CAYSTI teaches coding, robotics, and the fundamentals of artificial intelligence to children. It guides them in the creation and launch of professional digital projects, ensuring their long-term viability.
The Cameroon Youth School Tech Incubator (CAYSTI) is a center for technological innovation and the promotion of Cameroonian technological entrepreneurship. Founded in 2018 by computer scientist Arielle Kitio, who is also its CEO, it aims to develop the technological skills of children aged 6 to 15. Doing will help them become tech innovators and entrepreneurs.
The center designs turnkey educational programs in national languages for schools and governments. The programs teach creative development, tech or scientific innovation, and renewable energies as well as introduce children to coding, robotics, 3D, artificial intelligence, and renewable energies.
It provides auditing and support services for national education systems to better prepare the next generation for the digital revolution by combining cultural identity, problem-solving, project-based approaches, and gamification.
CAYSTI also designs and popularizes smart, collaborative, and intuitive digital tools to facilitate egalitarian access to quality and creative STEM content.
To this end, it has developed projects such as abcCode, a playful and intuitive coding environment that develops creativity and easily introduces children to creative programming. It also developed CAYSTI Edu Kit, a stand-alone 4-in-1 kit that enables learners to intuitively master project design and computer coding without the need for an Internet connection.
Also, with its partners Orange, IBM, Developers Institute, and the Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications, among others, it has launched tailor-made courses and developed international hackathons to expand and consolidate a worldwide community of creative minds.
It also organizes bootcamps, such as the CAYSTI Champion Camp, which rewarded three young champions from 3rd to 4th grade in 2020. The center has already trained and empowered over 28,000 children, 60% being girls. It has also trained over 500 teachers and signed partnerships with more than 24 schools.
Melchior Koba
In recent years, healthtech startups have revolutionized the way Africans access healthcare. They are democratizing access to care by offering tailor-made services, and boosting tech adoption while at the same time keeping populations healthy.
HealthTag is a healthtech solution developed by Egyptian startup Bypa-ss. It enables access to digitized medical records via a mobile app and a QR-code-embedded card. Bypa-ss was founded in 2019 by Andrew Saad. Since its launch, it has raised $1.15 million to, among other things, develop its technology and support its growth in the country.
“HealthTag (a mobile app and a physical card) aggregates and gives patients ownership of their health records, while giving doctors and healthcare providers visibility on the patient’s full history allowing people-centric digital health information exchange as 1st of its kind in Egypt and north Africa,” the startup wrote in a statement.
The HealthTag mobile app is accessible on iOS and Android. Through it, users can register for their accounts and provide their health details to allow quick access in case of emergency. Thanks to HealthTag, patients can also pay for their medical services online, receive prescriptions and laboratory analyses, and benefit from a 70% discount with healthcare providers in Egypt when doing out-of-pocket payments.
To take advantage of these various services, a subscription is required. While the free package allows users to digitize their medical history and health record, individual packages of 100 Egyptian pounds (approx. $3.24) and 150 Egyptian pounds give several other benefits. The start-up also offers family packages at 250 Egyptian pounds and 350 Egyptian pounds for 5 people.
HealthTag has over 3,000 laboratories, pharmacies, and scanning centers in its medical network. It claims more than 250,000 subscribers, and its Android app has been downloaded more than 50,000 times, according to PlayStore data.
Adoni Conrad Quenum
Senegal is working hard to fully digitize its healthcare system. To achieve its objectives quickly, the government has turned to the World Bank for financial support.
The Senegalese government has allocated CFAF30 billion ($49.8 million) of World Bank financing to its national health digitization system PDSS. The information was disclosed by Dr. Ibrahima Khaliloulah Dia, coordinator of the Health and Welfare Map and Digital Health Unit CSSDOS, at a recent information workshop in Thiès.
The digital system is a user-focused platform. “...it will host your online medical data, scans, MRIs (magnetic resonance imaging), and check-ups. So it's an important tool. These data can be stored on secure servers to help patients coordinate their care. A patient can have their medical file following them, which circulates securely in a national database and this is a great added value for the patient because there will be savings, such as x-rays that need not be repeated but also, it will have better support,” said Dr. Dia.
Since 2017, Senegal has been digitizing its healthcare system. Several actions have been taken to completely transform the sector. Recently, a draft orientation law on digital health was finalized and sent to the government's general secretariat for implementation. Among other things, the bill covers telemedicine, patient records, data hosting, and management.
