Africa is a birthplace for modern development; a circle of growth; and a jurisdiction of innovation. Modern technology has paved way for many African youths who took advantage of revolutionary technology to overcome some of the challenges our continent faces, including unemployment, incompetency and poverty.
THE YOUTHS in Africa are making waves in the tech industry, and it won’t be surprising to see these youths at the top of tech-related innovations– more young people in Africa are joining the trend, and in no distance time, Africa will indeed, be the technology centre of the world.
The phrase “African rising” has been a dominant factor in the rising population of Africa. This becomes a sore truth when the rising number is compared to number of opportunities for these youths. As rightly stated by the UN World Population Prospects, out of the 2.4 billion new people that will be added to the current population by 2050, over half (1.3 billion) will emerge from Africa. Data from the African Development Bank (AfDB), also stated that between 12 million and 15 million young people enter the job market annually, whilst, the truth behind Bar is that by 2035, Africa’s working-age population is expected to grow by 450 million people. From these outlined facts, it will be truth enough to believe that most of African youths could either be unemployed or underemployed. It’s not been long since the President of the African Export-import Bank (Afreximbank), Prof. Benedict Oramah, challenged the youths in Africa to embrace tech. This challenge was focused on the proper use of emerging technology skills to liberate Africa from economic degradation and youth restiveness; and now, the outcome is massive acceptance of the call. Prof. Benedict Oramah gave this advice during the 14th convocation lecture of the Nnamdi Azikiwe University in Awka, Anambra State. In his statement, he said, “Just as Africa’s political struggle was led by the youth, so will the tech-savvy youth lead the way for Africa’s economic emancipation”.
“The term ‘Africa Rising’ highlights the continent’s growing population, but it’s a tough reality when compared to the limited opportunities for its youth. By 2050, over half of the 2.4 billion new people will come from Africa, according to UN projections.” #AfricaRising #YouthOpportunity #PopulationGrowth #FutureAfrica
The youths of Africa have long left the regular classroom of boards and dusters and have dived deeply into the ocean of digital revolution to yield peace and prosperity.
Young people in Africa are equipping themselves with skills beyond the classroom while taking advantage of the new and different career paths in today’s digital world.Between 2018 and 2022, many organizations in Africa have showcased support for the African entrepreneur. This has propelled an increase in the number of small and medium enterprises, the rapid growth of self-employed youths, and a hunger for learning digital skills. The days of Covid 19 brought a boost to the world of digital business, and many African youths have seized the opportunity to scale and skill up. Youths in Africa are making the best out of these digital opportunities without disregarding the external market. The young people in Africa have looked inward and have developed digital skills and technologies that serve both local and international needs.
Busy bee is a phrase that best qualifies the strength and prowess of African youths in embracing innovative technology. Bees are popularly known for working tirelessly towards achieving a set goal, this perhaps has been their nature as they are seen toiling upward in the night to set up their hives while others sleep. Comparing African youths as these busy bees indicates how these youths work meticulously to get their chores done, make their voices heard and broadcast their work to be seen in the Tech world. Although youths residing in countries in Africa are facing challenges related to infrastructure, poor internet services, insecurity, education, etc, the young people have created means to achieve goals for themselves through technology and to forge paths towards growth, development and sustainability for themselves, families and society at large. The number of digital entrepreneurs has increased greatly in Africa, and this has generated job opportunities for many others who are still learning the technological process. The time has passed when youths from Africa depended on the government or private organizations for employment: the Young people have come to realize that they can achieve their dreams by bringing their ideas into action, learning digital skills, and sourcing for business opportunities.
The world is changing; the African continent is changing too! With the increasing number of human capital, Africa is set to be the tech hub of the world, as the youths are already taking this advantage in the advancing digital world.
Currently, in Africa, there has been a significant increase in tech hubs offering free and paid courses to young people in Africa. These tech hubs have accommodated web developers, graphic designers, code germinators, hackers, digital marketers, engineers, entrepreneurs, and many other great minds. Most importantly, these tech hubs are organized by young people. In the past two years, learning has been made easier as young people now hold classes via social media and other learning media. As a result of these hubs, there is currently an outburst of skill application, entrepreneurship development, and freelancers. Now, the African market is crowded with highly skilled youths in the tech sector. (Percentage of African youths in the tech sector) Africa Prudential stated that across Africa, Silicon Valley-inspired networks are developing. From its report on the Africa Prudential website, “There is an existence of about 200 African innovation hubs, 3,500 new tech-related ventures, and $1 billion in venture capital to a pan-African movement to startup entrepreneurs.” Andafrica.co.jp reported that the number of co-working spaces in Africa has increased from 24, as at 2013, to 295 places. This indicates the presence of many start-ups adding value to the development of Africa.
