative aimed at enhancing public safety and security.
The e-CMR system is designed to enhance the safety and security of all vehicle types, including motorcycles. By collecting data from vehicle owners, the system can flag vehicles if reported stolen, provide the police with a comprehensive real-time database, prevent multiple registrations, and integrate biometric and other data into a national database. This integration will contribute to overall security and streamline incident reporting across various government agencies.
This suspension provides an opportunity for better public understanding and preparation for the eventual implementation of the e-CMR system, ensuring it effectively enhances vehicle security and ownership protection.
The Central Motor Registry (CMR) was initially launched in December 2022 to enable citizens to report stolen vehicles and assist in processing motor vehicle information, supporting police operations, and enhancing national security. This digitalization effort is part of a broader trend where African nations are increasingly adopting digital solutions to combat crime, improve governance, and streamline services.
Hikmatu Bilali
Driven by a passion for both art and culture, he sees technology as a powerful tool to tackle challenges. He has created a platform that connects African artists across the continent.
Seydina Mouhamed Sene (photo), a Senegalese tech entrepreneur and passionate artist, is the founder of Welfin Sarl, a tech startup specializing in event communication.
Launched in 2022, Welfin aims to simplify and speed up the organization of professional events using artificial intelligence to offer unique, personalized experiences tailored to each company's budget.
One of Welfin's flagship solutions is Teralma, a platform dedicated to the cultural and creative industries. The platform lists and networks engaged artists across Africa, encouraging them to participate in sustainable development programs initiated by non-governmental organizations and associations on the continent.
Prior to founding Welfin, Sene co-founded Circus Morocco in 2016, a startup dedicated to recycling electronic waste from businesses, households, and rural communities. In 2019, he also co-founded Bsensei, a fintech startup developing solutions for financial institutions.
Sene graduated from the Faculty of Legal, Economic, and Social Sciences (FSJES) Ain Chock in Casablanca, where he earned a bachelor's degree in management economics. Since 2016, he has been a member of the international MakeSense community, which helps social entrepreneurs tackle their challenges.
His entrepreneurial efforts have been recognized with several awards. With Circus Morocco, he won the Orange Social Entrepreneur Award in Africa and the Middle East in 2018 in Morocco. With Bsensei, he received first prize in the Open Innovation organized by BNP Paribas in Africa in 2018 and first prize at the Africa Blockchain Summit organized by Bank Al-Maghrib and Paris Europlace in 2019. In 2021, he secured second place in the Free Innovation Xperience Challenge launched by the telecom operator Free.
Melchior Koba