Home Blog
Category:

Blog

Blog

Finalists for the Africa Finance & Investment Forum (AFIF) Entrepreneurship Award 2017 announced

by OFA
written by OFA

 

Six African SMEs have been nominated as finalists for the AFIF Entrepreneurship Award 2017, supported by the Rabobank Foundation. Out of the 51 projects from around the continent and following a few rounds of selection, the jury has selected these innovative projects from Ethiopia, Kenya, Nigeria and Tanzania for their social, economic and ecological impact, and their potential for growth and job creation nationally and regionally. The winner will be announced during the Africa Finance & Investment Forum (AFIF) 2017  which will be held in Nairobi from 13-16 February.

Official Finalists for the AFIF Entrepreneurship Award 2017:

  • Aybar Engineering (Ethiopia) – The company has developed the “Aybar BBM”, a technology that prevents excess water from suffocating crops and stores it for later use. There is no other similar technology in the market.
  • R n G Company limited (Kenya) – The company sells packaged Rhizo-fix (groundnut inoculum), a biofertilizer that ensures a more efficient groundnut production. It also collects the groundnuts from local farmers to produce affordable cooking oil.
  • EuroFresh Exotics (Kenya) – The company produces and exports fresh fruits and vegetables using innovative farming techniques. They also organise capacity building trainings for smallholder farmers.
  • First Atlantic Semiconductors & Microelectronics (Nigeria) – This company has developed the “Zenvus”, an intelligent solution to collect soil data using a system of electronic sensors. Its mission is improve farming productivity.
  • Kimolo Super rice (Tanzania) – The company is specialized in processing and marketing branded rice and sunflower oil. The project is environmentally friendly since smallholder farmers produce paddy using water run-off from nearby hills.
  • Eco Act (Tanzania) – The company was established to address the challenges of urban waste management, plastic pollution, deforestation and climate change. They recycle and transform post-consumer waste plastic into durable and environmentally friendly plastic lumber.

The AFIF Entrepreneurship Award 2017 aims to provide African-based innovative SMEs with support to grow their businesses. The six finalists will receive a free accreditation to join the AFIF 2017 full programme (conferences, trainings, B2B meetings and networking opportunities). The award winner will receive cash prize and one year of national and international media promotion.

“We are delighted to announce the finalists for the AFIF Entrepreneurship Award 2017 after a really difficult selection process. The innovation and creativity of African-based SMEs makes our job more difficult every year. We look forward to welcoming these and many more entrepreneurs at the AFIF 2017 in Nairobi” says Inês Bastos, EMRC  Senior Project Manager.

“I am now internationally known,” says Lazaro Mwakipesile (Raphael Group, Tanzania), winner of the AFIF Entrepreneurship Award 2015. He adds: “I have travelled abroad four times this year to present our company. I expect to travel to the United States soon for a meeting with the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation”.

The new edition of the Africa Finance & Investment Forum (AFIF) will be held for the first time in the vibrant city of Nairobi, Kenya, hosted by the Strathmore University. In line with growing international trends, the AFIF will focus on entrepreneurship, innovation and access to finance in key sectors such as energy, water, ICT, health and agriculture. Delegates (SMEs managers, investors, entrepreneurs…) will come from across the world to participate in the AFIF 2017

0 comments
0 FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail
Blog

Morland Writing Scholarship 2016 Winners announced.

by lanredahunsi
written by lanredahunsi

Morland Foundation have announced the winners of its 2016 Writing Scholarships winners of Morland Writing Scholarships are :

  • Abdul Adan – Somalia
  • Ayesha Harruna Attah – Ghana
  • Lidudumalingani Mqombothi – South Africa
  • Nneoma Ike-Njoku – Nigeria

The three fiction winners each receive a grant of ₤18,000 to allow them to take a year off to write a book. Ayesha Harruna Attah won a non-fiction award of £27,000 to be paid over a year and a half to allow her additional time for research. The awards are based on submissions which include a book proposal and an excerpt of published writing.

Miles Morland commented, “Last year our winners were all female. This year the blokes have fought back and we have perfect gender balance. All four winners have the potential to write books that will command global attention. This year we had a record 500 submissions, up from 345 last year. The most heartening thing is the breadth of talent; we had submissions from over thirty countries of which 106 came from Nigeria, a bubbling cauldron of writing talent, 51 from South Africa, 42 from Kenya, 17 from Zimbabwe and 12 from Ghana.

Michela Wrong, the Foundation Literary Director, said, “Meanwhile our twelve existing Scholars from the last three years have been writing hard. Our hope is that in 2017 at least two of our existing Scholars will publish the books they have written on their Scholarship year with more to follow soon after. I will be surprised if we don’t get ten published books from our existing Scholars.”

The Judges for this year were once more three distinguished African literary figures, Ellah Wakatama Allfrey, the Chair, accompanied by Olufemi Terry and Muthoni Garland. Below are Ellah’s comments on the new Scholars.

“We were especially concerned this year to choose scholars whose proposals promised books that had the potential to gain a wide, international readership.

Abdul Adan’s surreal, dark humour will take us to Elwak, on Kenya’s Somali border (with pit stops in Missouri, Kazakhstan and Somalia) as his enigmatic protagonist infiltrates a group of Islamic extremists.

In Ayesha Harruna Attah’s proposal, Kola! From Caravans to Coca Cola we were immediately engaged by her confident prose and outline for a history of the prized kola nut from its West African origins, weaving together primary sources and travel.

Nneoma Ike-Njoku delighted us with her highly original and boldly ambitious proposal for Drift a novel about a fictional Afro-Psych Rock band formed by college students in 1970s post-Civil War Lagos.

With studied assurance and a beguiling poetic restraint, Lidudumalingani Mqombothi’s Let Your Children Name Themselves will tell the intergenerational story of a family living in rural South Africa, with a focus on Babini – a gay adolescent struggling to come to terms with his sexuality and his place within his community.” 

The Foundation expects to award Scholarships for 2017 next November. We will post the rules for next year’s Scholarships in June 2017 on our website and invite entries at that time.  Please, no entries before then.

For further information about the Miles Morland Foundation or the Scholarships please go to our website:   or call Mathilda Edwards, the Foundation Secretary on +44 20 7349 5030.

0 comments
0 FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail
Blog

11 Winners Announced for the Second Edition 2016 of the African Entrepreneurship Award

by lanredahunsi
written by lanredahunsi

BMCE Bank of Africa announced the winners of the second edition of the African Entrepreneurship Award, which allocates annually $1 million. The award ceremony, chaired by President Othman Benjelloun, was held on Monday December 5th to compensate the most significant and sustainable businesses in the award’s three categories: education, environment and uncharted. This event marks “a fundamental turning point for African Entrepreneurship”.

Among the 37 finalists who participated to the Boot Camp held in Casablanca from November 30 to December 3rd, 2016, 11 winners were selected by a presidential jury.

The list of the 11 winners is as follows:

First Place $150,000

This event marks a fundamental turning point for African Entrepreneurship

  • Environment: Mahmud Johnson – Liberia – “Oil Palm products”
  • Education: Jennifer Shigoli – Tanzania – “Reusable Sanitary Pads”

Second Place $100,000

  • Environment: Ernie Aylward – South Africa “Electric mini-cabs”
  • Education: AbideenAdelu – Nigeria – “Mobile application for students”
  • Uncharted: Joyce Kyalema – Uganda – “Pumpkin food”

Pioneer Awards, $50,000

  • Frederico Peres da Silva – Mozambique – “Connect blue-collar, informal workers to customers”
  • Achiri Nji – Cameroon – “Live status updates on road conditions”
  • Benti Gelalcha – Ethiopia – “Veterinary Ambulatory Clinical Services”
  • Murtula Sanni – Nigeria – “Online platform for skilled workers”
  • Omar Kadiri – Morocco – “Free phone credit”

The African Entrepreneurship Award has been announced in November 2014, in Marrakesh, by Chairman Othman Benjelloun at the Global Entrepreneurship Summit, in order to promote entrepreneurship and to inspire entrepreneurs to launch and scale up businesses, create jobs and improve lives in Africa.

For More Information:

Visit the Official Webpage of the African Entrepreneurship Award 2016

0 comments
0 FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail
Blog

Queen’s Young Leaders Award winners 2017 announced

by lanredahunsi
written by lanredahunsi

The Queen’s Young Leaders Award winners for 2017 have officially been announced.

The prestigious award has been granted to 60 young people from around the Commonwealth in recognition of the incredible work they have done in their home nations.

Now in its third and penultimate year, the winners become part of the growing Queen’s Young Leaders community, a network of influential young change-makers who are being supported to become an even greater force for good.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jucr_su4FkQ

This year, award winners, who are aged between 18 and 29, are leading projects tackling global issues including education, climate change, gender equality, mental health and disability equality.

The Queen’s Young Leaders Programme was established in 2014 by The Queen Elizabeth Diamond Jubilee Trust in partnership with Comic Relief, The Royal Commonwealth Society and the University of Cambridge’s Institute of Continuing Education, in recognition of The Queen’s lifetime of service to the Commonwealth.

Each year for four years, the leaders receive bespoke training, mentoring and networking opportunities, and take part in a week-long residential programme in London.

“We are delighted that these incredible young people have been selected as Queen’s Young Leaders, and wish our warmest congratulations to each and every one of them,” Dr Astrid Bonfield CBE, Chief Executive of The Queen Elizabeth Diamond Jubilee Trust said.

“The Queen’s Young Leaders Award is designed to inspire and nurture the talent of exceptional young people from all over the Commonwealth, so that they can create and lead others towards securing positive changes in communities,” she added.

See a full list of Award winners and Highly Commended runners up and read more about their stories.

For More Information:

Visit the Official Webpage of the Queen’s Young Leaders Award winners for 2017

0 comments
0 FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail
Blog

Miles Morland Foundation announces shortlist for the 2016 Morland Writing Scholarships.

by lanredahunsi
written by lanredahunsi

The Miles Morland Foundation is delighted to announce the shortlist for the 2016 Morland Writing Scholarships. This year, Nigerians have dominated the list. Of the twenty-two names, eleven are from Nigeria, four from South Africa, two each from Somalia and Kenya, and one each from Gambia, Ghana, and Zimbabwe.

 

Miles Morland said,

“The standard of the shortlist is always high but this year we had an even greater depth of talent than before, making the choosing of a shortlist particularly difficult.  We had over 500 entries, up from 385 last year and they came from 37 countries, compared with 27 last year. We have two Caine Prize winners on it, and a number of writers who have received global recognition. We are pleased also to have writers early in their career who show terrific promise. We have been blown away by the talent, imagination, energy, and humour that characterises African writing. Our only disappointment is that, although we had a number of non-fiction submissions, only one made it to the short list.

The judges, with Ellah Wakatama Allfrey from Zimbabwe in the chair, assisted by Femi Terry from Sierra Leone, and Muthoni Garland from Kenya, will meet on Dec 12th to select the five 2016 Scholars. Their names will be announced shortly afterwards. The Scholars will each receive £18,000, paid over the course of a year, to allow them to take time off to write the book they have proposed.

Shortlist for the Morland Writing Scholarships for 2016

Abdul Adan – Somalia

Jekwu Anyaegbuna – Nigeria

Ayesha Harruna Attah – Ghana

Rotimi Babatunde – Nigeria

Dayo Foster – Gambia

Amy Heydenrych – S Africa

Abubakar Ibrahim – Nigeria

Nneoma Ike-Njoku – Nigeria

Julie Iromuanya – Nigeria

Hamse Ismail – Somalia

William Ifeanyi Moore – Nigeria

Lidudumalingani Mqombothi – S Africa

Nick Mulgrew – S Africa

Otosirieze Obi-Young – Nigeria

Okwiri Oduor – Kenya

Adeola Oeyemi – Nigeria

Olawale Olayemi – Nigeria

Troy Onyango – Kenya

Mary Ononokpono – Nigeria

Koye Oyedeji – Nigeria

Bryony Rheam – S Africa

Sandisile Tshuma – Zimbabwe.

If you have any questions please contact Mathilda Edwards, the Foundation Secretary, on [email protected].

For More Information:

Visit the Official Webpage of the Miles Morland Foundation

0 comments
0 FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail
Blog

Global Entrepreneurs Network Announces Top 10 Startup Open Finalists.

by lanredahunsi
written by lanredahunsi

Finalists receive mentoring, compete for spot at 2017 Global Entrepreneurship Congress in Johannesburg, South Africa

The Global Entrepreneurship Network announced today the top 10 finalists for Startup Open – a global competition to find some of the most promising young startups in the world.

The announcement comes during Global Entrepreneurship Week, a celebration of innovation and entrepreneurship by roughly 10 million people in 165 countries around the world. Startup Open is one of the marquee GEW events, which gives entrepreneurs a virtual stage in which to pitch their ideas, receive feedback and compete for mentoring – to help move their startup forward.

The top 10 finalists include, in no particular order: (Read below for full startup descriptions)

This year, the top 10 were selected from more than 1,000 founders from 101 countries – and nearly three out of every four founders are from outside the United States. The finalists hail from eight different countries including Israel (2), India (2), Colombia, Egypt, Kenya, Malta, the United Kingdom and the United States.

This is the seventh year for the competition, and a preference was given to entrepreneurs from any industry with a new business that has yet to raise any outside capital from angel investors, venture capital firms or other formal sources of seed funding.