In 2019, Briter Bridges and Afrilabs reported 643 active tech hubs in Africa – this was before the Covid19 break, and cannot be compared to the number of tech hubs in Africa today. MAKHTAR DIOP, Managing Director of International Finance Corporation (IFC) confirmed his hope on the young people in Africa embracing Tech in his statement reported in Foresight Africa, chapter 1. The statement read thus: “Today, from my position as the managing director of the International Finance Corporation (IFC), I still see Africa’s potential clearly—a global economic driver, digital innovation hub, and model for green, resilient infrastructure”. He also showed his concern about Africa’s future, especially for the young people who are crowded with opportunities and challenges within their immediate environments. The world is changing… Africa is changing too! According to IFEYINWA UGOCHUKWU, the CEO of Tony Elumelu Foundation, as written in the 2022 edition of Foresight Africa, Africa’s youths are already leading the way to economic success. He continued by saying that with the increase in Africa’s youth population, there is, in de facto the need for youth development and support in Africa. Irrespective of the challenges faced within Africa, young people have taken progressive and innovative measures to keep themselves employed and actively engaged in technology. He further, stated how youth empowerment will benefit the economic growth of Africa. “Consequently, training young people in entrepreneurship—how to create, run, and manage businesses— so that their creativity and efforts will bear fruit is central not only for improving individual lives but for bolstering the entire region’s economic gains. As evidenced by the Tony Elumelu Foundation Entrepreneurship Programme, Africa’s youth continue to show that they are innovative, creative, and diligent in seeing their ideas come to life. With adequate support, young entrepreneurs will create jobs, provide value, and innovate—which our continent desperately needs.
Below is a list of some organizations sponsoring or supporting young entrepreneurs in Africa: there are many others.
African Development Bank
African Development Foundation
Acumen Business Fund
African Enterprise Challenge Fund
African Entrepreneurship Award
African Women Development Fund
African Women Innovation and Entrepreneurship
(AWIE)
Ashden International Awards for Entrepreneurs in Developing Countries
GroFin Grants
Guzakuza Agribusiness Fund
Innovation Prize for Africa
Lundin Foundation
MEST Africa Challenge
Miss Africa Seed Grants for African Women in Tech Businesses
Savannah Fund
Schwab Foundation
SeedStars World
Shared Interest
She Leads Africa Accelerator Grants
Root Capital
The Anzisha Prize
Tony Elumelu Entrepreneurship Grant
Tshikululu Social Investments
Unilever Young Entrepreneurs Award
VC4Africa
YALI Regional Leadership There are many others supporting youth development and entrepreneurship in Africa – some are offering free online classes, some are sponsoring the initiatives, and some others are doing the fieldwork.
Below is a list of some tech businesses owned by African youths: there are many more.
54gene: 54gene (Lagos, Nigeria/Washington, DC) – Owned by Abasi Ene-Obong, a 35-year-old Nigerian doctor. Launched COVID-19 mobile testing laboratories in Nigeria.
Cambridge Industries
Cambridge Industries (Addis Ababa, Ethiopia) – Owned by Samuel Alemayehu. Constructed Ethiopia’s first waste-to-energy plant.
FlexFinTx: FlexFinTx (Harare, Zimbabwe) Owned by Victor Mapunga –the Zimbabwe-born co-founder – and his Indian business partner Haardik Haardik – created a decentralized system that allows users to verify transactions – and provide a way to create and store the digital identities of some 400 million Africans who had no official forms of identification.
Kuda: Kuda (Lagos, Nigeria) – Founded by Babs Ogundeyi and Mustapha Musty. Kudu is an online bank; now offering loans to customers.
Easy Solar: Easy Solar was founded by the 27-year-old South African, Nthabiseng Mosia. Easy Solar distributes and finances affordable, high-quality solar-powered devices on a rent-to-own basis enabled by Pay-As-You-Go technology.
Jetvan Automobile Limited (Nigeria): Jetvan Automobile Limited – Co-founded by the 30-year-old Nigerian businessman, Oluwatobi Ajayi. Jetvan Automobile Limited is the largest authorized dealer of Mercedes-Benz Sprinter in Nigeria.
Wing It Nairobi: Wing It Nairobi – Founded by Paul Kihiko, a 30-year-old Kenyan. Wing It Nairobi is Kenya’s first and only wings-only Quick service restaurant
Falgates: Falgates – Founded by the 27-year-old Abubakar Sadiq Mohammed Falalu. Falgates Farms and Mills Rice.
Cars45: Cars45 – is owned by Etop Ikpe, a veteran entrepreneur, and a transport enthusiast from Nigerian. Cars45 is rated the foremost auto auctioning and car buying service.
