The Mastercard Foundation, in partnership with the Federal Government of Nigeria, will host its first EdTech Conference from July 8 to 10, 2024, at Abuja's Hilton Transcorp.
Themed ‘Education Technology for Resilient and Inclusive Learning in Africa,’ the event aligns with the African Union’s Year of Education and focuses on EdTech trends, policies for fostering innovation, and its role in solving educational challenges across Africa.
Over the past two years, Algeria has doubled its international bandwidth capacity. In 2020, Algeria's international bandwidth was 1.5 Tbps (terabits per second). This has increased to 7.8 Tbps in 2022 and reached 9.8 Tbps in early 2024.
Algeria has made significant progress in strengthening its digital infrastructure by completing a 2,600 km segment of fiber optics, a key component of the Trans-Saharan Fiber Optic Backbone project (DTS). Abdelouahab Bara, the Secretary-General of the Ministry of Post and Telecommunications, announced this achievement on Sunday, July 7, in Algiers during the opening of the 5th session of the project's Liaison Committee.
According to Bara, the project aims to "create a technological dynamic that fosters the emergence of a digital economy in the concerned countries, contributing to the development of e-commerce on the continent and online financial services, as well as improving the business climate."
This initiative is part of the African Union's New Partnership for Africa's Development (NEPAD), aimed at continental integration and the development of the digital economy in the region. It connects six countries: Algeria, Niger, Nigeria, Chad, Mali, and Mauritania. The 79 million euro project is co-funded by the African Development Bank (AfDB) and the European Union (29 million euros) following a delegation agreement administered by the AfDB.
Algeria's connection to this trans-Saharan backbone aims to strengthen and diversify the national economy by increasing high-speed broadband connectivity. According to DataReportal, Algeria had 50.65 million active mobile cellular connections at the beginning of 2024, with a penetration rate of 110.2% of the population.
Once completed, the project will enhance regional connectivity with neighboring countries and support a range of electronic services. The agricultural, educational, health, and commercial sectors will benefit from this project, creating new opportunities, particularly new jobs, and improving incomes, especially in rural areas.
Samira Njoya
Satellite technology is crucial for developing societies, impacting agriculture, navigation, banking, and mining by enhancing resource management, productivity, and sustainability. It supports sustainable development goals and aligns with global efforts to combat climate change and promote conservation.
EnduroSat, a Bulgarian aerospace company, announced on July 3 plans to partner with the Botswana International University of Science and Technology (BIUST) to build Botswana's first software-defined satellite, BOTSAT-1. The satellite, set to launch on SpaceX’s Transporter-13 mission by February 2025, will aid the country's mining and agricultural sectors.
“EnduroSat has been an exceptional partner in our journey to launch Botswana's first satellite. Their expertise and support have been invaluable, and we are excited about the progress we have made together. This partnership brings us closer to realizing our shared vision and underscores the strength of our mutual commitment to advancing space technology in Botswana,’’ said BIUST Vice Chancellor Professor Otlogetswe Totolo
BIUST engineers will collaborate with EnduroSat for the satellite's assembly and payload integration. BOTSAT-1 will feature a hyperspectral sensory camera with a spatial resolution of 32 meters at an altitude of 500 kilometers. SpaceX will oversee launch logistics and conduct rigorous testing to ensure a smooth process.
The satellite will provide critical data for resource management and sustainable development, aiding Botswana in addressing developmental challenges. It will enhance agricultural productivity and sustainability by tackling low productivity, water scarcity, and soil quality. High-quality images will help geologists identify potential mineral deposits and map access routes, providing essential information on land cover, including roads, tracks, and fences.
In 2023, Botswana was ranked 85th on the Global Innovation Index (GII), which captures the innovation ecosystem performance of 132 economies and tracks the most recent global innovation trends. The BOTSAT-1 project is expected to boost Botswana's position by enhancing its technological capabilities and fostering innovation in key sectors.
Hikmatu Bilali
Concerned about the security of data collected by companies, he develops innovative tools to ensure the protection of data collected by digital businesses in emerging markets.
Lanre Ogungbe (photo) is a Nigerian computer scientist and entrepreneur. He is a co-founder and the CEO of Prembly, a data infrastructure and compliance provider for businesses.
Founded in 2021, Prembly specializes in identity verification, security, and compliance, with the mission of protecting digital businesses in emerging markets. This allows these companies to operate globally by establishing a trustworthy relationship with their clients. Under its brand, Prembly offers several solutions, including IdentityPass, IdentityRadar, IdentityForm, Compliance Tracker, and Background Checks by Prembly.
