Burundian Minister of Communication, Information Technologies, and Media, Léocadie Ndacayisaba, formally launched the operations of the Société de Télédiffusion Numérique du Burundi (STNB) in collaboration with China on Saturday, June 15. The institution will oversee the future national digital terrestrial television platform.
The transition to digital television, according to the Minister of Communication, aims to promote development across all sectors in the country.
Driven by a personal tragedy, a tech entrepreneur founded Eight Medical to revolutionize emergency healthcare. After losing two close family members because they didn't get to the hospital fast enough, he decided to take action and improve the system.
Eight Medical is a Nigerian e-health startup that enables users to access emergency healthcare through its web and mobile platforms. Founded in 2021 by Ibukun Tunde-Oni, the startup is based in Lekki.
The solution includes a mobile application available on both iOS and Android. After downloading the app, users can sign up and access all the services offered by the startup through a subscription. This subscription ensures rapid care in case of emergencies; otherwise, users will have to pay for the service when utilizing the healthtech.
In medical emergencies such as illness, traffic accidents, or other incidents, Eight Medical positions itself as the "911 for Africa." Users can either call their service or press the emergency button in the mobile app. Once the request is sent, they respond within 25 minutes or less to transport the patient to the hospital.
To achieve this, the healthtech has a fleet of ambulances, vehicles, and motorcycles to navigate the traffic congestion in Nigeria's major cities. Besides emergency responses, the startup offers first aid services at events, non-emergency ambulance transportation, and aeromedical evacuation.
Since its launch, Eight Medical has handled over 12,705 calls, with an average response time of ten minutes. Earlier this month, it was selected as a finalist in the Pitch2Win competition, along with 14 other Nigerian startups, with a prize of $10,000.
Adoni Conrad Quenum
Guinean Minister of Posts, Telecommunications, and Digital Economy, Rose Pola Pricemou, met with the Spanish Ambassador to Guinea, Angel Antonio Carrascal Gutierrez, on Wednesday, June 19. The meeting aimed to explore new opportunities for collaboration between the two countries in the areas of postal services, telecommunications, and the digital economy
He wants make healthcare affordable for everyone in The Gambia. To achieve this goal, he offers a comprehensive range of services, including telemedicine, pharmaceutical sales, and healthcare facility management.
Ismail D. Badjie (photo) is a trained pharmacist and Gambian entrepreneur. He is the founder and CEO of Innovarx Global Health (IGH), a company that combines technology and healthcare to provide innovative services to both businesses (B2B) and consumers (B2C).
Founded in 2014, Innovarx Global Health is a healthtech startup that aims to bridge the gap between modern healthcare solutions and their economic accessibility at the local level. This allows all Gambians, and eventually, other West African countries, to benefit from quality healthcare at affordable prices.
"Innovarx Global Health (IGH) was born out of the founder’s vision for a Gambia where access to quality healthcare was not a privilege but a right for all. A Gambia where people continuously invest in their health through regular screening and increased awareness for it is our most valuable form of wealth," the startup explains on its website.
IGH offers a wide selection of services, including medication and therapy management for diseases, on-site testing for non-communicable diseases, telemedicine, medical tourism, physiotherapy, and online pharmaceutical sales. Additionally, it provides consultancy for improving healthcare system processes.
Ismail D. Badjie holds a bachelor's in chemistry from Tennessee State University, obtained in 2008. He also graduated from Purdue University in the United States, earning a Doctor of Pharmacy degree in 2013. Following his doctorate, he worked at Walgreens, a pharmacy, health, and beauty company. Between 2013 and 2019, he held various positions, including staff pharmacist and pharmacy manager.
Melchior Koba
With the rise of artificial intelligence (AI) across the globe, African nations have a critical opportunity. They can harness AI's potential to fuel economic growth, but must also consider strategies to mitigate potential risks.
African ICT and Communication ministers have unanimously approved a Continental Artificial Intelligence (AI) Strategy and an African Digital Pact. Both documents aim to accelerate the continent's digital transformation by harnessing the potential of new digital technologies. They were approved during the second extraordinary session of the African Union's Specialized Technical Committee on Communication and ICT, held from Tuesday, June 11, to Thursday, June 13.
