The technological revolution is steadily advancing across Africa, impacting every sector and offering numerous advantages. In the field of education, two tech entrepreneurs have developed a tailored solution specifically for schools.

Tespire is an innovative edtech solution developed by a Nigerian startup that enables schools to fully digitize their administrative systems while allowing parents to monitor every aspect of their children's education. Based in Abuja, the company was founded in 2022 by Abdulkadir Suleiman Lapai and Umar Madugu. In September 2024, Tespire announced the successful completion of a funding round, though the amount raised remains undisclosed, aimed at supporting its expansion efforts.

“Tespire’s vision goes beyond just fixing administrative issues. They are committed to using the power of data to increase access to quality education across Nigeria and other Sub-Saharan African countries, starting with local schools and scaling toward a broader national and international market,” stated Abdulkadir Suleiman Lapai.

The platform operates as a web portal where parents can directly access comprehensive school-related information, including tuition fees, class schedules, and enrollment processes. If a parent selects a Tespire-affiliated school, they can navigate to the school’s webpage from their computer, choose the application portal, and click "Go." 

On the left side of the page, they select "New Applicants," fill in the necessary fields, and submit the application. If accepted, the parent receives an application number for their child. Subsequently, they can log into their dashboard to complete the enrollment process.

Access to Tespire's services incurs a fee. The startup offers various subscription plans for schools to join its partner database, with options starting at 2,000 naira (approximately $1.21), 2,500 naira, and higher. Tespire has ambitious plans for growth, aiming to expand its reach across Nigeria and into other countries within the region.

Adoni Conrad Quenum

She has over 17 years of experience in media, communication, and technology. She also supports the creation and development of high-impact tech companies in Africa.

Irene Phoebe Kiwia (photo), a Tanzanian tech entrepreneur based in South Africa, is the co-founder and Chief Growth Officer of Adanian Labs, a high-impact tech venture studio that drives digital transformation across Africa. Founded in 2020, Adanian Labs focuses on the creation, development, and scaling of tech startups, emphasizing innovation in areas such as artificial intelligence (AI), blockchain, and the Internet of Things (IoT). The studio provides expert software engineering support to help startups develop tailored solutions and has successfully created over 40 tech startups to date.

In addition to startup creation, Adanian Labs enhances the capabilities of tech teams through training programs in software development, data science, IoT, AI, and blockchain. These offerings include short courses, boot camps, and masterclasses. The studio also provides a comprehensive suite of services, including legal support, accounting, financial planning, technology management, human resources, and marketing.

Irene Kiwia is a member of Top Tier Impact, a global ecosystem of investors and entrepreneurs, and serves as the Tanzanian ambassador for the Women in Africa Initiative. She is also on the advisory board of African Women in Energy and Power.

Before co-founding Adanian Labs, Kiwia established Frontline Media Africa in 2006, a pan-African media and communications firm focused on technology. In 2017, she launched Twaa, an AI-powered knowledge-sharing and mentorship platform for women and girls in Africa. In 2019, she founded eCOBba, an AI-driven fintech company, and in 2021, she established The Africa Blockchain Center, a Web 3 company specializing in blockchain skills and solutions development.

Kiwia holds a bachelor’s degree in International Relations and Public Administration from the University of Dar es Salaam (2004) and a master’s degree in Marketing (2011). In 2015, she was named Africa Woman of the Year by Africa Reconnect, a pan-African platform dedicated to women's empowerment and girls' education.

Melchior Koba

He is an expert in supporting and financing innovation in Africa. He runs a startup incubator in the Republic of the Congo.

Dexter Trésor Omono is a Congolese entrepreneur and businessman. He is the founder and CEO of Kosàla, an organization dedicated to supporting innovative startups in Africa.

Founded in 2020, Kosàla helps develop startups and small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Central Africa, guiding them from the ideation stage to project realization. The organization offers its expertise and network to assist these companies in securing the necessary funding for success. While Kosàla is open to all types of projects, it places particular emphasis on technological and environmental initiatives. The organization provides a structured approach to help entrepreneurs, from data collection to analysis, facilitating effective decision-making. To date, Kosàla has received 16,450 requests for support and has backed 4,186 projects, 3,136 of which were led by women.

Dexter Trésor Omono also serves as an observer on the Local Development Council at the French Embassy in Congo. He is a consultant for the World Bank’s Digital Transformation Acceleration Project and is part of the scientific team of the National Digital Summit, which is affiliated with Congo’s Ministry of Posts, Telecommunications, and the Digital Economy.

Omono holds a technical diploma in human resource management from the Institute of Advanced Management Studies, obtained in 2011. In 2021, he earned a postgraduate diploma in project management from the Canadian Academy of Management and Technology, followed by a master’s degree in international trade from HEC Morocco in 2022.

His career began in 2011 at Escom Group, an investment management firm in Congo, where he worked as a logistics officer. In 2018, he joined Oukaley, a crowdfunding platform for sub-Saharan Africa, as the representative for Congo and the DRC. In 2021, he became a specialist consultant for the International Association of Francophone Mayors.

Melchior Koba

She earned her university degree in France. After several years of experience in the financial sector, both in France and Africa, she established her own fintech company.

Magalie Gauze-Sanga is a Cameroonian economist and entrepreneur, serving as the founder and CEO of Koree, a rewards application aimed at fostering customer loyalty in Francophone Africa.

Founded in 2022, Koree enables users to create digital loyalty cards that allow merchants to credit cashback and provide change. The platform addresses the persistent issue of small change shortages prevalent in Francophone Africa and supports various payment methods, including cash, mobile money, and bank cards.

The inspiration for the app struck Gauze-Sanga after she faced a shortage of change while purchasing pastries at a bakery in Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire. "Working in the payments industry in sub-Saharan Africa allowed me to refine my idea for digital cards similar to an 'Apple Wallet' that could tackle this problem. I aimed to incorporate several additional services to simplify life for consumers and enhance their purchasing power, such as earning cashback," she explained in April 2024.

In January 2024, Koree secured $200,000 in pre-seed funding to facilitate its expansion throughout Francophone Africa, enhance its merchant network, broaden its user base, and tailor the product to meet market demands.

Gauze-Sanga also serves on the board of African Women in FinTech & Payments (AWFP). She holds a master's degree in industrial economics from Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne University and a master's in management from Em Lyon Business School.

Her professional journey began in 2012 at BGFIBank Cameroon, where she interned in private wealth management. In 2013 and 2014, she worked as an assistant in private banking at ODDO BHF, a financial group based in France. In 2015, she became a consultant at PayPal and transitioned to a research analyst role at BNP Paribas in 2016.

In 2019, Gauze-Sanga was appointed head of financial services for e-commerce startup Jumia in Francophone West Africa. From January to June 2021, she held the roles of COO and later CMO at Ivorian fintech Julaya. Subsequently, from July 2021 to November 2022, she managed payments for Ivorian online commerce startup ANKA.

In 2023, she became the first woman to win the Ecobank Fintech Challenge, earning a prize of $50,000.

Melchior Koba