IdentityPass helps digital businesses acquire and onboard clients through instant data verification tools, document verification, and biometric authentication. IdentityForm ensures the authenticity and accuracy of user information. IdentityRadar provides a comprehensive suite of fraud prevention tools, facilitating identity verification and fraud detection for businesses worldwide.
On Wednesday, July 3, Prembly announced its merger with Peleza, a Kenyan company specializing in background and identity checks. The new entity, Prembly Group, will be led by Lanre Ogungbe and will bring together over 100 employees across offices in Uganda, Kenya, the United States, and Nigeria.
Lanre Ogungbe is a member of the Forbes Business Council and serves on the board of The IREDE Foundation, a nonprofit organization dedicated to encouraging, educating, and empowering children aged 0 to 18 living with congenital disabilities. He graduated from Adekunle Ajasin University with a bachelor's degree in computer science and earned a master's degree in analysis, leadership, and innovation from The Johns Hopkins University in 2023.
His professional career began in 2014 as a team leader at Enactus. In 2017, he became the operations director at myPadi.ng, a Nigerian digital platform facilitating housing access. From 2018 to 2021, he served as head of business and customer services at Accounteer, an online accounting company for entrepreneurs.
Melchior Koba
For several years, he worked as a web designer for various companies. Today, as an entrepreneur, he operates a startup that specializes in the online sale and delivery of fresh household and food products.
Muhammad S. Habib (photo) is an Egyptian computer scientist and entrepreneur who co-founded Breadfast, a startup specializing in the delivery of food and household products. Founded in 2017, Breadfast aims to revolutionize product delivery in Egypt by offering dairy products, eggs, fresh bread, fruits, and vegetables, all available 24/7, with products packaged and delivered fresh daily.
The startup delivers to most neighborhoods in Cairo and Giza, as well as to Alexandria for same-day food deliveries. It also serves Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, for next-morning bakery deliveries.
Before Breadfast, Muhammad S. Habib co-founded Nafham in 2012, an online educational video platform aligned with the public school curriculum. In 2015, he also co-founded MarginUX, a Cairo-based user experience design and consulting firm.
Muhammad S. Habib holds a bachelor's degree in computer science from the Modern Academy in Maadi, Egypt, obtained in 2009. He also earned a master's degree in management and business administration from ESLSCA Business School Paris in 2014. His professional career began in 2009 at LINKonLINE, an online services and content provider, where he worked as a web designer. From 2010 to 2011, he held the same position at MSN Middle East.
In 2011, he became a UI designer at Samardy, a company under the telecom operator Vodafone. From 2013 to 2015, he served as a UX consultant for Speakol, a social debate network that enhances online social engagement by providing a structured platform for real-time discussions on current issues.
Melchior Koba
Madagascar and South Korea have maintained bilateral relations since 1993. Both countries aim to strengthen this collaboration in the digital sector.
A Malagasy delegation, led by the Secretary-General of the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock, Raharinomena Fanja, made an official visit to South Korea from June 28 to July 5. This mission, funded by the Korea World Bank Partnership Facility (KWPF), aimed to explore advancements in blockchain technology for managing agricultural input allocations.
"The mission illustrates how the Malagasy delegation is looking towards a foreign country, recognized for its expertise in the observed field, to explore a more efficient alternative approach than the one currently followed," the ministry stated.
During this visit, the Malagasy delegation met with various government and regulatory entities, including the Ministry of Science and ICT, the Korea Internet & Security Agency (KISA), and the Alliance of Blockchain Leading Digital Economy (ABLE). They also engaged with technology companies and startups specializing in blockchain, such as SK Telecom (SKT), SMART M2M, KONA I, and Ahnlab Blockchain Company, who showcased their innovations.
This visit aligns with the Malagasy government's efforts to strengthen the agricultural sector through innovative technological partnerships. Madagascar has faced numerous challenges, particularly climatic ones, with the country being the fourth most vulnerable to climate change according to the United Nations. Recurrent droughts and cyclones, whose frequency, duration, and intensity are increasing due to climate change, have significantly impacted agriculture.
In this context, the Rice Plus project for productivity and resilience of rural livelihoods, led by the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock and funded by the World Bank, aims to introduce smart agricultural technologies and blockchain-based electronic programs for input allocations (seeds and fertilizers).
The mission enabled the Malagasy delegation to discover blockchain as a promising technology for the effective and secure management of digital vouchers. It also paved the way for new collaborations and innovations, marking an important step towards the digital transformation of agriculture in Madagascar.
Samira Njoya
Accelerex, a leading African fintech company, has launched the “Pay with Fingerprint” solution, Nigeria's first biometric-enabled PoS payment system.