These finalists will automatically gain membership in the GEN Starters Club, a community of talented founders with access to GEN mentors, enhanced exposure and curated networking opportunities at special events around the world. They will also connect with mentors over the next four weeks before the winner is announced on Jan. 5.

The Startup Open winner will receive an all-expenses-paid trip to Johannesburg, South Africa, where they will attend the Global Entrepreneurship Congress in March 2017. The GEC brings together entrepreneurs, investors, global leaders and startup champions from more than 160 countries to explore the best ways to build and strengthen entrepreneurial ecosystems. As part of the experience, the Startup Open winner will have the opportunity to showcase his or her startup on a global scale and meet with potential collaborators, mentors and others to help the startup grow.

0 comments
0 FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail
Blog

Orange announces the winners of the sixth edition of the Orange Social Venture Prize for Africa and the Middle East

by lanredahunsi
written by lanredahunsi

Orange has announced the winners of the 2016 Orange Social Venture Prize for Africa and the Middle East during the AfricaCom Awards ceremony held in Cape Town, South Africa, last night. The prize, which aims to encourage start-ups in Africa to launch innovative projects that promote development, has been extended this year to the Middle East. A new award, the Special Prize for Cultural Content, has also been introduced.

For the sixth year in a row, the Orange Group is recognizing four innovative projects that further development within the region. The objective is to stimulate entrepreneurs’ initiatives that use new technologies to meet the needs of people in Africa and the Middle East.

More than 750 candidates responded to the call for projects, which ran from May to September 2016, reflecting the potential of the telecommunications sector to support development in Africa and Middle East in fields as diverse as healthcare, agriculture, education and energy. Eleven projects were shortlisted and presented on Orange’s new pan-African web portal for entrepreneurs in the region, Entrepreneur Club. The winners were then selected by a jury made up of experts from Orange, journalists, investors and institutions that promote development.

The three prize-winners received grants of 25,000, 15,000 and10,000 EUR, and the winner of the Special Prize for Cultural Content received 5,000 EUR. In addition, the shortlisted finalists and the winner of the Special Prize for Cultural Content will benefit from six months of support from Orange experts and the NGO Grow Movement. The first prize winner will also be offered a patent registration.

Bruno Mettling, CEO of Orange MEA, said:

“with nearly 3,500 projects filed since 2011, the Orange Social Venture prize has grown into a huge success; the 750 candidate projects that were submitted in 2016 amply illustrate this. The start-up ecosystem now increasingly recognizes Orange as an indispensable partner that is able to support their development: 95% of the winning start-ups since the award’s inception are still growing today. I thank them for their confidence.“

The winning projects:

  • The first prize was awarded to MedTrucks, Morocco

MedTrucks  was created to support patients and healthcare professionals through the deployment of mobile care units in “medical deserts” in Morocco and other emerging countries. These hyper-connected trucks, that are fully equipped for all essential medical needs and can rely on tele-medicine tools if necessary, aim to fill a blank in these isolated areas by providing care at the right time and the right place. MedTrucks is developing a variety of services including real-time cartography and tracking that will help optimize care service delivery to patients, as well as a medical online training platform for professionals.

  • The second prize was awarded to Nanoé, Madagascar

Nanoé’s  ambition is to deploy a new kind of electrification system, known as “lateral electrification”, in order to meet the short-term needs of remote populations that do not have access to the main energy grid. Nanoé seeks to offer rapid, flexible and affordable access to electricity, while participating in the construction of a cutting-edge power infrastructure that is low carbon, decentralized, collaborative and smart. Nanoé’s project also includes a major training platform designed for future local-level operators.

  • The third prize was awarded to Ma Tontine, Senegal

MaTontine  seeks to solve the problem of how to provide financial services, including the provision of small loans, to the poor. It is based on a traditional, non-digital system, called the Tontine (in French), that enables the organization of rotating savings and credit schemes across a small group of people (colleagues, friends, neighbors, etc.). The innovation is to build a digital platform that automates this whole process and incorporates a credit-scoring system in order to facilitate small loans and other financial services such as micro-insurance based on the credit score of the group members.

  • The Special Prize for Cultural Content was awarded to Bulles Magazine, Côte d’Ivoire

Bulles Magazine is a monthly magazine for 6-10-year old children that promotes African culture. Available in digital and paper versions, Bulles Magazine will be accessible throughout the Francophone world and beyond. The originality of this project lies in the fact that Bulles Magazine will tell children the story of the kings and queens who ruled the African continent long ago. Each month, children will read about African heroes of the past but also contemporary heroes such as renowned inventors from Africa. Designed in a highly colorful and illustrated format, the paper and digital versions of the magazine will facilitate its distribution across Francophone countries.

Finally, a “favourite project” was also selected by web users on the Entrepreneur Club portal:

  • Over 80,457 visitors out of a total of 390,000 voted for the Egyptian project FoodoGraphy , a food-waste management platform that facilitates cooperation between food providers – such as hotels, restaurants, conference malls, etc. – and charities. Foodography aims to allow charities to collect surplus food that is still in good condition from these organizations in order to redistribute it to poor people registered with the charity. FoodoGraphy’s website will provide a directory that acts as a reference for charities and enables them to connect with food providers and organize the logistics of redistributing the surplus food.
0 comments
0 FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail
Blog

The Tony Elumelu Foundation Convenes Africa’s Largest Gathering of Entrepreneurs.

by lanredahunsi
written by lanredahunsi
  • 2ND ANNUAL TEF ENTERPRENEURSHIP FORUM OPENS IN LAGOS, NIGERIA
  • NEARLY 1,000 AFRICAN ENTREPRENEURS FROM 54 COUNTRIES ATTENDING

The Tony Elumelu Foundation (TEF) opened the 2nd TEF Entrepreneurship Forum – the largest gathering of African entrepreneurs and the highlight of the annual TEF Entrepreneurship Programme.

The Forum celebrates the 2016 cohort of Elumelu Entrepreneurs – selected from over 45,000 applicants in 54 African countries – and their completion of the Programme’s innovative 12-week online training. On completing the programme Elumelu Entrepreneurs become members of the largest entrepreneurial alumni network in Africa.

teep-forum

“The TEF Forum is the centrepiece of the TEF Entrepreneurship Programme, and through it, we are giving from the perspective of empowering the recipient, instead of making them dependent on us,” explained Tony O. Elumelu, CON. “As a result, our entrepreneurs will change the face of Africa, creating a wave of dynamic African businesses, bringing wealth to their communities and countries, and driving economic growth across the whole continent.”

tef-entrepreneurship-forum-2016

As part of the TEF Entrepreneurship Programme’s 10-year, $100 million commitment, participants are now eligible to receive up to $10,000 seed capital to implement their business plans. Elumelu Entrepreneurs represent sectors as diverse as agriculture and fashion. Thirty-six per cent of those chosen were women, a significant increase on the first year’s twenty-four per cent. Entrepreneurs range from 18 to 54 years old.

 

TEF CEO Parminder Vir OBE said:

“We are proud to have established a unique platform for African entrepreneurs to forge relationships and business partnerships. In doing so, we are creating an ecosystem that fosters innovation and collaboration, on a scale few believed possible.”

 

The Forum allows entrepreneurs to share and gain knowledge, build cross border partnerships, and connect with investors and policymakers. The first day features plenary panels, masterclasses, TED-style talks and sector specific networking opportunities. The second day is a policy-led gathering, focused on improving the enabling environment.

tony-elumelu-foundation-entrepreneurship-forum-2016

The Foundation’s long-term investment in empowering African entrepreneurs is emblematic of Tony Elumelu’s philosophy of Africapitalism, which positions Africa’s private sector, and most importantly entrepreneurs, as the catalyst for the social and economic development of the continent.

For More Information:

Visit the Official Webpage of the TEF Entrepreneurship Programme 2016

1 comment
0 FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail
Blog

Google launches Digital Skills for Africa Online Portal for Young Africans.

by lanredahunsi
written by lanredahunsi

Free tutorials to help you succeed online, from social media to search engines and beyond.

Six months ago, Google announced its commitment to train 1 million Africans on digital skills within a year, we knew it was going to be a tough task. People across Africa are thirsty to explore how to take better advantage of the internet and the opportunities it offers; but frameworks that provide digital skills training on the continent are few and far between.

Over 500,000 Africans have received training that will enable them to build businesses, create jobs and boost economic growth across the continent.For people who are unable to attend face-to-face training sessions and who want to acquire digital skills in their own time from their own phone or computer, Google is launching a new Digital Skills Africa online portal. 

The portal contains 89 online lessons on a wide range of digital subjects including web analytics, social media management and mobile marketing. Available in English and French and in the near future in Portuguese, Google hopes the portal will enable more people in more African countries to make the most of the web. The training is available to anyone, and people who complete the program will receive a Certificate of Online Proficiency.

For More Information:

Visit the Official Webpage of the Digital Skills Africa Online Portal

9 comments
0 FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail
Blog

Agriculture Entrepreneur from Madagascar wins $25,000 2016 Anzisha Grand Prize for African Youth Entrepreneurship

by lanredahunsi
written by lanredahunsi

African Leadership Academy and The MasterCard Foundation are pleased to announce Heritiaina Randriamananatahina, 22 year old agriculture entrepreneur from Madagascar, as this year’s winner of the $25,000 Grand Prize in the sixth annual edition of Africa’s premier award for youth entrepreneurship.

Heritiaina is the founder of Fiombonana, an agro-processing enterprise that manufactures dairy products and confectioneries using only Malagasy raw materials, employing farmers and providing local job opportunities. Heritiaina was selected from a competitive pool of diverse entrepreneurs from all over Africa. For the first time ever, Anzisha Prize is pleased to award one of the top prizes to a finalist from Madagascar, creating a truly pan-African network of entrepreneurs who represent Africa’s best youth entrepreneurs.

This year, Anzisha Prize celebrates increased representation of winners from francophone countries. The first runner-up was

  • Environmental entrepreneur Yaye Souadou Fall, 21, from Senegal (who will receive $15,000) while
  • Agricultural entrepreneur N’guessan Koffi Jacques Olivier, 19, from Cote d’Ivoire was the second runner-up (and will receive $12,500).

The presence of two agriculture entrepreneurs in the top three is emblematic of the important role agriculture plays in Africa’s economies. Agriculture represented the sector with the largest share of applicants for the prize this year. The Agriculture Sector Prize was also claimed by N’guessan Koffi Jacques Olivier who demonstrated the potential for agriculture to create jobs for youth.

As the grand prize-winner, Heritiaina impressed a pan-African panel of judges with his venture response to a real need within his community, effective business model, job-creation potential, scalability, and demonstrated leadership potential. Fiombonana has enjoyed significant success to date including sizeable growth as Fiombonana produces 800kg of cheese a week, with potential for rapid and low cost expansion due to innovations such as reverse-engineering machinery for food processing.

“I am so excited to win the Anzisha Prize for 2016, even though I had to drop out of school when I was in grade six. My hard work in my business is paying off. I appreciate the training I have already received so far. Now that I have won, I will invest in my own education and grow my business,” says Heritiaina.

The first runner up for the prize, Yaye Souadou from Senegal and founder of E-cover, is also the first Senegalese entrepreneur ever in the top three in the history of Anzisha Prize. The core need the venture meets is to repurpose the many discarded tyres that are available in her home city, Dakar, into multi-purpose tiles for paving playgrounds, pavements, roads, and other surfaces. Yaye believes that youth can be agents of change to solve the problems that Africa faces and can drive pursuit of opportunities for economic growth. Her win will enable her to build the production capacity that her venture desperately needs in order to meet customer demand.

N’guessan Koffi Jacques Olivier from Cote d’ Ivoire is the remarkable second runner up who founded Yaletite Entrepreneurship Group CI. Yaletite Entrepreneurship Group CI is an agricultural group with the aim of producing and selling chocolate and food crops for profit and mobilizing youth for agricultural employment. It is unique for the manner in which Koffi operates his farm, through modern methods to ensure maximum yields during processing. Koffi has managed to tirelessly pursue this innovative venture, and create employment for 35 people. Koffi creates improved livelihoods for over 100 households through access to innovative farming practices.

The Anzisha Sector Prize in Agriculture was also awarded to N’guessan Koffi Jacques Olivier. The Anzisha Prize in Agriculture is offered with the sponsorship of the Louis Dreyfus Foundation , which promotes projects in the areas of sustainable agriculture, food security and self-sufficiency, particularly through education and direct support to farmers. The Louis Dreyfus Foundation Award for Entrepreneurship in Agriculture was offered for a second year this year, and aims to recognize young African entrepreneurs who are making a sustainable impact in the agriculture sector.

The MasterCard Foundation continues to support both entrepreneurs and the Anzisha Prize support program that the entrepreneurs will now access. “Joining the ranks of the Anzisha Fellows, this impressive group of young men and women are igniting the entrepreneurial spark in young people across Africa,” said Koffi Assouan, Program Manager, Youth Livelihoods at The MasterCard Foundation. “This ripple, the #AnzishaEffect has the power to transform the continent as these young entrepreneurs rise to become the next generation of African movers and shakers.”

“Anzisha Prize is a truly inclusive and pan-African Prize. The program is run in a multi-lingual learning environment in which entrepreneurs can learn regardless of their preferred language of instruction such as Arabic, French, Portuguese, and even Malagasy this year. The entrepreneurs really represent the true cream of the crop from the entire continent,” says Grace Kalisha, Program Manager for the Anzisha Prize.