The CFAF30 billion dedicated will be used to build, equip, connect, and interconnect the country's hospitals. According to Dr. Ibrahima Khaliloulah Dia, the funding will only cover part of the vast project. Senegal has 1,500 health posts, 110 health centers, and 40 hospitals that will have to be digitized. In its initial phase, 20 health centers will be involved, and 1.5 million patients, 50% of them women, will benefit from the shared patient record (DPP).
The PDSS is part of the Senegal Digital Economy Acceleration Project (PAENS) financed by the World Bank to the tune of $150 million.
Samira Njoya
Amidst surging crime rates, the Ugandan government is leveraging technology to bolster security and safeguard its citizens. However, these efforts encounter significant obstacles that must be addressed. Striking a balance between public safety and stakeholder concerns is now a pressing task for the government.
The Ugandan government is planning to introduce digital number plates, starting on July 1, 2023, and car owners will be required to pay shs735,000 ($199.6) for each plate.
A digital number plate is a type of number plate that uses RFID (radio frequency identification) tagging. They feature a chip that stores vehicle-specific information such as insurance, tax, and journey records serving as a means of instant identification, tracking, and monitoring.
The decision comes in response to the increasing crime rate in the country. To address the issue, President Museveni discussed the potential of improving security measures by equipping boda bodas (motorcycle taxis commonly found in East Africa) and other vehicles with GPS tracking devices. He mentioned this during his address to the parliament on the state of security in the country, in June 2018.
The government's decision has, however, faced criticism from many citizens including the Kampala City Traders Association (KACITA), who deem it rushed and highlight the lack of sufficient stakeholder engagement. Established and registered in 2001, KACITA is a business support association in Uganda with a mandate that encompasses the entire country.
KACITA chairman, Musoke Thadeus Nagenda (photo), expressed his concerns about the decision. While addressing journalists on Wednesday, Nagenda stated, "Having thoroughly analyzed and studied what the new registration process entails, the consumers of the service, and all the players in the chain, we think this is rushed. There hasn't been any form of sensitization of consumers and stakeholders. We realized that there were no stakeholder engagements at most levels. The implication of this is that the July 1, 2023 implementation date is too soon, and if implemented, this will cause a lot of business stampede as well as public outcry."
The Kampala City Traders Association also mentioned the high cost and unfair payment structure of the number plates compared to cheaper plates in Kenya with similar security features, citing the price as exorbitant and unreasonable.
KACITA then raised issues related to administrative procedures, practicality, data protection, and security risks associated with live location tracking, recommending a phased implementation starting with government vehicles, the establishment of fitment centers nationwide, and training for local players involved in plate installation and maintenance.
The association also advises against rushing the project and proposes an additional year for piloting and phased implementation to address concerns, ensure public sensitization, and protect privacy rights and small-scale businesses. “Comprehensive planning, stakeholder involvement, and transparency are crucial for a successful rollout of the digital number plate system. The government must address these concerns for an inclusive implementation benefiting all stakeholders,” it adds.
Hikmatu Bilali
Gabon's digital transformation policy provides for the construction and creation of several digital entities and infrastructures. The plan has attracted several players that are already making proposals to support the country in its implementation.
On Thursday, June 22, Gabon's digital minister Jean Pierre Doukaga Kassa granted an audience to representatives of Chinese company China Investment Holding. The team, led by Donghu Liu, the company's General Manager for Africa, expressed interest in working with the Gabonese government on a number of digital projects.
The Chinese business leader offered his company’s support in segments like "smart forest management (reforestation, remote sensing, and satellite management), the creation of an intelligent forest industry park (digital management)," the ministry in charge of the digital economy reported on social networks.
The group also expressed its interest in establishing a win-win partnership for the launch of a satellite and the construction of a precise proprietary-based ground station that would be so precise that the whole territory will be covered with radio, television, Internet, and electronic communications networks.
The Chinese company's interest comes in the wake of Gabonese President Ali Bongo Ondimba's visit to China, during which he called on members of the government to strengthen business relations between Libreville and Beijing. It also comes at a time when Gabon is working to further develop its digital sector to greatly facilitate the transformation of its economy. Since 2009, through the Plan Stratégique Gabon Emergent (PSGE), the government is working to make Gabon a reference in the African digital sector by 2025.
Responding to requests from his visitors, the Minister for the Digital Economy announced that the "smart forest" projects are already being carried out by Gabon’s space agency AGEOS. He then instructed officials to pursue technical exchanges with the partner.
China Investment Holding is active in two main digital fields: satellite communications and drone analytics solutions for natural resource management.
Samira Njoya
The solution was launched by a Bissau-Guinean tech entrepreneur to make things easier for human resource departments.
BueloJobs is a digital solution developed by a young Bissau-Guinean start-up, to connect job seekers with opportunities.