According to the African Union's communiqué, the Continental AI Strategy "provides guidance to African countries to harness artificial intelligence to meet Africa's development aspirations and the well-being of its people, while promoting ethical use, minimising potential risks, and leveraging opportunities."
The strategy also identifies key priorities and actions to ensure that African countries fully benefit from AI's capabilities. These include enhancing infrastructure, talent development, data institutions, innovation, and partnerships, while ensuring adequate safeguards and protection against threats.
The African Digital Pact outlines the continent's digital future and leverages the transformative potential of digital technologies to promote sustainable development, economic growth, and societal well-being across Africa. According to Amani Abou-zeid, the African Union Commissioner for Infrastructure and Energy, the pact represents the continent's strategic commitment to using digital transformation as a catalyst for inclusive progress and sustainable development in Africa.
Both documents align with the African Union's Digital Transformation Strategy (2020-2030) and Agenda 2063. Developed through consultations with a wide range of stakeholders, they represent Africa's contribution to the Global Digital Compact and the upcoming United Nations Summit on the Future in September. Before that, they will be submitted to the African Union Executive Council in July for review and adoption.
With over 23 years of professional experience, she develops innovative strategies and solutions to help service providers overcome their financial challenges.
Elly Roimen Mathenge (photo) is a trained computer scientist and Kenyan entrepreneur. She is the co-founder and CEO of m-tip, a startup on a mission "to transform the financial landscape for service providers, ensuring they have the tools and resources to thrive in an ever-changing world."
Founded in 2021, m-tip aims to empower service providers by revolutionizing their revenue management. The startup offers accessible financial solutions that ensure financial stability, access to micro-financing, and insurance, paving the way for a better future.
Through its dashboard, users can access their transaction flows in real-time. Additionally, m-tip allows for tipping and cash withdrawals directly on M-Pesa, the mobile money service by Safaricom in Kenya. The m-tip services are accessible on any mobile device via the USSD application by dialing *682#.
Elly Roimen Mathenge also mentors at GERMAN X, an organization helping German businesses and startups to scale globally within dynamic innovation ecosystems. She freelances as a corporate master of ceremonies and serves on the board of Presta, a Kenyan fintech company.
The entrepreneur completed her higher education and began her professional career in the United States. She graduated from Metro State University with a bachelor's in business administration. She also holds a master's in information technology administration and management from Capella University. Her professional career began in 2002 at Fairview Health Services, where she was a business analyst.
In 2005, she joined Allina Hospitals & Clinics, where she successively held positions as a senior IT help desk analyst and business analyst. In 2009, she became the program and IT operations manager at the energy company Xcel Energy. In Kenya, she worked for several major companies, including Oracle, where she was responsible for strategic development from 2018 to 2022.
Melchior Koba
Government support for startups nurtures talent and creativity, enhancing skills in technology and entrepreneurship. These initiatives align with African development goals by addressing unemployment, poverty, and economic diversification.
The Lagos State government has allocated N1 billion ($654,000) as a seed fund for startups through the Lagos State Science, Research, and Innovation Council (LASRIC), Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu announced on June 14.
“We are committed to increasing these success metrics with the provision of LASRIC seed fund to the tune of N1,000,000,000 – in the first tranche of funding to the council,” Sanwo-Olu said.
a SEED Fund of N1Billion was provided for this cause. This is another marquee achievement for our dear State and indeed a greater Lagos that is ever evolving. Congratulations LASRIC. 2/2 pic.twitter.com/fq8KwMNaPL
— LASRICLAGOS (@Lasriclagos) June 15, 2024
The funding was revealed during the inauguration of the newly reconstituted LASRIC members, who include experts from industry, academia, and the public sector.
For Sanwo-Olu, Lagos is a burgeoning hub for early-stage and unicorn startups, noting that the city’s startup ecosystem has outpaced many other African cities in success metrics and foreign direct investment. He also emphasized LASRIC’s achievement in securing the government’s first patent through a team from the University of Lagos, which developed the Ambu Bag Ventilator.
According to the Global Startup Ecosystem Report 2023, Lagos ranks high among African cities, attracting significant investment and producing innovative solutions. The seed fund aims to support Lagos' thriving startup ecosystem and maintain its status as a leading innovation hub in Africa.
Hikmatu Bilali
In Guinea, a large portion of its population lacks access to formal banking. To spur economic development, initiatives that improve financial inclusion are crucial.