The Anzisha Prize is a partnership between African Leadership Academy and The MasterCard Foundation. The 12 Anzisha Prize finalists were hand-picked from an applicant pool of 550 entrepreneurs from 32 African countries. Now in its sixth year, Anzisha Prize celebrated these outstanding young people at an exclusive, invitation-only ceremony on Tuesday 25 October 2016 in Johannesburg. The 12 finalists presented their ventures to a panel of judges after spending ten days in a business accelerator camp to strengthen business fundamentals. They join a now 67 strong pool of Anzisha Fellows and will receive ongoing business-consulting support, access to experts, and access to networking opportunities to enable sustainable venture growth.

0 comments
0 FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail
Blog

Announcing the Winners of the Facebook Internet.org Innovation Challenge 2016 in Africa

by lanredahunsi
written by lanredahunsi

Internet.org is excited to present six Innovation Challenge in Africa awards to leading examples of ideas, apps, websites and/or online services that provide real value in the categories of education and economic empowerment.

Across the African continent, only 28% of the population has access to the internet. To bring more people in Africa online, the internet needs to be accessible, affordable and educational. We need to help people understand the possibilities available to them online. Each of the submissions we received has a part in creating a more connected world.

Internet.org by Facebook are presenting two $150,000 USD Innovation Challenge award prizes: one each to the leading app, website, service or idea that best meets the needs of the designated population categories – Education and Economic Empowerment, as well as four additional $50,000 USD Impact awards within each category.

The winners are:

Education

Innovation Challenge Award Winner
Started in Ghana, Esoko makes it easier for businesses, governments, NGOs and others to connect with farmers. Through its web and mobile apps, Esoko enables two-way data flows that allow smallholder farmers to access vital agricultural information and markets, and businesses to gain better visibility into their supply chains. The name Esoko comes from “e” representing electronic and “soko” meaning market in Swahili. Esoko has since spread its services to eight additional markets across Africa.

Impact Award Winner
mPedigree Goldkeys from Ghana is an anti-counterfeiting, tracking and tracing solution that uses consumers’ mobile phones as a verification tool. In Uganda and Kenya, this service is being used to help farmers determine whether they are buying original counterfeit seeds. They have since spread their services to Nigeria, Kenya, Uganda and Egypt for pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, agro-inputs like seeds and pesticides, and electrical components.

Impact Award Winner
Nigeria’s SaferMom provides pregnant and new mothers with simple tools to help make informed health decisions via sms, voice services and its mobile app. SaferMom uses a chain of community health partners and mobile technology to track the health of pregnant moms and newborn babies, immunization schedules for babies, nutrition and behavioral routines based on their fetal development stages and antenatal care. This service is available in the English, Hausa, Yoruba, Igbo and Pidgin languages.

Economic Empowerment

Innovation Challenge Award Winner
Founded in South Africa, Hyperion Development is a social enterprise that has built the first online course platform for computer science education supported by the largest online community of software developers in Africa. Hyperion Development allows anyone to take online courses in coding with a personal computer or mobile phone; even without a broadband connection, which fewer than 1% of Africans have.

Impact Award Winner
Launched in Ghana, Mutti by mPharma is a drug affordability service that enables patients to access high quality medicine at lower prices with flexible payment terms through micro-payments. Mutti means medicine in Bemba, a Zambian language. They also operate in Nigeria, Zambia and Cote D’Ivoire, targeting three main chronic conditions: hypertension, diabetes and cardiovascular disease.

Impact Award Winner
Nigeria’s Tuteria connects people seeking to learn with people around them who can teach. Tuteria provides an online platform which allows users to find, evaluate, book and pay for lessons with competent local tutors, coaches, instructors and mentors.

The challenge was judged by:

  • Ike Eze, Head, PocketMoni and Executive Director, Strategy and Corporate Development, eTranzact
  • Ime Archibong, Director of Product Partnerships, Facebook
  • Rob LeBlanc, Chief Investment Officer, The Amethu Project
  • Terryanne Chebet, Founder, Keyara Organics
0 comments
0 FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail
Blog

Selection of candidates for the 7th Batch Training of the African Union Youth Volunteer Corps (AU-YVC)

by OFA
written by OFA

An AUC panel met to shortlist the candidates for the 7th Batch Training of the African Union Youth Volunteer Corps. The panel consisted of representatives of AUC departments and units. A total of 5600 applications were received from call for applications between the 2nd and 22nd of August 2016 and 100 candidates were selected from all 54 AU Members States representing the five regions of Africa; for the training which will take place in October 2016. To ensure transparency and accountability in the selection process, a panel comprised of representatives from AUC Departments and Units was instituted. The selection meeting took place from the 20 – 21st September at the AUC Headquarters.

His Excellency the Commissioner of HRST, Dr Martial De-Paul Ikounga met with the selection team to encourage them. In his brief address he called upon the members of the team to exercise a high level of transparency and integrity and wished them as they finalize the selection. Selected candidates will be notified in due course.

The African Union Youth Volunteer Corps (AU-YVC) is African Union’s Initiatives for youth capacity building, empowerment and meaningful participation through volunteer work at a continental level and by virtue contribute towards an integrated, prosperous and peaceful Africa. The program is in line with the African Youth Charter and Assembly Decision by AU Heads of State and Government (Assembly/AU/Dec.274 (XVI) January 2010) “to launch and implement an African Union Youth Volunteer Corps”. AU-YVC was officially launched on the 3rd of December 2010 in Abuja, Nigeria.

auvyc

AU-YVC recruits and works with young professionals age 18-35 from across the Continent and the Diaspora, to serve for a period of 12 months in their respective fields of expertise in an AU Member State other than their own. Priority areas of deployment of the AU-YVC include: Education; Entrepreneurship; Health; Institutional capacity building; Information and Communication Technology; Peace building and Post Conflict Reconstruction.
For further information please contact:

Ms. Pamela Charidza | Youth Development Division I Department of Human Resources Science and Technology | African Union Commission | Email: [email protected]

Mr. Christian Fleming | Youth Development Division I Department of Human Resources Science and Technology | African Union Commission | Email: [email protected]
For More Information:

Visit the Official Webpage of the African Union Youth Volunteer Corps (AU-YVC)

1 comment
0 FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail
Blog

Federal Government of Nigeria N-Power 2016 Timetable & Assessment Process for Applicants.

by OFA
written by OFA

The Federal Government of Nigeria has designed the N-Power Programme to drastically reduce youth unemployment. The focus is to provide our young graduates and non-graduates with the skills, tools and livelihood to enable them advance from unemployment to employment, entrepreneurship and innovation. The first phase of N-Power will target Nigeria’s critical needs in education, agriculture, technology, creative, construction and artisanal industries. N-Power is also preparing Nigeria for a global outsourcing push where our young Nigerians can export their services to work on global projects that earn Nigeria, foreign exchange.

Programme Test Days
N-Power Teach 20th September – 28th September 2016
N-Power Agro 29th September – 1st October 2016
N-Power Health 2nd October – 3rd October 2016
N-Power Community Education 4th October-6th October 2016
N-Power Creative 7th October – 9th October 2016
N-Power Tech (Software) 10th October – 12th October 2016
N-Power Tech (Hardware) 13th October 2016 – 14th October 2016
N-Power Build 15th October – 18th October 2016

 

 

npower-agro

npower-hardware

In addition, you will be notified by SMS of your assessment the day before your assessment is due.

Your assessment will include some personal questions and other questions testing basic knowledge of English, General Knowledge and Quantitative Reasoning. There are other programme-specific questions depending on the programme that you have applied for.

Applicants can take their tests on a smart-phone, tablet, laptop or desktop computer provided that these devices have internet connection.

Successful applicants will be selected to participate in the N-Power programme. Please note that selection will be done in phases nationwide.

For More Information:

Visit the Official Webpage of the Federal Government of Nigeria N-Power Timetable & Assessment Process

1 comment
0 FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail
Blog

5 Startups for the 2016 DEMO Africa LIONS Programme.

by lanredahunsi
written by lanredahunsi

 

The 5th edition of DEMO Africa concluded last Friday with the crowning of 5 startup
companies that will benefit from the DEMO Africa LIONS programme.

The 2-day event took place at the Sandton Convention Center, Johannesburg. It lived to
its billing – More than 600 delegates attended the now defacto launch pad for African technology startups, more than 30 speakers in 12 sessions including four master classes delivered by the World Bank and the African Business Angel Network (ABAN).

The DEMO Africa LIONS programme is a partnership between DEMO Africa and the LIONS@FRICA initiative that curates a 2-week Innovation Tour of Silicon Valley. The Innovation Tour exposes the startups to the technology and investment ecosystem in
the Silicon Valley with the aim of creating bridges and attracting investments from
investors from the Valley.

While announcing the winners, Stephen Ozoigbo, the CEO at African Technology Foundation, the agency implementing the LIONS@FRICA initiative said the companies
that have been picked have a global outlook and can benefit by seeing how other such
companies are doing in the United States.

“These companies have a global appeal and have the highest potential to becoming
global companies,” said Ozoigbo. “By participating in the innovation tour, we are
helping to connecting these companies to the global innovation ecosystem and also continue connecting them to potential investors,” he concluded.

The companies that made it into the program are:

Sortd

The product suite is aimed at helping people escalate conversations into action right
from the source. Sortd works seamlessly with Email, IM, Skype and Slack. Sortd plays
into an emerging category in the SAAS collaboration space with a vision to create an all-
in-one Communication & Teamwork Platform for “the rest of us” (aimed at small-
medium size businesses).

ConnectMed

ConnectMed is an online machine learning-enabled telehealth platform that allows
patients to seek treatment from GPs over video for common ailments, either directly
through app (ConnectMed Prime) or indirectly through clinic partners (ConnectMed
Care). ConnectMed Prime targets middle and upper income South Africans who have
easy access to internet-enabled devices and use the private healthcare system.

Strauss Energy

Strauss Energy sells electricity to homeowners and organizations at 75% cheaper than
the national grid. The power is generated from the innovative BIPV Stima 2 in1 solar
roofing tiles that they manufacture. 2 Million Houses are required annually according
to a UN Habitat report. In Kenya only 150,000 houses are built annually. Strauss targets
30% of this market and is already working on 1,000 houses in Kenya and an additional
10,000 houses next year.

Solstice Home Energy Solutions

Solstice has developed a low cost energy monitoring solution for Nigerian households
that gives insight into energy consumption patterns by measuring both utility grid and
generator usage. The data the hardware provides can be used by homeowners to track
energy usage, set budgets, and get energy saving tips through our mobile application.

MediaBox

MediaBox is gateway to content in the home. They can make any existing TV old or new
a truly smart device for entertainment, education & access to the internet. MediaBox is
the only aggregation platform in Africa that works with any and all current providers of
content, such as DSTV, ShowMax, Netflix and Supersport.

0 comments
0 FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail
Blog

2016 Finalists for Anzisha Prize- Africa’s Leading Youth Entrepreneurship Award.

by lanredahunsi
written by lanredahunsi

The Anzisha Prize applauds outstanding youth entrepreneurs between the ages of 15 and 22 for effecting change through innovative, people-centred solutions across Africa

Press Release:

GAUTENG, South Africa, August 26, 2016/ — African Leadership Academy, in partnership with The MasterCard Foundation, is proud to announce Africa’s top youth entrepreneur finalists for the sixth annual Anzisha Prize . This year, the Prize celebrates increased presence in Northern African markets such as Morocco and Egypt, and francophone countries such as Madagascar and Niger, and increased diversity in the business ventures represented.

The increased reach is made possible by Anzisha Prize outreach efforts and a partner network of youth development organisations supporting the spread into new communities in order to recognize the yet uncelebrated youth agents of change across Africa. The 12 Anzisha Prize finalists were hand-picked from an applicant pool of 550 entrepreneurs from 32 African countries.

The Anzisha Prize applauds outstanding youth entrepreneurs between the ages of 15 and 22 for effecting change through innovative, people-centred solutions across Africa. The 2016 cohort comprises a diverse blend of young minds who are leading the mandate of socio-economic development and job creation in their communities and beyond. They are competing for their share of $100 000 USD in cash prizes. The 12 finalists receive an all-expenses paid trip to Johannesburg for a rigorous two-week business accelerator camp beginning on 13th October, 2016. The grand prize-winner will be announced at an exclusive gala event on 25 October, 2016.

“The momentum behind the Anzisha Prize has grown and we are starting to see a real impact,” said Koffi Assouan, Program Manager, Youth Livelihoods at The MasterCard Foundation. “Anzisha Fellows are forming a strong, African network of young business innovators that transcends their individual sectors and geographical areas. They are learning from each other, growing their ventures and advancing the spirit of social entrepreneurship.”

In addition to winning a share of the prize money, the finalists are given access to Anzisha Prize Youth Entrepreneur Support Unit services valued at $7,500 USD. The fellowship package includes business support, implementation of projects to grow their businesses, access to business subject matter experts and access to numerous networking opportunities.

“The tide is turning around the youth entrepreneurship narrative in Africa,” Anzisha Prize Senior Programs Manager Grace Kalisha said, “There has been an extraordinary rise of Africa-bred entrepreneurs in the continent and their stories are being told. We are pleased that such an impressive group of entrepreneurs will participate in the Anzisha Prize this year. This is a promise of great things to come for African entrepreneurship.”