On its website, it indicates that it is the “ digital platform that aggregates most of the job openings posted across Guinea-Bissau.”
“We enable professionals to have access and be able to apply to a greater number of job opportunities,” it adds.
The solution features a mobile application accessible on iOS and Android. Once downloaded from the Appstore or Play Store, users can create an account by entering some personal details. They will then be able to access the numerous job offers published on the platform. The start-up provides all the information needed to apply for jobs. Users can also subscribe to the platform's newsletter and receive job offers directly in their mailboxes.
BueloJobs has a blog that covers several topics. Among other things, it shares various scholarship opportunities, competitions, and tips and advice on how to improve one's profile as a job seeker. Users can also post job offers on the platform. Depending on their needs, they just have to click on the dedicated button and follow the process.
Since its launch, the Android version of the mobile application has been downloaded over a thousand times. The start-up has mentioned plans to expand outside Guinea-Bissau.
Adoni Conrad Quenum
Through its programs and services, Jongo Hub fosters the development of good and investible businesses and encourages the creation of a dynamic and innovative entrepreneurial ecosystem.
Jongo Hub is an innovation-based business support organization located in Silicon Mountain Buea, in the southwestern region of Cameroon. Founded in 2016 by Mokate Ashu, Ayeah Kermit Timngum, Enow Daniel Ashu, and Quinshie Miranda, its mission is to foster the development of high-impact innovative technology solutions.
It offers entrepreneurial support services, working with businesses to build a robust online presence and generate more conversions and revenue. Like most innovation centers and start-up incubators, it also offers coworking spaces to enable entrepreneurs to work in a friendly environment and collaborate with other wealth creators.
With Oneke John Etta Tabe as its executive Director, Jongo Hub -through its 6-month Jongo Hub Innovation Academy program- helps entrepreneurs and innovators strengthen and amplify the digital and business skills needed to survive in an increasingly competitive business environment.
The organization is a member of the AfriLabs network. Supported by Rinoo and Dufuna, it incubates businesses in various sectors including health and wellness, education and learning, and environment and green energy.
During the business incubation period, in addition to workspace, it offers entrepreneurs services like market research, user studies, ethnography and behavior change, prototype development, technical review, and product development, among others. Entrepreneurs also have access to a technology and manufacturing lab.
Jongo Hub's technology lab and multimedia studio is called Jongo Studios. It hosts a team dedicated to helping companies and SMEs establish their brands, effectively reach customers and create the desired impact.
Melchior Koba
Over the past few years, Tanzania has taken steps to orbit its satellite. But, in recent months, it is stepping up initiatives to speed up the process.
Tanzania has set up a special government team to study the country’s needs in preparation for the construction of a national satellite. Its Deputy Minister of Information, Communication, and Technology Kundo Mathew said as much on Monday, June 19 at the opening of the Information Systems Audit and Control Association (ISACA) 2023 Annual Conference, which runs until today, Friday, June 23 in Arusha.
“...We are taking time to identify our needs for the proposed National Satellite. We are mulling the intended use for the Tanzanian Satellite, will it be just for patrolling our skies, or safeguarding our resources from the air; maybe also monitoring the country’s borders digitally?” said Minister Kundo Mathew.
“There are areas dotted with big hills and mountains where it becomes impossible for the fiber optic cables to be laid through, these are where the satellite will take over to spread digital waves,” he added.
Tanzania's announcement comes at a time when African governments are showing increasing interest in space programs and stepping up investment in the sector. According to the 2022 edition of Space In Africa's annual report on the African space industry, the value of the industry is expected to reach $22.64 billion in 2026, up from $19.49 billion in 2021. The same report indicates that African nations allocated a total of $534.9 million to space programs in 2022, compared with $523.2 million in 2021.
The satellite that the Tanzanian government plans to launch will complement the 758 communication towers erected throughout the country and the 600 others to be installed soon.
It could thus be used to improve coverage of telecoms and broadband Internet services, particularly in rural or remote areas that are hardly accessible to mobile operators. These efforts will help reduce the digital divide and improve access to education and health services. According to the latest statistics from the Tanzania Communications Regulatory Authority (TCRA), the country has 61.9 million cell phone subscribers and 33.1 million Internet users.
Samira Njoya
The transaction will allow GoCampus to realize its founder’s unfulfilled business goals.
Indian tech entrepreneur Vickram Sybri recently acquired the Nigerian university networking platform GoCampus for $71,000.
The platform, which connects college students, managed to connect over 370,000 users in three countries in the space of four months, becoming a thriving platform for student interaction.