On Tuesday, June 18, Guinea's Minister of Posts, Telecommunications, and Digital Economy, Rose Pola Pricemou (photo, center), met with a delegation from the Canadian company EZO, led by co-founder Charles-André Bergeron. The visit aimed to propose a financial solution tailored to the Guinean market, addressing the growing need for the digitalization of financial services in the country.
According to the Ministry of Digital Economy, discussions focused on the potential implementation of the EZO financial application in Guinea, the digitization of financial services, and the development of financial inclusion. Ms. Pricemou emphasized the importance of such initiatives in improving access to financial services for both rural and urban populations.
EZO's visit to Guinea is part of its international expansion strategy. The company plans to establish itself in Tunisia in the coming months and offers an automated and autonomous solution covering all financial activities. Its system comprises three main components: customer inclusion (swap system), payment, and savings. The application also allows users to receive money directly on their phones, with payment options available regardless of the currency origin.
Moreover, EZO integrates portfolio management and microcredit features, which could transform Guinea's financial landscape by offering comprehensive banking services via a digital platform.
In Guinea, the EZO delegation also met with officials from the Central Bank and other major banks to discuss solutions for providing all citizens with access to essential financial resources for their development.
Samira Njoya
The Moroccan government aims to connect educational institutions as part of its digital transformation ambitions. Starting in 2021, approximately 1.2 million SIM cards have been distributed to students, allowing them free access to the internet.
American wireless network provider Cambium Networks announced on Tuesday, June 18, the deployment of 18,000 Wi-Fi access points to provide high-speed internet connectivity in 12 major public universities in Morocco. The project covers over 200 campuses and benefits 1.3 million students, educators, and administrative staff.
The campuses are equipped with Cambium Networks' Wi-Fi 6 solutions, both indoors and outdoors. These solutions were designed and deployed in collaboration with 3GCOM, a service integrator and partner for the project. The partners integrated planning tools, contactless provisioning, streamlined installation, and centralized cloud management into the existing systems to ensure optimal performance.
The deployment of Wi-Fi access points in Moroccan universities is part of the "Connected Campus" program launched in 2021, aimed at providing students with free and secure access to digital tools. Over 1.2 million SIM cards have been distributed to students in partnership with telecom operators. This effort is part of the government's initiatives to accelerate the transformation of the higher education, scientific research, and innovation ecosystem.
"Flexible learning, online testing, and video collaboration with media-rich content requires stable, reliable and affordable performance. Our purpose-built technologies uniquely address density and scale while delivering best in class experience—ensuring uninterrupted learning while remaining affordable," said Morgan Kurk, CEO of Cambium Networks.
Isaac K. Kassouwi
Set up by three tech entrepreneurs with over 25 years of experience combined, the solution aims to facilitate the distribution of pharmaceutical products.
i'SUPPLY is an e-health solution developed by an Egyptian startup, enabling pharmacies to restock pharmaceutical products via its web and mobile platforms. Founded in 2021 by Ibrahim Emam, Moustafa Zaki, and Ramzy Mohamed, the Cairo-based company has quickly made a significant impact on the market.
On June 6, i'SUPPLY raised $2.5 million to support its expansion plans, improve financing capabilities for small and medium-sized pharmacies, and advance its fintech offerings. "Our sights are set even higher as we strive to obtain a license from the Egyptian Financial Regulatory Authority to meet the evolving financing needs of small and medium-sized pharmacies. Our unwavering commitment to meeting the escalating market demand for funding, addressing working capital shortages among pharmacies and small distributors, remains at the core of our mission," stated Ibrahim Emam.
The solution features a mobile application available on iOS, AppGallery, and Android, with over 10,000 downloads on the Play Store. After downloading, users create an account to access the startup's services. Through its digital marketplace, they can source pharmaceutical products from numerous distributors.
i'SUPPLY aims to resolve all supply chain issues in this segment. It provides users with tools for real-time market information and analysis. This includes a comprehensive view of product distribution, stock levels, commercial performance, supply chain efficiency, and market trends.
The Egyptian healthtech boasts over 10,000 pharmacies on its marketplace and more than 200 small and medium-sized distribution companies offering a portfolio of over 10,000 pharmaceutical products.