Some of the innovations seen among the applicants and finalists for the 2016 Anzisha Prize are in the agriculture sector, which is gaining in prominence among youth.  The entrepreneurs have embarked upon opportunities and explored a wider spectrum of the agricultural sector’s value chain. For example, 2016 Anzisha Fellows N’guessan Olivier and Heritiana Randriamananatahina are this generation’s players in food processing, while Benedict Ampofo empowers smallholder farmers and rural youth with requisite skills in agriculture. These forward-thinking entrepreneurs announce/herald an era in which Africa’s youth are driving job creation for other youth.

The 2016 finalists for the Anzisha Prize are:

  1. Aly Abd ElAzem, 20, Egypt. Co-founder of Teens Club (www.facebook.com/TeensClub.eg), a city youth hub providing teenagers with a platform for professional self-development by linking them to experts, improving their skillsets, and providing a safe space for the expression of opinions and talents, with 30,000 youth applying to participate in the program in 2015 alone.
  1. Issam Darui, 22, Morocco. Founder of Lagare.ma (www.Lagare.ma), the first electronic bus station in Morocco, available in 10 languages and 25 currencies, established to provide efficient travel services for the first time in Morocco, with schedules to over 150 destinations.
  1. Ifrah Mohamed (www.AnzishaPrize.org/Fellows/Ifrah-Mohamed), 19, Kenya. Founder of Supermom (www.facebook.com/SuperMomKE), which empowers unemployed and under-employed women by providing them with jobs in a door-to-door last mile distribution network for essential goods in rural Kenya, with over 20 “super moms” in the network.
  1. Benedict Kusi Ampofo (www.AnzishaPrize.org/Fellows/Benedict-Kusi-Ampofo), 22, Ghana. Founder of Project KIRIKU, a demonstration farm aiming to create sustainable agricultural communities with reduced poverty, providing over 60 farmers with skills, knowledge and agricultural innovations.
  1. Lamine Chamsiya (www.AnzishaPrize.org/Fellows/Lamine-Chamsiya), 21, Niger. Founder of E3D Cosmetique (http://E3DNiger.org), which manufactures and markets a range of neem-based hair and skin cosmetic products with antiseptic properties.
  1. Yaye Souadou Fall (www.AnzishaPrize.org/Fellows/Yaye-Souadou-Fall), 21, Senegal. Founder of E-cover  (www.facebook.com/Ecover221) which produces innovative multi-purpose tiles for paving, playgrounds, swimming pools, shoe soles and other products, from recycled tyres, employing six people to date.
  1. Geoffrey Mulei (www.AnzishaPrize.org/Fellows/Geoffrey-Mulei), 20, Kenya. Founder of INKISHA (www.facebook.com/INKISHA), aimed at increasing access to eco-friendly packaging among African consumers by partnering with advertisers and innovative brands, providing around 350,000 free bags monthly, supported by an innovative revenue model.
  1. N’guessan Koffi Jacques Olivier (http://www.AnzishaPrize.org/Fellows/Nguessan-Koffi-Jacques-Olivier), 19, Cote d’Ivoire. Founder of The Yaletite Entrepreneurship Group CI (www.facebook.com/TYEGROCI), an ambitious initiative producing and marketing food crops for profit, locating subsidies for students with disabilities, and mobilizing youth for employment, with over 30 people employed.
  1. Heritiana Fabien Randriamananatahina (www.AnzishaPrize.org/Fellows/Heritiana-Fabien-Randriamananatahina) , 22, Madagascar. Founder of FIOMBONANA, an agro-processing initiative that drives import substitution through local manufacture of dairy products and confectioneries, sourcing from local farmers with 12 people currently employed.
  1. Faustino Quissico (www.AnzishaPrize.org/Fellows/Faustino-Quissico), 22, Mozambique. Founder of TQ Group and Services, which supplies, installs and maintains hardwood floors, sourcing inputs and providing employment to 13 people.
  1. Asha Abbas (www.AnzishaPrize.org/Fellows/Asha-Abbas), 17, Tanzania. Founder of Aurateen, an online platform providing teenage health and sex education by raising awareness of high-risk behaviours, working with medical practitioners and youth experts, and offering counselling services both online and in-person.
  1. Andrew Ddembe (www.AnzishaPrize.org/Fellows/Andrew-Ddembe), 20, Uganda. Serial entrepreneur, and Founder of Heart for the Hurt, a diversified business supplying school uniforms, restaurant services and growing coffee, all of which reduce income variability for the business and around 30 employees, who predominantly have speech difficulties..
0 comments
0 FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail
Blog

Francophonie 35 under 35 Youth Prize 2016 – Innovators under 35 to watch in French-speaking Africa

by lanredahunsi
written by lanredahunsi

The Francophonie 35 under 35 Youth Prize intends to recognize every year 35 French-
speaking Innovators aged 18 to 35 who have made outstanding achievements. The Prize represents a pioneering Initiative in the French-speaking world aimed at highlighting some of the best innovations in a zone populated by 900 million persons spread throughout five continents.

Selected by a jury of 80 personalities from the Francophone space and out of 200 entries from 26 countries (from France to Mali and as far as Vietnam), these 35 young innovators are changing lives. They will be rewarded during an Awards Ceremony on October 29th, 2016 in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire.

The 35 Young Innovators are:

Agriculture and Agro Business

Gninlnagnon Koné (29): “Helping achieve self-sufficiency in rice” – Katio-Akpa, Côte d’Ivoire
Just as Côte d’Ivoire consumes more than 1.6 million tons of rice a year, it only produces 600,000 tons per year. Filling this gap is the mission Koné Gninlnagnon assigned to himself. Katio-Akpa, his company, is responsible for growing and marketing the first Ivorian luxury rice brand called “Riz Délice” (Rice Delight) in a sector dominated by large multinationals.

Kpante Gambah Labopou (29): “Revolutionizing the cocoa industry in Togo” – Choco Togo, Togo
You will not often hear about Togo as a producer of cocoa. Nonetheless, Kpante is helping put chocolate “made-in-Togo” on the map. The brand “CHOCO TOGO” is the first made-in-Togo chocolate using organic and fair-trade cocoa.

Zodome Gildas (32): “Providing healthier crop care products” – Bio Phyto, Benin
Zodome Gildas was witnessing some of the adverse impacts of chemical pesticides in agriculture. This gave birth to Bio Phyto, a social enterprise in Benin active since 2011 in the production of organic fertilizers and pesticides based on a seed called NEEM and local herbs

Entrepreneurship Support

Birane Babacar (28): “The virtual incubator for entrepreneurs in Francophone Africa” – Concree, Senegal
Creating the first virtual incubation platform in Francophone Africa – that’s the bold challenge Birane Babacar is undertaking with CONCREE.com. Concree is an online platform for training and supporting entrepreneurs in the creation, financing and development of their startups. Concree has virtually coached 243 entrepreneurs and 25 startups.

Tiburce Chaffa (30): “Building a new generation of business leaders in Africa” – Business Coaching, Benin
Tiburce Chaffa develops coaching programs for entrepreneurs and intrapreneurs; intensive and based on real experiences within Africa. In 2015, 100 young digital entrepreneurs have been trained and coached on behalf of the Government of Benin.

Obin Guiako (32): “Helping establishing FabLabs on the African continent” – Baby Lab, Côte d’Ivoire
Baby Lab is the first Ivorian FabLab member of the MIT network located in Abobo, the most impoverished district in the city of Abidjan. At Baby Lab, you will meet everyday dozens of young people playing with electronic waste by giving them a second life, learning about open source or programming.

Blog and Media Innovation

Guebo Yoroba Israel (34): “Democratizing the practice of blogging” – Avenues, Côte d’Ivoire
Guebo Israel is a pioneer for a whole generation of bloggers in Sub-Saharan Africa. The story of the “Avenues” starts in 2008 where Guebo Israel runs a popular blog in Côte d’Ivoire. He believes in journalism that puts the citizen at the heart of information and creates the “Avenues”, a platform that trains young people in journalism, blogging and multimedia creation across Africa.

Katche Corinne (28): “Showcasing the vibrant Afro Culture scene of Paris and beyond” – MyAfroWeek.com, France
MyAfroWeek.com is the go-to-site that list all events related to Afro culture in France. From sports to beauty, fashion to music; MyAfroWeek represents a platform that highlights the best of what Afro culture as a whole can offer (French Africa, English Africa, Caribbean, Latin …).

Kouamé Ouattara Amie (32): “Awakening the great qualities in each woman” – Ayanawebzine, Côte d’Ivoire
Ayanawebzine is the first web magazine in Cote d’Ivoire celebrating the African woman through her achievements as well as providing tips to them about everyday’s daily occurrences. The magazine has a strong following in the country with its catch phrase “Ayana Girls are Super Women”

Culture and Entertainment

Esther Marie Dupont (27): “Bringing a perfume of Haiti to the Diaspora in America” – Radio Show Host, Haiti / USA
In Haiti, only 1 in 10 youth have the opportunity to succeed. Esther embraced music as a source of inspiration. Her show provides an opportunity for members of the Haitian Diaspora to stay connected to the culture of their homeland and for Americans to discover a different music genre.

Nowak Jan and Iris Munos: “Teaching French as a foreign language through theater” – Drameducation, Poland
For the last 5 years, Drameducation is behind the Program “10 of 10”, a writing residency program during which 10 French authors write in 10 days; 10 plays; each of 10 pages for 10 non-francophone comedians! These plays are then made available to teachers and young people interested in theater.

Kakou Fonou Rosine (a.k.a Yehni Djidji) (28): “Promoting reading and writing through various initiatives” – 225nouvelles.com, Côte d’Ivoire
225nouvelles.com offers authors an alternative platform to publish their writings. 460 texts from 68 contributors have since been made available online. Kakou’s latest project “Louko” is to democratize audio books to enable the 51% illiterates as well as the 200,000 visually impaired people in Côte d’Ivoire to “read” differently and reduce the intellectual divide.

Management and Intrapreneurship

Barry Mamadou Bailo and Chaikou Ahmed Tidiane Balde: “Celebrating excellence in education” – Destin en Main, Guinea
Destin en Main is the leader in the organization of extra-educational and recreational activities such as TOP SCHOOL, an annual televised national inter-school competition for the little ones, captivating dozens of thousands of children in Guinea as regular viewers. It also focuses on youth empowerment through training and the creation of small businesses.

Dosso Moussa Kofamos (28): “Promoting Cote d’Ivoire fashion industry” – Top 10 of the Ivorian Fashion, Cote d’Ivoire
A pioneer in the niche of communication services specialized on the fashion industry in Côte d’Ivoire; Dosso’s event the “Top 10 of the Ivorian Fashion” gives the opportunity each year to reveal 20 young fashion designers and have younger models to integrate the environment.

N’Zore N’Doli Kouadio Germain (35): “Filling the gap in animal and fish proteins” – Douce Mer, Côte d’Ivoire
The deficit in animal and fish proteins is estimated at 40% of the population in Africa. The company Douce Mer sells frozen fish and meat on a wholesale and semi-wholesale basis to the populations of regions within Côte d’Ivoire. The company made it by establishing two business units that work with an economic interest grouping of 30 semi-wholesalers and 90 retailers.

Entrepreneurship

Bakayoko Mohamed Lamine (33): “Democratizing made-in-Africa coffee” – Avva Group, Côte d’Ivoire
Avva Group is a company that produces coffee mixed with local spices (kinkéliba, kanifi, ginger) giving it a fruity taste highly favored by locals. Avva has today 17 employees, including 30% women and an annual turnover of nearly 500,000 Euros. The company offers its coffee waste free of charge to local gardeners who use that as a potent organic fertilizer.

Vangsy Goma (31): “Simplifying individual mobility in Africa” – Africab, Congo / Côte d’Ivoire
Africab is an on-demand mobility app that wishes to revolutionize the transportation of people in Africa while providing stable employment for its drivers. The 150 Africab drivers describe themselves as pioneers in Côte d’Ivoire. With a digital community of more than 40,000 people, Africab celebrated its 15,000th ride in just 4 months of activity.

Hamidou Abdoulaye Nafissa (30): “Providing high-quality animal feed in Niger” – Salma, Niger
Born into a family of farmers and nomads (the Fulani’s), Hamidou Nafissa has always been fascinated by animals and loves taking care of them. Given this persistent problem; she founded Salma which specializes in the production and sale of high-quality animal feed made partly with local ingredients. The company owns sales outlets throughout the country to then sell its production.

Social Entrepreneurship

Hien Kouamé Christelle (33): “Access exercises of schools with the best national success rate” – Oniveau, Côte d’Ivoire
In Côte d’Ivoire, the median success rate over the last 5 years in the Baccalaureate (A-levels exam) is 31%. Out of 500,000 secondary school students, nearly 300,000 students do not pass to the next level. Oniveau is the online education platform that allows students to access exercises and homework of schools with the best national success rate in examinations. Parents and students can access Oniveau in 3 ways: web, print and physical exchanges.

Lalaye Didier (32): “Providing Free Bilharzia treatment from home” – Bilharzia Treatment, Chad / Holland
Lalaye Didier has created a mobile health truck that offers free laboratory screening and treatment of Bilharzia in the villages of the district of Torrock (50.000 habitants) in Chad. All parents wishing to undertake examinations for children with urinary problems send an SMS to a special number given to all. Appointments and samples are then taken, followed by results given by SMS. Those found positive receive their medications delivered directly to homes. To date, 1713 children have been screened and 432 successfully treated.