In the weeks leading to the sale, the platform experienced a shutdown and other problems that prevented it from evolving. Those obstacles forced young Nigerian entrepreneur Muili Seun (photo), founder of Go Campus, to sell his platform.
“It was a tough decision to part ways with GoCampus, but I wanted to ensure its continued success and growth. The platform faced challenges due to infrastructure limitations, resulting in occasional downtime during peak periods. By selling the platform to an established tech guru, I am confident it will receive the necessary support and resources to overcome these obstacles,” he said.
GoCampus has rapidly gained in popularity. The platform has revolutionized the way students interact, enabling them to connect to exchange and share ideas on assignments and other university-related topics.
With this acquisition, Indian entrepreneur Vickram Sybri will be able to continue the work started by Muili Seun. Well-known in the Indian and international technology spheres, his company specializes in digital marketing and building a strong and influential online presence for individuals and companies.
Samira Njoya
The solution enables schools to digitize their data, allowing parents to monitor children’s performance in real time.
Shule System is a digital solution developed by the Congolese firm Find Solution Technolgy. It lets parents access children's school records and track school-related information in real time.
According to Mannick Syllas Bryant, Find Solution Technology’s founder, the solution comes with a complete package offering access to the internet, electricity, and computers because several schools are yet to get basic infrastructure.
Thanks to the package that comes with Shule System, schools can digitalize their data, allowing parents access to various information through the Shule mobile app (available for Android and iOS devices). Among other things, parents can check whether there is still any outstanding school fees, or check their children’s grades, and attendance record. They can also communicate with school authorities on the platform to get additional information on specific topics.
Parents are charged $5 per student every academic year to get access to information. The start-up claims to have registered 24 schools, with 6,232 pupils, and 2,250 parents. It is already present in neighboring Rwanda and plans to expand into Burundi and Senegal. "We have a very large market in the DRC, with more than 90,000 schools and 25 million students [...] The goal within two years is to cover 1,000 schools in the DRC," explains Mannick Syllas Bryant.
Adoni Conrad Quenum
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After his studies, he honed his skills in the real estate sector by working for companies in France and Morocco. He then ventured into entrepreneurship by founding, with his brother, Agenz, a company dedicated to helping individuals make better real estate decisions.
Malik Belkeziz (photo) is the CEO and one of the co-founders of Moroccan estate appraiser Agenz. The Moroccan-born entrepreneur holds a master’s in engineering from French engineering school EST Paris.
In 2021, he founded Agenz, with his brother Badr Belkeziz, to provide reliable and instantaneous information on the real estate market. Doing so, he aims to help buyers make informed real estate decisions in a fast and timely manner.
The company deploys highly sophisticated and accurate real estate appraisal and analysis tools. It continually collects, analyzes, and structures real estate market data like offers, transactions, cadastral and socio-demographic data. Its appraisal solutions are powered by machine learning algorithms developed by its data scientists.
In February 2023, Malik Belkeziz and his team unveiled two new tools. One, available directly on its website, provides up to five years of historical real estate prices. The second tool is Agenz Pro, a mobile app that enables agents to manage their contacts with an integrated CRM (Customer Relationship Management), stay up to date, and respond to requests.
"The two new tools are perfectly in line with Agenz's mission, which is to streamline the real estate transaction process for users: on the one hand, by bringing transparency to the market for every project owner, whether seller, buyer or tenant, and on the other hand, by helping professionals showcase their expertise and prospect more effectively," says Agenz's CEO.
The latter’s professional career began in 2012 with a 4-month internship with Bouygues Construction. In 2014, he was hired as a real estate program manager for Nexity, a French real estate development company. About five years later, he joined real estate investment company Yamed Group as an asset manager.
Melchior Koba
Africa's digital revolution falls behind other continents, but governments are proactively adopting strategies to narrow the divide, drive economic growth, and accelerate the adoption of next-gen technologies.
The South African government is spearheading digital transformation through a two-step plan for analogue switch-off and digital migration. This strategic approach aims to unlock spectrum for advanced telecommunications and usher in next-generation technologies nationwide.
In the initial step, analogue services above the 694MHz band will be switched off by July 31, 2023. This action will liberate valuable spectrum, enabling enhanced connectivity and resource optimization in the evolving digital landscape.
The second step focuses on accommodating high-population areas below the 694MHz band. The deadline for switch-off in these regions is set for December 31, 2024, ensuring a seamless transition and equitable digital migration for all.
For Mondli Gungubele, Minister of Communications and Digital Technologies, analogue switch-off plays a critical role. “This approach is accepted to be a win-win approach that will enable analogue switch-off progress, release spectrum, and allow key stakeholders to recover from post-COVID economic decline and the impact of load shedding,” he said.