Designed to address card fraud and eliminate the need for physical cards, the technology allows bank account holders to make secure payments using their fingerprints at merchant locations.
BFA Global, FSD Africa, and the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) have chosen ten startups for the Africa Blue Wave and Regen Wave initiatives, BFA Global announced on July 1.
Selected startups, each receiving $55,000 in funding, span Kenya, Madagascar, Mozambique, Nigeria, Rwanda, South Africa, and Tanzania, addressing challenges like the fish trade, environmental pollution, renewable energy certification, eco-friendly fertilizers, waste management, clean cooking, cold storage, and sustainable drainage solutions.
Enhancing internet connectivity promotes digital inclusion across regions, ensuring more people have access to online resources, education, and opportunities. This aligns with broader efforts in Africa to bridge the digital divide and empower communities through technology.
Governor Chukwuma Soludo announced, on July 2, a 2,400km fibre optic network initiative to provide free Wi-Fi across Anambra State. Revealed during the swearing-in of the 2024 Batch ‘B’ Stream 1 NYSC members, the project aims to address internet connectivity challenges.
Soludo, represented by Martin Agbili, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Youth Development, emphasized youth empowerment and local enterprise support. He said, “My administration has articulated a deep-rooted policy towards the youths which corps members deployed to the state benefit.”
Nigeria, with its large population (accounting for 47% of West Africa’s total), a significant youth demographic (half of its 200 million people are under 30), and a robust mobile market, has immense potential in the digital economy. However, limited fixed broadband infrastructure in rural areas leaves many marginalized segments without Internet access. Strategic investments are crucial to fully unlock the country’s digital economic opportunities and transform lives, as highlighted by the World Bank assessment and Nigeria’s Economic Recovery and Growth Plan 2017–2020.
The network aims to boost digital infrastructure and economic opportunities in Anambra. It aligns with the ‘Everything Technology and Technology Everywhere’ vision of the state's governor.
Hikmatu Bilali
Fueled by a frustrating sofa delivery experience, Redouane El Halaoui partnered with someone to develop a solution. This solution incorporates a negotiation feature to benefit both consumers and providers.
PeeCoop, a delivery solution developed by the Moroccan company Red Ant, enables users to have packages and goods delivered across multiple cities in Morocco. Launched in 2020 by Redouane El Haloui and Antoine de Mirbeck, this Casablanca-based startup offers a mobile application available on both iOS and Android, which has already been downloaded over 10,000 times from the PlayStore.
After downloading the app, users create an account according to their status. PeeCoop provides account options for individuals, independent transporters, and e-commerce platforms. Regardless of the account type, users must enter their phone number and follow the registration process.
For individuals looking to have a package delivered, the process is straightforward. After creating an account, users submit a delivery request by uploading a photo of the package and filling out a form. This form includes a description of the merchandise, its dimensions, weight, pickup date, time, and location, and a proposed price. Once the request is submitted, multiple transporters receive it and those interested in the job contact the client. This initiates the negotiation, allowing both parties to reach an agreement.
Speaking about the price negotiation feature, Redouane El Haloui stated in a 2021 interview on the Medi-Up podcast: "We wanted to give drivers the option to propose a price. It's simpler, and they know their colleagues will also be proposing prices, so it happens naturally. They can offer the right prices for the client, who then has the option to accept or negotiate."
PeeCoop currently boasts over 2,000 "peecoopers" across Morocco and more than 18,000 satisfied customers. The startup claims its service helps clients save up to 75% on delivery costs.
Adoni Conrad Quenum
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With less than a third of Africans having access to high-speed internet, broadband adoption remains uneven, with connectivity often being either costly or unreliable across the continent. However, initiatives are underway to address this disparity.
On Thursday, July 4, the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) announced the launch of the Africa Broadband Maps project in a statement made during the 2024 Global Symposium for Regulators in Kampala, Uganda. This broadband mapping initiative, supported by the European Commission, aims to establish mapping systems to encourage investment and digital transformation across Africa. With a budget of €15 million over four years, the project will initially benefit 11 countries: Benin, Botswana, Burundi, Côte d'Ivoire, Ethiopia, Kenya, Malawi, Nigeria, Uganda, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.
The initiative, led by the ITU's Telecommunication Development Bureau (ITU BDT), aligns with the organization's efforts to improve digital connectivity on a continent where internet access remains limited in many regions.
According to the "Connecting Africa through Broadband" report published by the Broadband Commission in 2019, an estimated $100 billion needs to be invested over ten years to provide comprehensive broadband coverage across Africa. About 80% of this amount is earmarked for the deployment and maintenance of networks, 17.5% for developing local digital skills, and approximately 2% for creating an appropriate regulatory framework.