Tiam Calvin (29): “Manufacturing roof sheets made from recycled plastic waste” – TECO² project, Burkina Faso
Tiam Calvin realizated that the problems of thermal discomfort within habitats in sub-Saharan Africa and the rampant proliferation of plastic waste in nature could be addressed under a single project. To turn plastic waste into roof sheets; this is the mission he assigned himself with the TECO² project.

Public Service

Idoniyi Ademola Alexis (25): “The young expert at the service of all Beninese youth” – Youth Parliament of Benin, Benin
Idoniyi Ademola conduct social activities that allows youth from Benin to partake into the decision-making process in the municipality of Pobè and Benin in general, and allows them to get acquainted with the Youth Parliament of Benin and the Parliament of Francophone Youth.

Kadio Kadio Eric (28): “Organizational Development of UJPA” – Union of Young African Parliamentarians, Côte d’Ivoire / Morocco
The Union of Young African Parliamentarians (UJPA) brings together the youngest elected parliamentarians across the continent, centered on providing training and networking for young parliamentarians, and the design and implementation of socio-economic programs for African youth. In charge of the organizational and institutional development of UJPA, Kadio Eric has defined and executed the procedures leading up to the effectiveness of the Union, and the extension to new member countries to an effective 30 states to date.

Lawani Abdelaziz (33): “Manufacture and use of drones for the conservation of biodiversity” – The Drone Academy, Benin / USA
Lawani Abdelaziz uses drones to prevent, identify and fight against unsustainable illegal practices such as poaching, uncontrolled bush fires, overexploitation of timber and fish that affects biodiversity in W-Arly-Pendjary Parks (WAP), a complex of three protected areas in West Africa covering three countries: Benin, Burkina Faso and Niger. His ambition is to create the Drone Academy to train young people on the manufacturing and use of drones; the first initiative of its kind in West Africa.

Technology

N’Goua Aubin (29): “The popularization of solar energy” – Solar Box, Gabon
In Gabon, nearly 3,000 villages are not yet electrified. Solar Box Gabon rents and sells PV Solar Cubes that are particularly effective: “With the reflective rays that bounce off the walls of the cube, they provide three times more power than conventional solar panel.” says Aubin N’Goua. Solar Box Cubes can serve as the main energy source or as a replacement to generators, expensive and polluting for households and businesses through a subscription contract and varying monthly payments according to different formulas.

Poueme Serge (33): “Ensuring the Life cycle management of land by leveraging tech” – Camidus, Cameroon
Camidus has developed CALAR, a technology platform for the governance of the cadastre and land registry which combines geospatial data, cloud computing and mobile with the principles of urban planning.
The adoption of this type of technology could prevent land disputes; reduce processing times for land transactions including those related to obtaining a land title and to protect the property rights of citizens. To date, the company has achieved 5 major demonstrations, notably for Bangladesh and Nepal.

Aminata Sow (28): “Walking the informal sector participants towards the use of ICT solutions” – Genius Family, Senegal
The informal sector is a heavy part of the Senegalese economy. It occupies 45% of the active population and accounts for over 40% of GDP. Genius Family offers web, mobile, SMS and app solutions tailored to the needs of informal participants such as the ability to have a traceability of their business transactions from their smartphone or computer. The company is present in 5 cities of Senegal and ambitions to deploy in the West Africa region soon.

Favorites of the Jury

Berthe Wothian Hossein (32): “Milking together” – Veterinarian, Cote d’Ivoire
A veterinary assistant by training, Berthe Hossein’s company is involved in the production, processing and marketing of milk and other cow by-products. With a herd of 25 cows, the company is in its start-up phase with a daily production of 300 liters of milk. In addition to milk production, future derivatives will include yoghurt mixed with ginger, mint, hibiscus, attiéké, and Gambia tea – local flavors well appreciated by West African populations.

Nguyen Giang-Huong (32): “Exploring the rich archives of the French Vietnamese writer Pham Van Ky (1916-1992)” – Librarian, Vietnam / France
It was during her PhD on the Vietnamese francophone literature of the 20th century that Nguyen Huong discovered the manuscript collection of the writer Pham Van Ky. Today as Collections Supervisor at the National Library of France, Nguyen Huong works to bring out of the shadow this distinguished writer, Grand Novel Prize by the French Academy in 1961 who devoted his entire life to study the Eastern-Western culture meeting to offer a vision of a harmonious balance between cultures.

Fatoumata Kebe (31): “Teaching astronomy in popular areas and sensitive areas of the Paris region” – Astronaut, Mali / France
A Doctoral student in astronomy at the University Pierre et Marie Curie and the Paris Observatory, Kebe Fatoumata teaches astronomy in popular and sensitive areas in France, to enable young people to have the courage, energy and ambition to live their passion.

For More Information:

Visit the Official Webpage of the

 

0 comments
0 FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail
Blog

Top African investors and entrepreneurs to speak at #DEMOAfrica2016

by lanredahunsi
written by lanredahunsi

PRESS RELEASE

Top African investors and entrepreneurs to speak at #DEMOAfrica2016

August 9, 2016, Nairobi, Kenya: Top African investors and entrepreneurs are set to take centre stage at the DEMO Africa 2016 event to share some insights around business growth and development of entrepreneurial skills.

The event is scheduled from 22nd to 26th August 2016 in Johannesburg, South Africa. The series of events, which include an entrepreneur bootcamp and a series of master-classes will be hosted in collaboration with the City of Johannesburg, the South African Department of Science and Technology (DST) and the LIONS@FRICA partners.

Now in its fifth year, DEMO Africa is one of the flagship initiatives of LIONS@frica and aims to
connect African startups to the global ecosystem. DEMO Africa is the place where the most
innovative companies from African countries get a platform to launch their products and announce to Africa and the world what they have developed.

The initiative has hosted 150 startups in the past four years raising more than US$14million in both investment and business value. “We have seen series impact in the last 4 years, one of the startups launched in 2014 has since gone to raise more than US$2 million and employed more than 150 people,” said Harry Hare, Executive Director, DEMO Africa.

This year’s event will feature some of the most prominent investors and entrepreneurs from
Africa and the organizer’s hope to see deals being signed at the event. “It will be good to see
some deals being made on the floor of the event. We have created a special area, which we call
the “DealZone” where investors and entrepreneurs can have investment discussions,” said a
source from DEMO Africa.

Some of the speakers who will also provide feedback to the launching startups include:

  • Marcello Schermer: Regional Manager for Africa at Seedstars World
  • Arthur Goldstuck: Arthur Goldstuck heads the World Wide Worx research organisation,
  • Eric Osiakwan: Managing Partner, Chanzo Capital
  • Lexi Novitske
  • Marquise Stillwell:Founder & Principal, OpenBox
  • Ralesheba Moeng: Partner, CVC Africa Capital Partners
  • Toby Shapshak: Editor/Publisher, Stuff Magazine
  • Stephen Ozoigbo: Founder/CEO African Technology Foundation
  • Megan Edmonds
  •  Wim van der Beek: Founder and Managing Partner, Goodwell Investments
  • Harry Hare: CEO and Executive Producer, DEMO Africa
  • Yaron Assabi: Founder, Digital Solutions Group
  • Vincent Kouwenhoven: Foun
  • Amrote Abdella, Reginal Director, Africa initiatives at Microsoft
  • der – Investment Director, eVA Fund
  • Aaron Fu: Managing Partner (Africa), NEST VC
  • Bunmi Okunowo: National Coordinator,(OIIE),(NITDA)
  • Thomas Debass: Deputy Special Representative for Global Partnerships
  • Llew Claasen: Executive Director Bitcoin Foundation & Venture Capitalist
  • Eghosa Omoigui: General Partner –EchoVC Partners
  • David van Djik

DEMO Africa 2016 saw over 700 technology startups from 27 African countries apply to launch at the event. They were then narrowed down to 30 start-ups with South Africa having the highest representation of up to 11 startups followed by Nigeria 6, Kenya 5 and Ghana 3.For the first time Morocco will have a representative in the continental faire. Other countries include Egypt, Tanzania, Uganda, and Rwanda.

The 30 finalist startups have products in 11 verticals including logistics, retail, ecommerce, education, banking and finance, media, renewable energy, health and agriculture. Banking and
financial technologies had the highest number of entries followed by media, e-commerce and
education.

About DEMO Africa

DEMO Africa is one of the flagship initiatives of LIONS@frica and aims to connect African startups to the global ecosystem. DEMO Africa is the place where the most innovative companies from African countries get a platform to launch their products and announce to Africa and the world what they have developed.

DEMO Africa allows start-ups from all over Africa to meet VCs, investors, tech acquisition specialists, IT buyers and media from across the region and around the globe. The Start-ups are given an opportunity to launch their products to a tech eco-system.

0 comments
0 FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail
Blog

President Obama Announces Millennium Challenge Corporation’s New Youth Initiative, Africa’s Promise

by lanredahunsi
written by lanredahunsi

New program will empower African youth through internship opportunities across Africa

WASHINGTON – Starting next summer, African youth will have an opportunity to gain technical and leadership skills through a new Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) internship program, Africa’s Promise. MCC’s new initiative, announced today by President Obama at a Young African Leaders Initiative (YALI) town hall in Washington, D.C., will expand opportunities for youth ages 18 to 35 across Africa. Approximately 60 percent of Africa’s total population is below the age of 35.

Africa’s Promise interns will support large-scale development projects that make up MCC-funded compact programs with a focus on reducing poverty through economic growth. Interns will learn best practices on project management – including financial and public sector management – in the local country context and be exposed to targeted professional development and networking opportunities in both the public and private sectors.

“By increasing opportunities for young men and women across Africa to gain important job skills, MCC is supporting and empowering them to build a better tomorrow for their communities,” MCC Chief Executive Officer Dana J. Hyde said. “For Africa to reach its full potential, it will need experienced public sector leaders who can write the next chapter in Africa’s story.”

Africa’s Promise internships will be established and run by the host government implementing entity for MCC compacts, typically known as a Millennium Challenge Account (MCA). Internships will start in the summer of 2017 in MCC’s respective MCA offices across Africa, which may include countries like Benin, Ghana, Liberia, Malawi, Morocco, Niger and Zambia. Interns will support the implementation of MCC projects in areas like clean water, electricity, land rights and education. Through its investments, MCC expands access to vital services and connects people to jobs, markets and opportunities.

yali

 

MCC forms partnerships with some of the world’s poorest countries, but only those committed to good governance, economic freedom, and investments in their citizens. Before a country can become eligible for assistance, MCC’s Board of Directors examines its performance on third-party indicators like government effectiveness, control of corruption, and gender in the economy, and selects compact-eligible countries based on policy performance. The Africa’s Promise program will further MCC’s work to create new opportunities for economic growth and poverty reduction while delivering development assistance that promotes sound policy reforms.

Source: MCC Blog

0 comments
0 FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail
Blog

Coca-Cola Scholarship Program Welcomes 100 Students from Middle East and North Africa to the U.S.A

by lanredahunsi
written by lanredahunsi

A group of 100 aspiring young entrepreneurs from across the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region embarked recently on a trip of a lifetime as part of the Coca-Cola MENA Scholarship Program, a monthlong educational initiative developed with the U.S. Department of State and the Kelley School of Business at Indiana University.

Now in its fifth year, the program brings together future leaders from seven territories who were selected from more than 6,000 applicants to learn business and social entrepreneurship skills and pursue their professional dreams. Each of the seven territories participating in the program – Algeria, Egypt, Jordan, Morocco, Palestine, Pakistan and Tunisia – are sending 14 students to participate in the MENA Scholarship Program at Kelley School of Business’ Global Business Institute. 

The budding entrepreneurs will enjoy an intensive curriculum led by faculty members at the Kelley School of Business before participating in a business plan competition to demonstrate the skills learned throughout the program. Following the month at IU, the students will visit the U.S. Department of State and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce in Washington D.C., before travelling to Atlanta to meet with senior leaders at Coca-Cola headquarters and tour the World of Coca-Cola.

A total of almost 400 university students have participated since 2012, with program alumni securing more than 70 higher education scholarships. Almost 80 scholars have started their own businesses in diverse fields such as technology, travel and tourism, marketing, hospitality and environmental services.

The 2016 scholars were chosen following a rigorous selection process after submitting a business idea to “Make Tomorrow Better” in their home countries. Applicants submitted more than 6,000 ideas on an online platform which was visited by more than 1.6 million registered users across the world who voted for their favorites. Partners at the U.S. Embassies and Consulates in each of the participating countries then chose the winners from a shortlist of 800 ideas.

“The MENA region has an incredibly young and fast-growing population, and empowering the region’s youth will be essential to ensuring long-term economic and social prosperity,” said Curt Ferguson, president of the MENA Business Unit at The Coca-Cola Company. “The Coca-Cola Company has a deep commitment to each of the local communities in which we operate and we are delighted to be welcoming the latest group of young entrepreneurs and their ambitions to ‘Make Tomorrow Better’.”

Reflecting on Indiana University’s experiences to date, Idie Kesner, Dean of the Kelley School of Business, said

“Over the past five years, we have welcomed almost 400 incredibly talented young people with great vision at Kelley Global Business Institute who we have had the pleasure of both teaching and learning from during our time together. The curriculum has been deliberately designed to expose the students to U.S. business practice and culture, and to build connections across their respective countries, equipping them to compete in a hyper-connected world. We are excited to meet the next generation of future leaders from this vibrant region and to host them here at the Kelley School of Business at Indiana University, home to one of the most respected entrepreneurship programs in the United States.”