To ensure a smooth transition, the Department of Communications and Digital Technologies will collaborate closely with industry stakeholders and the regulator, the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (ICASA). Together, they will oversee the successful implementation of the analogue switch-off, spectrum release, and digital migration.
In support of the transition from analogue to digital broadcasting, the government has received over 1.5 million applications for government-subsidized set-top boxes (STBs) since 2015. Recognizing the importance of inclusivity, late registrations will continue to receive support until the completion of the nationwide digital migration.
Installation of STBs is already underway in provinces earmarked for analogue switch-off, equipping households with the necessary devices to access digital broadcasts. Simultaneously, robust public awareness campaigns are educating the population about digital migration and its wide-ranging benefits.
Looking ahead, the government plans to intensify its awareness campaign, forging partnerships with broadcasters to amplify the digital migration message. By embracing digital technologies and facilitating a seamless transition, South Africa is poised to unlock its full digital potential, fostering economic development and empowering connectivity for all citizens.
According to a GSMA (Global System for Mobile Communications Association) report "Digital Switchover in Sub-Saharan Africa" (October 2022), DSO (Digital Switchover) presents a unique win-win situation for spectrum allocation. It expands mobile service coverage, reduces costs, and enhances TV quality for consumers. Unlike outdated analogue broadcasting, digital TV broadcasting is more efficient, allowing countries to utilize the UHF band for both mobile services and television broadcasting.
Hikmatu Bilali
With the ongoing digital transformation, African businesses need more broadband capacity to support their activities. Local and foreign companies are stepping up investments in this direction to better meet the growing demand on the continent.
Africa Data Centres (ADC), a subsidiary of pan-African digital services provider Cassava Technologies Group, has been chosen by the London Internet Exchange (LINX) as the Point of Presence (PoP) for the new East African interconnection center, LINX Nairobi.
The new partnership aims to improve connectivity and support digital growth in the region, the company announced in a statement on Wednesday, June 21.
"With LINX Nairobi, we are not only creating a hub for Kenya but for all of East Africa. The rapidly growing region has a huge demand for low latency, high speed, and improved interconnectivity. LINX Nairobi will not only serve local networks but also attract international Internet providers and hyperscalers," said Nurani Nimpuno, LINX's Global Engagement Manager.
This news comes after last month's announcement of a strategic partnership between the two organizations, ADC and LINX, to secure growth and opportunities in new markets in Africa, improve connectivity and bring digital services to citizens.
According to the press release, this new partnership will enable customers based at Africa Data Centres' Nairobi data center (NBO1) to have direct access to LINX Nairobi's new peering community via a single cross-connection. These customers will also benefit from additional services such as 24-hour support and access to the LINX portal. In addition, networks connecting to LINX Nairobi from any data center will be able to establish peering agreements, fostering a strong digital ecosystem and guaranteeing the traffic will remain local.
LINX Nairobi, due to go live in the coming weeks, is the region's first interconnected, multi-site Internet Exchange Point (IXP). The platform is designed to the same standards as LINX in the UK and USA, offering redundancy and resilience to the networks connecting to it.
Samira Njoya
Like many other African countries, Somalia has decided to take advantage of technology to solve some of the problems it faces. The country has just adopted a national QR coding technology to improve financial inclusion and the local e-commerce segment by extension.
Somali citizens will soon be able to pay for goods and services in stores and supermarkets by scanning a quick response (QR) code using their mobile devices. On Tuesday, June 20, the Central Bank of Somalia (CBS) launched the standardized national QR code called "SOMQR". It aims to stimulate digital payments, which are offered by the various payment service providers in the country.
“SOMQR Code Standard will revolutionize the payment landscape in Somalia as a low-cost, scalable, secure, and interoperable solution towards a cashless society. [...] we are proud of achieving yet another major milestone in the digitalization process of the payment systems," said CBS governor Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi (photo).
The launch of SOMQR is the latest in a series of reforms undertaken by CBS in recent years. It follows the launch, in August 2021, of the National Payment System (NPS), an interbank payment, clearing, and settlement system linking the Central Bank and the 13 licensed commercial banks.
Also as part of its drive to modernize services, last March the CBS began enforcing the use of the International Bank Account Number (IBAN) to connect the country's financial institutions to the rest of the international banking services and facilitate the validation of their transactions.
The SOMQR is the latest addition to all these initiatives. As a fast, scalable, and secure low-cost payment platform, its effective implementation will revolutionize the payments landscape in Somalia. The standardized QR code will enable merchants to receive payments instantly, anytime, anywhere.
Samira Njoya