Fibre: Fibre – founded by the 27-year-old Obinna Okwodu. A real estate booking start-up in Lagos that allows middle-income tenants the option to pay monthly.
Edutech and BAU Executive Education: Edutech and BAU Executive Education – founded by an education entrepreneur, Gossy Ukanwoke. Edutech and BAU Executive Education Provides Executive Education Programs to executives, professionals, and graduates who seek to gain and sharpen their business and leadership skills to meet work demands.
MnM Clothing Line: MnM Clothing Line – Founded by the 29-year-old Tanzanian, Rahma Bajun. A popular Afro-centric clothing brand in Tanzania – produces quality and affordable clothes, bags, and other men’s and women’s fashion accessories.
Sultan By Foremen: Sultan By Foremen – Founded by a 25-year-old Tanzanian national, Idris Sultan. A footwear brand that has become extremely popular amongst Tanzania’s hip, urban population.
Nero: Nero – was founded by a 30-year-old Kenyan, Anerlisa Muigai, the daughter of Tabitha Karanja , a revered Kenyan alcohol tycoon. Nero is A beverage company that manufactures and sells the top-selling Executive Still Water brand across Kenya.
YYTZ Agro-Processing
YYTZ Agro-Processing – founded by Fahad Awadh, a 30-year-old Tanzanian. YYTZ Agro-Processing is a cashew processing company. It is said to have a processing facility in Zanzibar, which has an installed capacity of 2,500 Tons per annum.
Habona Ltd – founded by Jean Bosco Nzeyimana.
Habona Limited is a company that provides integrated waste management services and transforms waste into an environmentally friendly and affordable fuel. Jean Bosco Nzeyimana is a Rwandan.
Unique Favors – Founded by Patricia Majule Unique Favours is a Tanzania-based company that specializes in locally designed and manufactured custom party supplies, favors, and gifts for corporate organizations, and informal parties across Tanzania. Its activities are coordinated by the 24-year-old Patricia Majule.
SafeBoda – Ricky Rapa Thompson, Ugandan Ricky Rapa Thompson is a co-founder of SafeBoda- a community with over 1,000 riders. It is most times referred to as Uganda’s ‘Uber’ for motorcycle taxis.
102.5 Lake FM: 102.5 Lake FM is a community-centric commercial radio station in Mwanza, Tanzania. It was Founded by Doreen Estazia Noni
BWL Agency: BWL Agency was founded by a 30-year-old Nigerian – Ronke Bamisedun. It is a boutique Public Relations agency.
SWVL: Swvl is a mass transit system that provides every neighbourhood of Cairo with buses. Mostafa Kandil, Mahmoud Nouh, and Ahmed Sabbah –Egyptians are Co-founders of Swvl. These youths are below the age of 27.
Anza Strategy: Anza Strategy: A trade advisory company founded by Rodrique Msechu, Tanzanian.
Beiless Group: Beiless Group was founded by a 22 years old Kenyan young lady, named June Syowia. Beiless Group is a digital marketing company in Kenya and has received many awards for jobs well done.
Verdant Agri-Tech: Nasir Yammama is the founder of Verdant Agri-Tech. The company provides value by supporting rural crop farmers for improved food production through their mobile agricultural extension, access to financial services, market information, etc.
Oxygen Private Energy Limited
The 32-year-old Simbarashe Mhuriro is the founder and Managing Director of Oxygen Energy Private Limited. Mario is a Zimbabwean, leading one of the independent power producers and renewable energy development company in Zimbabwe.
Sylabs: Sylabs is one of the first private startup accelerators in Algeria – it mixes technology and entrepreneurship in the promotion and development of entrepreneurship and talent. It was founded by Abdellah Mallek, Algerian.
Recours Four Kenya Consultants Limited
Recours Four Kenya Consultants Limited was founded by 31-year-old Gloria Michelle Otieno Muka, in 2013. A growing HR services firm in Kenya.
OBRI Company
OBRI Company was founded by Brigitha Faustin, Tanzanian. Provides sustainable market channels for Tanzania farmers; and also produces cooking oil.
Jetseta: Jetseta was founded by Harold Okwa, a 30-year-old Nigerian-born entrepreneur. He is also the founder of Vestates, a real estate agency in Nigeria. Jetseta uses its mobile app to provide easy and affordable access to private air travel and helicopter shuttle services.
Tangerine Investments
Have you heard about Tangerine Investment? It was founded by the 32-year-old Rajiv Mehta. Tangerine Investments is an advertising firm that uses public transit vehicles, street poles, and other hardware surfaces to advertise or market consumer goods in Kenya.
This list is less than 1% of the total population of Africa’s young entrepreneurs: the names are numerous to mention – Sunshine in Africa!
Comments
miaqueen
It’s a great pleasure reading your post!
cmsmasters
Thanks.