Source: Coca Cola Blog
0 comments
0 FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail
BlogNigeria

She Leads Africa Announces First Cohort for the SLA Accelerator Programme

by lanredahunsi
written by lanredahunsi

She Leads Africa has announced ten early stage businesses have been accepted into the 2016 SLA Accelerator Programme which began on July 11th in Lagos, Nigeria. She Leads Africa has partnered with the Work in Progress! Alliance (VC4Africa and Oxfam) and Guaranty Trust Bank to create a 3-month accelerator program designed to identify, support and fund the next generation of Nigeria’s brightest female entrepreneurs.
This year She Leads Africa received applications from over 120 startups from across Nigeria. The selected entrepreneurs were evaluated based on their traction and progress in the market, management team and vision to grow and scale across Africa.

The selected businesses are:

  • Fresh Direct Produce and Agro-Allied Services – An eco-friendly social enterprise that produces premium organic produce through hydroponics and community action.

  • DeliveryBros – Helps you save time and stress through pickup and drops from the market to your house or office.

  • VivaSante – Solves the medical industry’s procurement problem, by providing a technology enabled distribution solution resulting in transparency and simplicity.

  • Koko’s Kitchen – An indigenous brand of confectionary dry mixes specially to suit the taste buds and pocketbook of the quintessential person on the go.

  • Bubble Tii – Bringing the Bubble Tea phenomena to Africa.

  • Shuttlers – Enables professionals to access comfortable and efficient transportation to and from work using seat matching technology.

  • Keek’s – Designs tailored weight loss packages for busy women who a plan that is both effective and simple to implement.

  • Native Bukka – A chain of Afrocentric quick service restaurants that specialize in exceptionally good bukka food served fresh all day for busy individuals on the go.

  • BathKandy Co. – Creates sumptuous dessert-inspired beauty treats for women who crave the finer things.

  • Independent Personal Assistant (iPA) – Provides strategic virtual assistance to high-level executives across Africa. We take care of the mundane while you focus on what matters.

Accelerator participants will spend the next three months working on their business strategy and growth, while networking with investors and potential partners.  

Experts and program mentors include Chudi Amu, Vice President of Investment at Verod Capital; Shirley Somuah, Investor at Cardinal Stone Partners; Seun Abolaji, Creative Director at Wilson’s Juice Company; and Tunde Kehinde and Ercin Eskin, Cofounders of ACE.

The entrepreneurs will have the opportunity to pitch their businesses at an investor Demo Day in October and compete for N2 million investment from She Leads Africa along with other business support services.

She Leads Africa has many programs aimed at supporting and investing in smart and ambitious young African women. Those interested in learning more about these opportunities and joining the She Leads Africa community can join here.  

 

0 comments
0 FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail
Blog

DEMO Africa releases 2016 list of Top 30 Finalist Startups

by lanredahunsi
written by lanredahunsi

July 18, 2016 Nairobi, Kenya: Demo Africa, the continent’s premier launch pad for emerging technologies and trends has today released the list of its final 30 startups that will launch at this year’s DEMO Africa conference in Johannesburg, 25th

The finalists were picked from a record 723 technology startups from 27 African countries that applied to launch at the event. Out of the 30, South Africa is represented by 11 startups, Nigeria 6,Kenya 5 and Ghana 3. For the first time Morocco will have a representative in the continental faire. Other countries include Egypt, Tanzania, Uganda, and Rwanda.

“The entries this year certainly kept up with the DEMO Africa spirit to produce innovative and creative ideas that are bound to transform the technology landscape and we are excited by the growth of innovation and technological advancement in Africa as portrayed by our finalists,” said Harry Hare, DEMO Africa Executive Producer while congratulating the finalists.

The 30 finalist startups have products in 11 verticals including logistics, retail, ecommerce,
education, banking and finance, media, renewable energy, health and agriculture. Banking and financial technologies had the highest number of entries followed by media, ecommerce and education.

The adjudication process which began mid-June 2016, involved a series of activities with a continental jury. “The adjudication process involves a review of the documentation submitted by the startups, a review of their online properties, and testing some of the applications that are online, but the judges also look at the innovation, viability and the product – market fit,” said Mbugua Njihia, the Event Director.

“It was difficult to come up with this list,” said Harry Hare, Executive Director, DEMO Africa.
“Any of the short-listed companies could make an impression on the DEMO Africa stage due to the quality and their potential. But we can only have 30 companies. I would like to congratulate all the companies that participated and encourage them to continue building their business,” Hare continued.

The DEMO Africa 2016 conference, which will take place from 25 to attract venture capitalists, angel Investors, investment fund managers tech buyers, entrepreneurs, innovation supporters & media from various parts of the world.

This year’s event is supported by the LIONS@frica Partners, City of Johannesburg, the South African Department of Science and Technology. Other partners include Google, The World Bank, and African Technology Foundation.

DEMO Africa 2016 list of finalist startups

  1. Grid Supply Chain
  2. Loystar
  3. Iyris KO Ltd
  4. Cocktail Insights
  5. Boresha Limited
  6. Ujuzi Software Solutions
  7. MumsVillage Ltd
  8. Strauss Energy
  9. IT Brothers
  10. Nextwi
  11. Solstice HES
  12. WESABI
  13. ArtNigeria
  14. Shuttlers
  15. Rubiqube Limited
  16. SharpHire Global Limited
  17. Vuga Ltd
  18. ConnectMed
  19. Reel Gardening
  20. SolarCap Pty Ltd
  21. RadioVybe
  22. Sortd
  23. ION Comsys
  24. Ekasi Energy
  25. 4th Element
  26. K Measure Pty Ltd
  27. Zivo Learning
  28. flexyPAY Intenational
  29. Telescrypts
  30. Lipa Mobile

About DEMO Africa

DEMO Africa is one of the flagship initiatives of LIONS@frica and aims to connect African startups to the global ecosystem. DEMO Africa is the place where the most innovative companies from African countries get a platform to launch their products and announce to Africa and the world what they have developed.

DEMO Africa allows start-ups from all over Africa to meet VCs, investors, tech acquisition specialists, IT buyers and media from across the region and around the globe. The Start-ups are given an opportunity to launch their products to a tech eco-system.

For More Information:

Visit the Official Webpage of DEMO Africa 2016

0 comments
0 FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail
eisenhower-fellowships
Blog

25 African Leaders Selected as 2016 Eisenhower Fellows

by lanredahunsi
written by lanredahunsi

Eisenhower Fellowships announces the selection of 25 visionary African leaders working in government, business and civil society across eight countries as 2016 Africa Program Eisenhower Fellows. These ascendant leaders, comprising Eisenhower Fellowships’ inaugural Africa Program, will embark on a seven-week journey throughout the United States to engage in a transformative exchange of knowledge and ideas with the leading minds in their fields.

“These innovative Fellows are united by their passion to benefit their countries and region by collaborating across disciplines to achieve their vision,” said General Colin L. Powell, USA (Ret), chairman of Eisenhower Fellowships (EF). “We welcome them into the Eisenhower Fellowships global network of influential leaders.”
As many African countries undergo seismic transitions, with unprecedented population growth bringing new demands for sustainable economic development, Eisenhower Fellowships will host the first program dedicated exclusively to Sub-Saharan Africa in EF’s 63-year history. The 25 Fellows work in fields ranging from agriculture, education and women’s leadership to banking, climate change, health and housing. They include social entrepreneurs seeking to strengthen the ecosystem for the growth of small and medium-size enterprises in the region.
To be held in the fall of 2016, the Africa Program is envisioned as the catalyst for a concerted five-year effort to engage EF’s global network and ignite change more deeply in Africa. Since its founding, EF has hosted a total of 182 African Fellows, the first one a Ghanaian diplomat, Frederick Arkhurst, in the very first class of Fellows in 1954.
The 2016 Africa Program Fellows were selected from a pool of more than 800 applicants. The selected Fellows are:
Ayodeji Adewunmi – Nigeria
Mieza Mea Alleah – Ghana
Shivon Byamukama – Rwanda
Lindelwa Farisani – South Africa
Miatta Gbanya – Liberia
Victoria Heilman – Tanzania
Jude Ilo – Nigeria
Brian Kirungi – Rwanda
Salim Mohamed – Kenya
Fatima Mohammed – Nigeria
Sabasaba Moshingi – Tanzania
Nuru Mugambi – Kenya
Edward Mungai – Kenya
Leonard Mungarulire – Rwanda
Sibu Myeni – South Africa
Tonee Ndungu – Kenya
Barbra Nyangairi – Zimbabwe 
Olusegun Olukoya – Nigeria
Okomboli Ongonga – Kenya
Yawa Hansen Quao – Ghana
Musa Salmanu – Nigeria
Lesego Sennelo – South Africa
Teddy Totimeh – Ghana
Maria Tsehai – Tanzania
James Wanjohi – South Africa

For a full bio of the Africa Fellows, click here.

“The 2016 Africa Program Fellows will play a key role in shaping, empowering and connecting the next generation of African leaders who will address the continent’s profound political, economic and social challenges,” said George de Lama, president of EF. “Our objective is to anchor Fellows from this initial Africa program firmly within the global EF network and deepen their engagement across the region.”
The Africa Fellows will launch their program with a week of activities in Philadelphia starting October 2, 2016, then proceed on individual journeys throughout the country visiting approximately 8 to10 cities and towns throughout the U.S. Their fellowship culminates with a series of public events in New York City the week of November 14.
The recruitment and selection of EF’s Africa Program Fellows was supported by the Africa Leadership Steering Committee, headed by Honorary Co-Chairs, Dr. Mohamed “Mo” Ibrahim, Founder and Chair of the Mo Ibrahim Foundation and 2014 recipient of the Eisenhower Medal for Distinguished Leadership and Service, and Jendayi Frazer, former U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs, Senior Director of African Affairs at the National Security Council, and the first woman U.S. Ambassador to South Africa. They are joined by a select group of respected leaders and Eisenhower Fellows from Africa and the U.S.
Successful candidates for EF programs are exceptional leaders eager to advance their personal and professional growth, who can articulate how the fellowship will serve them to produce impactful change and who commit to lifelong engagement with the organization and its nearly 1,500 active Fellows around the world. Fellows apply what they learn from their peers and in their meetings with experts in their respective fields to maximize their potential and produce sustained impact through their fellowship experience and collaboration within the EF global network.
Source: EF World Blog
0 comments
0 FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail
Blog

DEMO Africa 2016 shortlists 131 companies on its first round of adjudication

by lanredahunsi
written by lanredahunsi

Nairobi, June 22nd 2016, DEMO Africa 2016 has short listed a total of 131 startups during its first round of adjudication.

The 131 applications were narrowed down from 723 applications that were submitted.

The applications were received from 46 countries, a more than 30% increase from last year’s event which had attracted 26 countries.

“We are very excited at the response we received from the startups and startup owners.
This goes to show how DEMO Africa is becoming a critical piece of the entrepreneurship
development agenda in the continent,” said Mr. Harry Hare, Executive Director, DEMO
Africa.

Nigeria had the highest number of applications at 217, followed by Kenya at 154 and South
Africa at 104. Other countries that had a good showing were Uganda at 23 applications,
Cameroon 17, Ghana 16, Zimbabwe 14, Egypt and Tanzania 12, Ivory Coast 8, Ethiopia 7,
Zambia and Rwanda submitted 6 applications each.

This year, DEMO Africa also attracted participation of African diaspora entrepreneurs with those in the US topping the list at 15 applications and Belgium 4.

Applications were also received from other countries outside Africa and these include the
United Arab Emirates, Netherlands, South Korea, Costa Rica and Afghanistan.

“In the past four years, we have been reaching more people and more countries year on
year, spreading the entrepreneurship spirit throughout the continent,” Mr. Hare continued.

Out of the 131 companies the judges will have to narrow down and identify only 30 companies who will then launch their products at the DEMO Africa platform in Johannesburg, South Africa on 25th and 26th August.

Twelve judges from across the continent are currently reviewing the applications and will
later short list 50 startups that will then go into the next round of adjudication.
Speaking on the same, Mr. Mbugua Njihia, Event Director, DEMO Africa said,

“We have developed a 3 tier adjudication process that makes sure we have the companies with the highest potential to have the opportunity to launch their business and products at the DEMO Africa platform.”

The adjudication process will continue until the end of June and the announcement of the
final 30 is expected in the first week of July.

About DEMO Africa

DEMO Africa is one of the flagship initiatives of LIONS@frica and aims to connect African startups to the global ecosystem. DEMO Africa is the place where the most innovative companies from African countries get a platform to launch their products and announce to Africa and the world what they have developed.

DEMO Africa allows start-ups from all over Africa to meet VCs, investors, tech acquisition specialists, IT buyers and media from across the region and around the globe. The Start-ups are given an opportunity to launch their products to a tech eco-system.

For More Information:

Visit the Official Webpage of 2016 DEMO Africa

0 comments
0 FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail
Blog

DEMO Africa re-introduces the Alpha Pitch in Johannesburg

by lanredahunsi
written by lanredahunsi

Press Release: Nairobi, June 8th 2016,

DEMO Africa 2016 will re-introduce the Alpha Pitch in this year’s launch event in Johannesburg, South Africa. The announcement was made in Lagos, Nigeria by Mr. Mbugua Njihia, the Event Director after presiding over the Nigeria Edition of the Innovation Tours at the iDEA Hub.