The Africa Broadband Maps project aims to identify areas with insufficient broadband coverage or substandard internet speeds. The findings will enable policymakers to allocate resources efficiently, ensuring that investments in infrastructure expansion are both effective and equitable. This initiative is expected to play a crucial role in closing the digital divide and fostering economic growth, education, and innovation across the continent.
Samira Njoya
She has extensive experience in digital technology and the development of online loyalty programs. Her company enables consumers to consolidate their loyalty points on a single platform, making them easier to use.
Moroccan engineer and entrepreneur Siham Elmejjad (photo) is the co-founder and CEO of Tookeez, a startup inspired by her passion for digital, economic, and financial inclusion.
Tookeez was founded in 2020 by Siham, her sister Wiam Elmejjad, and Hicham Amadi. The startup offers a platform that allows consumers to convert their rewards into tangible benefits. Users can consolidate their loyalty points from various retailers into a single digital wallet, which they can then exchange for services or discounts.
Tookeez also helps businesses understand their customers better by providing consumer behavior analytics and targeted marketing campaigns. In March 2024, the startup raised $1.5 million from Azur Innovation Fund, with the goal of reaching 4 million users by 2028 and expanding to a new country by 2026. Currently, the platform has over 20,000 users.
"We plan to enhance the user experience by developing new features and integrating cutting-edge technologies like blockchain and artificial intelligence to optimize interactions between brands and consumers within our system," Mrs Siham Elmejjad said.
The CEO holds an engineering degree in information technology, earned in 2002 from the National Institute of Posts and Telecommunications (INPT). She began her career the same year at Alcatel Research and Innovation as a research and development engineer. In 2004, she became the marketing director at Maroc Telecom.
In 2006, she joined Bilendi, a company that designs and markets online loyalty programs. There, she successively held the positions of business and development manager and general manager in Morocco. In 2019, she became the executive vice president responsible for products and deliveries at World Wide Loyalty System (2WLS), where she worked until 2023. 2WLS helps brands adopt loyalty strategies for their customers and partners.
Melchior Koba
In recent years, the digital sector has become one of the most significant development areas for several African countries with the digital economy improving millions of lives. In that context, a Guinean program aims to qualified local ICT professionals.
1000 TechLeaders is an innovative program in Guinea aimed at developing a new generation of skilled professionals in information and communication technology (ICT). Launched on June 18, 2024, by Nimba Hub and the Devscom developer community, the program is championed by Fodé Momo Bangoura, the CEO of Nimba Solution. The objective is to equip young people with advanced technological skills, stimulate local innovation by creating a network of qualified professionals, and facilitate access to investment for innovative projects.
The program offers four main courses, tailored to the current demands of the tech job market: backend development, frontend development, mobile development, and UX/UI design (user experience and interface design). Each course lasts six months and combines theory with practical training, delivered in person.
For 2024, 1000 TechLeaders has already selected 130 young talents from 754 applicants. The courses began on the program's launch day and will conclude on Sunday, December 8, 2024.
To achieve its ambitious goals, the program is supported by several sponsors and partners, including Medias 7 Plus, AfroTech Hub, Tech Elevate Africa, Fata.school, the restaurant Heroes Coffee, and Guinea's Post and Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (ARPT).
Melchior Koba
African startup funding continues to decline sharply with the first half of 2024 being the quietest semester since late 2020. This represents a significant drop from previous years, with the "Big Four" startup hubs of Nigeria, Kenya, Egypt and South Africa continuing to dominate the funding landscape
African startups raised $780 million in the first half of 2024, a 57% decline compared to the same period in 2023, according to data released on Thursday, July 4, by Africa: The Big Deal, a database tracking investments of over $100,000 in the continent's startup ecosystem.
Of the total funds raised, 66% ($513 million) were in the form of equity, while $254 million (33%) were secured as debt. Startups in the Big Four countries (Kenya, Nigeria, Egypt, and South Africa) accounted for 79% of the total funds raised during this period.
Kenya led with $244 million (32%), followed by Nigeria with $172 million (23%), Egypt with $101 million (13%), and South Africa with $85 million (11%). Among other countries outside the Big Four, Benin stood out with $50 million raised by the startup Spiro through debt from Afreximbank, while Ghana followed with $29 million, Uganda with $19 million, Morocco with $14 million, and Senegal with $11 million.
Transport and logistics startups, driven by Nigeria's Moove ($100 million) and Benin's Spiro ($50 million), led the sectors with $218 million, representing 28% of the total funds raised. Fintech followed with $186 million (24%), and startups in the energy and water sectors rounded out the top three with $132 million (17%)
Adoni Conrad Quenum