Adoni Conrad Quenum
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At just 19 years old, she launched her first startup and contributed to the fight against unemployment through innovative training programs. Her company has achieved immense success, earning her numerous awards and distinctions.
Matina Razafimahefa (photo) is a renowned entrepreneur in Madagascar's tech industry. She is best known for founding the educational technology startup Sayna, alongside her mother, Nirina Rahoeliarivahy. As CEO, Matina aims to make education accessible to Africans through gamified online training programs.
Founded in 2018, Sayna is an edtech and crowdsourcing platform that allows users to acquire technological skills. Students who complete these courses can then access paid micro-tasks offered by companies, helping to reduce unemployment.
Beyond Sayna, Matina co-founded and co-chairs French Tech Antananarivo, a community launched in 2019. This initiative brings together startup founders, investors, institutions, and other key players in Madagascar's tech ecosystem. French Tech Antananarivo serves as a hub for innovation, technological experimentation, and talent support.
Born in Côte d’Ivoire and raised in Madagascar, Matina pursued her studies at the University of Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne in France, where she earned a degree in political science in 2020. Between 2018 and 2019, she was the Head of Solidarity Engagements at Maltem Consulting Group. In 2023, she served on the scientific committee of the Assises de la Transformation Digitale en Afrique.
Matina's achievements have been widely recognized. In 2020, she was a finalist in The Anzisha Prize, which honors the best young entrepreneurs in Africa. In 2022, she was named one of Forbes Africa's 30 under 30 shaping the future of the continent. Additionally, at Vivatech 2022, Sayna won the "Making Work Flexible" challenge organized by ManpowerGroup, a company specializing in recruitment solutions.
Melchior Koba
Chad's Minister of Communications, Digital Economy, and Digitalization of Administration, Boukar Michel, held a meeting on Tuesday, June 18, with a delegation of American, Canadian, and Turkish investors. The delegation was accompanied by Kitoko Gata Ngoulou, Chad's ambassador to the United States. The discussions focused on the digital economy and the digitization of key sectors within the country. Boukar Michel emphasized that such partnerships would address the telecommunications needs of the population, highlighting the importance of international collaboration in advancing Chad's digital infrastructure and services.
EtriLabs, a Beninese startup incubator with a presence in Benin and Senegal, announced on Thursday, June 13, in partnership with the Mastercard Foundation, the selection of six startups operating in educational technologies for the inaugural cohort of the Mastercard Foundation EdTech Fellowship. The program aims to accelerate 36 edtech startups over a period of three years.
The selected startups—Irawo, Sewema, Logeco, Blemama, Tama, and Esseyi—will benefit from an eight-month acceleration program, mentorship, expert advice, and non-equity funding of $75,000.
Founded in 2009, Akendewa aims to invigorate the internet and mobile industry by supporting startups, amateurs, enthusiasts, freelancers, and entrepreneurs. The organization brings together technology enthusiasts and professionals dedicated to advancing information and communication technologies (ICT).
One of Akendewa's notable initiatives is AllDevCamp, an intensive program designed to train prolific application developers. This program provides an ideal framework for the design, development, and distribution of web and mobile applications in Africa.
Jean-Patrick Ehouman is also the co-founder and director of SheIsTheCode, a program launched in 2015 that trains and supports African women in technology and entrepreneurship. This program equips them with computing skills, fosters professional leadership, and helps digitalize businesses, NGOs, and administrations.
Before Akendewa, Jean-Patrick founded AllDenY in 2008, a startup specializing in web and mobile technologies. AllDenY assists businesses in identifying suitable technologies and strategies, developing technological solutions, and providing expert-led training. He served as CEO of the company until 2016.
Jean-Patrick Ehouman holds a university degree in electronic engineering and industrial computing from the University of Poitiers, obtained in 2004. He also has a professional bachelor's degree in computer systems and software from Aix-Marseille University, earned in 2005. In 2014, he completed a business and entrepreneurship program at the University of Texas.
He began his career as a software developer in 2006 and became co-director of Founder Institute, a global startup accelerator, in Côte d'Ivoire in 2015.
In 2013, he won the first UNESCO Prize for Youth Entrepreneurship and Culture of Peace in Africa. In 2014, he was selected among the 500 young leaders of the Young African Leaders Initiative (YALI).
Melchior Koba