The Alpha Pitch is an elevator pitch that targets younger entrepreneurs who are
still working on their business ideas.

“We have a huge pipeline of venture and we are looking for new ways of getting more venture on stage so that they can get the exposure they need and also network with potential investors,” Mr Njihia said.

According to the organisers, over 500 ventures have applied to launch with a week to go. So far we have more than 500 applications in the system and we are seeing an increase in the speed of applications coming in as we near the deadline,” said Hany Zuhudi, the Community Manager at DEMO Africa.

The application window closes on the 15th of June ushering a rigorous adjudication
process which is expected to take upto 3 weeks.

The final companies to launch their products at the DEMO Africa stage will then be announced early in July.

This year’s DEMO Africa launch event will be held at the Sandton Convention
Centre in Johannesburg, South Africa on 25th and 26th August 2016.

The event is held in collaboration with the LIONS@frica partners, the City of Johannesburg and the South African Department of Science and Technology.

More than 600 people are expected to attend this year’s event.

About DEMO Africa

DEMO Africa is one of the flagship initiatives of LIONS@frica and aims to connect African startups to the global ecosystem. DEMO Africa is the place where the most innovative companies from African countries get a platform to launch their products and announce to Africa and the world what they have developed.

DEMO Africa allows start-ups from all over Africa to meet VCs, investors, tech acquisition
specialists, IT buyers and media from across the region and around the globe. The Start-
ups are given an opportunity to launch their products to a tech eco-system.

For More Information:

Visit the Official Webpage of DEMO Africa 2016

0 comments
0 FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail
Blog

2016 Global Innovation Through Science and Technology (GIST) Tech-I Finalists Announced!

by lanredahunsi
written by lanredahunsi

Following a record number of votes, applications, and expert reviews, the U.S. Department of State, GIST initiative, and the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) are proud to announce the 2016 GIST Tech-I Finalists.

The 2016 GIST Tech-I Finalists representing 24 countries are:

TOP 15 IDEA STAGE FINALISTS

  • Omesmus Emeka, Kenya
  • Nikoloz Gachechiladze, Georgia
  • Layth Hamad, Jordan
  • Saima Hanif, Pakistan
  • Sana Hawasly, Syria
  • Sabina Ismailova, Kazakhstan
  • Ivan Jovanov, Serbia
  • Diego López Olivares, Ecuador
  • Maher Yousef Maymoun, Jordan
  • Musawwir Muhtar, Indonesia
  • Nnenna Chioma Okoye, Nigeria
  • Mary Christine Ong-Reyes, Philippines
  • Samina Sarwat, Bangladesh
  • Leyla Taghizade, Azerbaijan
  • Clarisse Uwineza, Rwanda

TOP 15 STARTUP STAGE FINALISTS

  • Levon Aramyan, Armenia
  • Tania Lorena Cabrera Sanzon, Colombia
  • Jorge Daniel Cespedes Vega, Paraguay
  • Yap Chee Wei, Malaysia
  • Hoang Dao, Vietnam
  • Destiny Frederick, Nigeria
  • Amr Hussein Mohamed Hussein, Egypt
  • Ricardo Jaramillo Gaviria, Colombia
  • Yessica López Coyotzi, Mexico
  • Mykhailo Lytovchenko, Ukraine
  • Waqas Muhammad, Pakistan
  • Alexander Pizarro, Peru
  • Samid Razzak, Bangladesh
  • Jigme Tenzin, Bhutan
  • Charity Wanjiku, Kenya

This year the GIST Tech-I Competition received a record 1,075 applications from 104 countries and territories. Over 140 regional, scientific, and entrepreneurship experts from around the world participated in the expert review round of the competition.

Following their assessment of each idea or startup’s technical feasibility, market potential, and significance, 102 impressive innovators from 51 emerging economies emerged as the 2016 GIST Tech-I Semifinalists. From April 1 through May 1, the 102 semifinalists embarked on a huge marketing campaign to advertise their projects and encourage people to vote on the GIST Tech-I Competition.

In total, GIST Tech-I Semifinalists received an amazing 431,655 votes. During the month of voting, semifinalists were recognized by government officials and business leaders and appeared on national and international television, in newspapers, in radio broadcasts, and on Voice of America. Their efforts and the incredible support they received highlight how amazing ideas and hard work can not only benefit an individual, but also a community, a country, a region, and the world as a whole.

  • The thirty GIST Tech-I Finalists (fifteen Idea stage and fifteen Startup stage) will now undergo web-based training prior to flying to Silicon Valley to participate in the Global Entrepreneurship Summit in June.
  • During this internationally prestigious event, these amazing up-and-coming innovators will receive two days of intensive entrepreneurial skills training, mentorship, and networking access to global leaders in their fields.
  • The GIST Tech-I Finals will culminate in an exciting live pitching event to decide who will return home with capital seed prizes to help grow their businesses

For More Information:

Visit the Official Webpage of the Global Innovation Through Science and Technology (GIST) Tech-I

0 comments
0 FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail
Blog

Press Release: eLearning Africa: Africa’s vision for education and how it will become reality

by OFA
written by OFA

More than 1200 international education and technology experts, advisers and investors will gather in Cairo in May to discuss how to turn the African Union’s vision of a “transformed continent” into reality. They will look at how developments in technology could enable education and training to boost growth and transform the lives and prospects of the next generation of Africans. The programme for the conference, which is published online today (Tuesday), is available at www.elearning-africa.com.

“New opportunities for expanding education and training are being created across Africa,” says Rebecca Stromeyer, the founder of eLearning Africa. “Everywhere, in every sector, technology is transforming the nature of learning, opening it up and creating new opportunities in both education and training. This is an extraordinarily exciting time for education everywhere. In Africa, the opportunity to create a massive transformation in the lives and prospects of tens of millions of people is enormous.

“The change is already happening. Technology is helping people to learn new skills and in many sectors, such as farming, it is beginning to make a huge difference. Technology-assisted learning has begun to make a significant contribution to economic growth in many countries. The pace of change is only going to quicken over the next decade and the effect will be astonishing. We really are going to see a new Africa, a transformed Africa.

“Education is at the heart of this change. eLearning Africa this year is all about a vision of Africa’s future and how we can make it happen. The African Union has set out its 2063 Vision but how can we turn it into reality? At the conference, we’ll be looking at what’s going on in both education and technology and how these developments can contribute to positive change and growth. It’ll be a very practical conference, featuring hundreds of presentations, proposals, products and solutions from experts and investors from all over the world.”

Themes up for discussion at the conference include the workplace skills of the future; changes in the nature and ownership of learning; improving access and creating new opportunities for students, teachers and trainers; innovation, emerging technologies; higher and further education; and the shape of African education institutions in the future.

Keynote speakers will include Dr Ismael Serageldin, Director of the Library of Alexandria; Professor Thierry Zomahoun, President of the African Institute for Mathematical Sciences; HE Dr Elham M.A. Ibrahim, Egypt’s Commissioner for Infrastructure and Energy; Günter Nooke, German Chancellor’s Personal Representative for Africa in the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development; Tarek Shawki, Dean of the School of Sciences and Engineering at the American University in Cairo; Toby Shapshak, Editor and Strategist;  Toyosi Akerele-Ogunsiji, CEO of the RISE Group; and Professor Sozinho Matsinhe of the Council for the Development of Social Science Research in Africa.

eLearning Africa is the continent’s largest conference on technology-assisted learning and training. It is accompanied a special Ministerial Round Table, at which education, technology and communications ministers discuss developments in education and future priorities.

For more information about the programme about the programme or the conference, please visit the website – www.elearning-africa.com.

0 comments
0 FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail
Blog

10 nominees announced for AIF’s Innovation Prize for Africa 2016

by OFA
written by OFA

Press Release:

African ingenuity this year showcases breakthroughs in malaria and other public health burdens, smart solutions for farmers and dynamic power initiatives.

The African Innovation Foundation (AIF)  today announced the top 10 nominees for its landmark programme, the Innovation Prize for Africa (IPA). Now celebrating its 5th year under the theme “Made in Africa”, IPA is the premier innovation initiative in the African continent, offering a grand share prize of US$150 000 and incentives to spur growth and prosperity in Africa through home-grown solutions.

“In the past five years, I’ve seen innovation grow from a mere buzzword to a sturdy path for African growth in multi-disciplinary industries across the continent. As Africans, we have the talent, potential and clout to solve our own problems with ingenuity too, and IPA is testimony of this,” said Pauline Mujawamariya Koelbl, IPA Director at the helm of this initiative since its launch in 2011.

The IPA has seen tremendous growth in applications and increasing interest from both innovators and innovation enablers over the years. To date, IPA has attracted more than 6 000 innovators from 50 African countries, making it a truly Pan African initiative. IPA 2016 attracted a record 3 600 plus innovators and received 985 successful submissions from 46 African countries. African ingenuity this year showcases new breakthroughs in malaria and other public health burdens, smart solutions for farmers and dynamic energy initiatives.

AIF will host the IPA 2016: Made in Africa awards ceremony and its first ever Innovation Ecosystems Connector on 22 and 23 June 2016 in Gaborone, Botswana. This premier innovation event has been endorsed by H.E. Lieutenant General Seretse Khama Ian Khama, the President of Botswana, who will preside at the Awards Ceremony. Collaborating partners include the Ministry of Infrastructure, Science and Technology (MIST), and the Botswana Innovation Hub (BIH).

Listed below are the top 10 IPA 2016 nominees. Prior to the final announcement at a special gala ceremony on 23 June 2016 at the Gaborone International Conference Centre (GICC), the expert panel of IPA judges will once again deliberate through live pitching sessions and one-on-ones with each nominee to select the top three winners.

Tackling malaria and other public health burdens

Dr. Eddy Agbo, Nigeria: Urine Test for Malaria (UMT)

Urine Test for Malaria (UMT) is a rapid non-blood diagnostic medical device that can diagnose malaria in less than 25 minutes. Africa has the highest number of malaria cases worldwide; more often than not, when fever is detected, anti-malaria medication is administered. However, the inability to quickly diagnose and commence malaria treatment can lead to various complications including kidney failure, build-up of lung fluid, aplastic anaemia and even death. UMT uses a dip-stick with accurate results in just 25 minutes. The technology detects malaria parasite proteins in the patient’s urine with fever due to malaria. The UMT is simple and affordable, and a potential game changer in managing malaria across Africa.

Valentin Agon, Benin: Api-Palu

Api-Palu is an anti-malaria drug treatment developed out of natural plant extract. It is significantly cheaper than available anti-malarial drugs, and has great inhibitory effects on 3D7 strains of plasmodium falciparum the causative agent of malaria. Sub-Saharan Africa is home to 88% of malaria cases and 90% of malaria deaths reported globally (WHO: 2015) with some African governments spending up to 40% of their public health budgets on malaria treatment. Api-Palu manifests as a fast rate of malaria parasite clearance from the blood following short term treatment, with relatively lower doses. It is available in tablets, capsules or syrup. The drug has been approved in Benin, Burkina Faso, Tchad, and Central Africa Republic because of its therapeutic and non-toxic effects.

Dr. Imogen Wright, South Africa: Exatype

Exatype is a software solution that enables healthcare workers to determine HIV positive patients’ responsiveness to ARV drug treatment. According to WHO, 71% of people living with HIV/AIDS reside in Africa. Until now, governments’ response has been to ensure access to treatment for all. However, a growing number of people on ARVs are resistant to drug regimens, leading to failure of the therapy, exacerbating the continent’s HIV/AIDS burden. Exatype processes the highly complex data produced by advanced “next-generation” DNA sequencing of the HIV DNA in a patient’s blood. Through a simple report, it detects drugs that are resistant to the patient, then highlights the need to avoid these to ensure successful treatment. Exatype has the potential to contribute towards effectively managing HIV/AIDS in Africa, and also holds promise in helping detect drug resistance for other disease burdens such as Tuberculosis (TB) and malaria.

Dr. Kit Vaughan, South Africa: Aceso

Aceso is an imaging technology, capable of performing full-field digital mammography and automated breast ultrasound at the same time, dramatically improving breast cancer detection. Annually, there are more than half a million cancer deaths in Africa and these numbers are expected to double in the next three decades. If diagnosed early enough, the cancer can be treated successfully. However, because 40% of women have dense tissue, their cancers cannot be seen on X-ray. Furthermore, a false negative finding can have devastating consequences. Aceso is a single device that can acquire dual-modality images – full-field digital mammography and automated breast ultrasound – at the same time. This world first system is protected by international patents and has been successfully tested in two separate clinical trials with 120 women.

Design architecture and learning platforms

Dr. Youssef Rashed, Egypt: The Plate Package (PLPAK)

The Plate Package (PLPAK) is a robust software solution that assesses the architecture of building plans or technical drawings, determining structural integrity of the end design. PLPAK applies the boundary element based method to analyse and view practical design on building foundations and slabs. This enables engineers to represent building slabs over sophisticated foundation models easily, building information modelling techniques and eliminating human error.  With the rapid growth of African cities, there is increased demand for infrastructural developments to support the growing population. The infrastructure system in Africa, especially building architecture, tends to go untested due to huge associated costs in verifying structure integrity, and can lead to the collapse of buildings with many deaths. PLPAK addresses this through its low-cost, easy to use but world class tool.

Godwin Benson, Nigeria: Tuteria

Tuteria is an innovative peer-to-peer learning online platform that allows people who want to learn any skill, whether formal or informal, to connect with anyone else in proximity who is offering that skill. For instance, a student needing math skills can connect online with someone in their vicinity offering remedial classes in mathematics. The tutors and the learners form an online community that connects them, and once a fit is established, they meet offline for practical exchange. Both tutors and learners are thoroughly vetted to ensure safety, accountability and a quality learning experience. Globally, conventional methods of education and learning are transitioning from centralized to distributed, and from standardized to personalized. Such trends have resulted in better learning outcomes. Tuteria fits in well with this model, and has been highly recommended by the IPA judges for the African continent.

Smart farming solutions

Olufemi Odeleye, Nigeria: The Tryctor

The Tryctor is a mini tractor modelled on the motorcycle. By attaching various farming implements, it can carry out similar operations as a conventional tractor to a smaller scale. Farming for most small scale farmers in the continent is tough, laborious and characterized by low productivity. Small scale farmers are constrained by the costs involved in switching to mechanized agriculture and use of heavy equipment. However, through inspired alterations to a motorcycle’s engine, gearing system and chassis, this innovation has made it possible to mechanize agriculture in Africa for small scale farmers in a way that was previously inaccessible. Additionally, the Tryctor is easy to use and cheaper to maintain as 60% of its parts and components are locally sourced.  The IPA judges were captivated by the clever adaptation of a motorized solution that is ubiquitous in Africa, largely for transportation to a solution for mechanized farming for small scale farmers.

Samuel Rigu, Kenya: Safi Sarvi Organics

Safi Sarvi Organics is a low-cost fertilizer made from purely organic products and waste from farm harvests, designed to improve yields for farmers by up to 30%. Rural farmers in sub-Saharan Africa pay huge costs for fertilizer, which is often produced abroad and imported. Owing to such high costs farmers can only afford the cheap, synthetic, and acidulated fertilizer varieties. In many areas where the soil is inherently acidic, use of acidulated fertilizers can lead to long-term soil degradation and yield loss, at about four percent per year. Safi Sarvi costs the same as traditional fertilizers, can reverse farmers’ soil degradation and lead to improved yield and income. The product uses biochar-based fertilizer which can counteract soil acidity, retaining nutrients and moisture in the soil. Additionally, the carbon-rich fertilizer removes carbon from the atmosphere by at least 2.2 tons of carbon dioxide equivalent per acre of farm per year.

Dynamic energy initiatives

Andre Nel, South Africa: Green Tower

Green Tower is an off-grid water heating and air conditioning solution based on solar power that uses advanced thermos-dynamics to create up to 90% savings in electricity consumption.  Water heating and air conditioning systems can account up to 60% of energy consumption in a home or building. There are a number of heating and cooling systems in the market, but few that have demonstrated consistency in efficiencies regardless of weather conditions. The Green Tower improves efficiency of a solar heat pump with solar thermal collectors, low pressure storage tanks and heat exchangers. With Africa’s middle class rapidly growing and demand for energy outstripping supply, this initiative has the potential for large scale roll out. Green Tower can conserve limited energy resources, diverting them from heating and cooling systems to more productive industries.

Johan Theron, South Africa:  PowerGuard

PowerGuard enables consumers to determine the maximum amount of power supply required for daily operations. Consumers can thus reduce their power demand, especially during peak times, leading to a more efficient power supply, and helping to reduce power cuts. PowerGuard addresses electricity fluctuations, and power delivery and supply challenges by reducing the peaks, relieving pressure on the electricity network. Consumers can set their own maximum peak power usage needs. This technology substantially reduces load shedding and power rationing, diverting power to more productive industries. Africa faces a high demand for grid power, but with limited resources and an aging infrastructure, the existence of a smart grid can help reduce the pressure on existing infrastructure while moving the continent slowly towards renewable energy.

Walter Fust, Chairman of the AIF Board was impressed by the level of submissions for IPA 2016: “As we celebrate the five year IPA journey, our mission to engage, inspire and transform is evident in the IPA process – from the growing registrations, to the level of talent and ingenuity we see in the nominees, as well as the enthusiasm from our expert judges in seeing these innovations at work to solve some of Africa’s intractable challenges. Now while we await announcement of the winner, we call on all innovation enablers to join hands with us to unlock the potential of these nominees.”

For More Information:

Visit the Official Webpage of the AIF’s Innovation Prize for Africa 2016

0 comments
0 FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail
carnegie-african-diaspora-fellowship-program
Blog

Carnegie African Diaspora Program Selects 59 Diaspora Fellows to Conduct Projects with 41 African Universities.

by OFA
written by OFA

 

This summer, 59 African-born scholars based in the United States and Canada will travel to Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria, South Africa, Tanzania and Uganda for 14-90 days to conduct academic projects with their peers at host universities in those countries. The Carnegie African Diaspora Fellowship Program (CADFP) Advisory Council announced today that it has selected forty-one African universities to host the Fellows, based on collaborative project proposals submitted by faculty members and administrators at the African universities, to meet specific needs at their universities. The visiting fellows will work with their hosts on a range of projects across disciplines, from agroforestry to e-learning modules for nursing, and from ethnomusicology to military mental health.

The Carnegie African Diaspora Fellowship Program, now in its third year, is designed to avert Africa’s brain drain, build capacity at the host institutions, and develop long-term, mutually-beneficial collaborations between universities in Africa and the United States and Canada. It is funded by Carnegie Corporation of New York and managed by the Institute of International Education (IIE) in collaboration with United States International University-Africa (USIU-Africa) in Nairobi, Kenya, which houses the Advisory Council.

This new round of Fellowships will support several projects that involve more than one host institution, to encourage cooperation among African universities. Several program alumni will also receive support, to enable them to build on previous successful collaborations to advance the projects and deepen the ties among the faculty members and their home and host institutions. Selected projects include:

  • KCA University and African Nazarene University will join together to host a fellow who will hold seminars on research methodology and develop modules to train early career faculty on how to mentor graduate students and write and manage grants.
  • A group of animal scientists will travel to the University of Nairobi to focus on building capacity in animal genetics and genomics: developing certificate and Masters’ programs and expanding joint research; teaching a regional post-graduate course for scientists from East and Central Africa; developing and providing software for laboratory use; improving the use of mobile health technology; and developing budgets and infrastructure.
  • A theater professor from St. Louis will spend three months in University of the Western Cape in South Africa as a returning Fellow to complete the staging of an original musical he is producing based on the life of Mariam Makeba, a South African singer and civil rights activist nicknamed Mama Africa. “Zenzi, The Musical” is scheduled to premiere at his host university in Cape Town in May and move to his home university in the United States in September.

Fellowships match host universities with African-born scholars, and cover the expenses for the visiting scholars including transportation, a daily stipend, and the cost of obtaining visas and health insurance. A total of 169 Fellows have now been selected since the program’s inception in 2013.

Source: IIE

0 comments
0 FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail
Blog

Africa is where it’s at – Toby Shapshak

by OFA
written by OFA

What after all is innovation? It’s finding a new way to do something, or provide a service, sometimes entirely novel, sometimes combining two existing things.”
Toby Shapshak, keynote speaker at this year’s eLearning Africa, columnist, strategist, editor of Stuff.com Magazine and contributor to CNN, The Guardian and Forbes, believes Africa is a mobile-driven continent. He shared some of his insights with us regarding innovation at the cutting edge in Africa.

It is already the most overused word since Web 2.0, so how can we take anything that involves “innovation” seriously anymore?

Just about everyone has expropriated the word as an inexact synonym for everything from rebranding products to launching new financial services.

While in some instances it might be true – South African banks like FNB provide clever services and apps, for instance – mostly “innovation” is a tired, misappropriated and sadly misunderstood word. But not everywhere.

In some places, innovation is thriving. There’s a phrase that you’ll hear in a myriad of industries – from high-tech start-ups to global restaurant chains – which quite correctly argues that innovation happens at the edge.

Of course it’s happening at the edge, the middle is contentedly watching television and smugly playing Angry Birds. The biggest edge in the world right now is the developing world, especially Africa.

What after all is innovation? It’s finding a new way to do something, or provide a service, sometimes entirely novel, sometimes combining two existing things. But always, solving a problem.

If invention was discovering something for the first time, such as electricity or the light bulb, innovation is discovering a new way of doing something novel or unique.

For want of a better word, let’s call it innovation. Because that’s what it is. In Africa, we’re seeing innovation of the purest form: innovation out of necessity.

If you have a problem to solve, you solve that problem. Just ask any of the one billion people who live in Africa and for whom daily problems are forgotten, taken-for-granted services such as constant electricity, superfast internet access, running water, e-commerce delivery and how to eat every day.

Entrepreneurs

African entrepreneurs have created ways that allow farmers to check where they can get the best price for their produce (M-Farm and Farmerline), fishermen to be warned about storms, people to check whether expensive medicines are expired or still active (mPedigree), and rural cellphone users to send mobile money to each other using text messages (M-Pesa). Even the pay-as-you-go payment system was pioneered in Africa by Vodacom in the 1990s.

Africa is at the forefront of the world’s innovation frontier not because it wants to be, but because it is the epicentre of some of the most pressing problems that the developing world is facing.

The next great genius that will be heralded around the world will not be a Steve Jobs or a Mark Zuckerberg, they will be a Nikola Tesla or a Thomas Edison.

The biggest problems the world will face, which the developing world faces right now, are access to power. More people in Africa have a mobile phone than access to electricity.

Fossil fuels are expected to run out sometime in the next hundred years and have already spawned a volatile, war-starting, corruption-enabling mega-industry.

The nuclear power industry is never going to be widespread or improve on its massive radioactive waste output, to be an efficient, economical alternative. Nor will disasters such as Chernobyl or the Tsunami-exposed incompetence of Japanese power utilities help the cause.

Along with food security and access to water, these are the three big global problems that future world wars will be fought over. Just like a science fiction graphic novel 2000AD, our descendants in hundreds of years will fight wars over water, food and power.

The African answer

There is, incidentally, the South African-born genius revolutionising the two biggest dependents of the oil economy: motor cars and homes. Elon Musk, the Pretoria school boy who sold PayPal to eBay, is now building multiple other empires: in electric cars with Tesla, space-flight with SpaceX and solar-power with Solar City.

And, when an over-budgeted, slower-than-air-travel high-speed rail link between San Francisco and Los Angeles irritates him, he comes up with a sci-fi alternative (called a Hyperloop) that will cost a tenth of the price.

No wonder the Iron Man filmmakers chose real-life genius, billionaire inventor Musk for the inspiration for the fictional genius, billionaire inventor Tony Stark.

Musk will come a close second to Jobs and Tesla when historians calculate which man has revolutionised the most industries.

While Tesla’s eccentric brand of genius and fear of being duped into selling his patents (which was done to him by both Edison and Westinghouse) meant many of his industry changing ideas never made it to market, Jobs’ legacy is certain.

First he revolutionised the personal computer with the Macintosh, then digital (iTunes) and portable (iPod) music, adding in smartphones (iPhone), tablets (iPad) and the apps economy that now run all of these.

Musk has micropayments (eBay) under his belt, but is triumphing in electric cars (Tesla now has 8% of the US luxury car market) and space travel (SpaceX has docked and returned from the International Space Station, and his Grasshopper craft has taken off and landed vertically).

His Solar City concept is profoundly innovative at the business level. Given Musk’s history in start-ups, which require massive upfront funding with little visible sign of success for several years, he is comfortable, in a way most traditionally inclined and profit-conscious entrepreneurs aren’t.

Solar City pays for the costly installation of solar panels and transformers on individual homes, but retains ownership of the equipment and the output.

When the homeowner has received their allotted amount of electricity, the overflow is redirected back into the power grid where Solar City gets the income. It’s a win-win for homeowners who get free electricity for life and the risk-taking installer.

But he’s not the only one innovating with power. William Kamkwamba is arguably the most famous innovator to emerge from Africa having built a windmill from recycled bicycle parts using an encyclopaedia from a library.

His life story is aptly summed up in his biography, called The Boy Who Harnessed The Wind, and is labelled a real-life MacGyver by The Daily Show.

Mobile success

Mobile phones are one of the great success stories of the world and nowhere is this more evident than in Africa. Africa is the world’s fastest growing telecoms market, second in size to Asia.

It’s no surprise that some of the smartest innovations are appearing on mobiles. Everyone knows about the money-exchanging wonders of M-Pesa and the real-time tracking done by Ushahidi – the two most-often cited examples of African innovation.

But the continent is awash with good examples.

mPedigree is a clever, SMS-based way of verifying if medications are real and not expired. Invented in Ghana, a user simply scratches off the foil covering a unique code on each box of legitimate (not counterfeit) medicine and SMS’s that number to get the verification.

Also in Ghana, a service called Farmerline sends farmers basic, but enormously useful, information and advice. Kenyan startup M-Farm allows individual farmers to pool their buying and selling to give them more leverage to get better prices for their harvest, and lower prices when they buy seeds or fertiliser.

In Kenya, arguably the most innovative country in terms of mobile services, there are fantastic services such as iCow that help diary farmers become more profitable and rise out of poverty. The diary business in Kenya is worth $463-million a year, meaning it can turn subsistence farmers into abundance farmers – all using the most basic of phones because the communication is all by SMS.

Africa is often called a mobile-first continent, but it actually is a mobile-only continent.

Toby Shapshak is editor-in-chief and publisher of Stuff magazine (stuff.co.za) in South Africa. His TED talk on how Africa is solving real problems has had over 1,4-million views; and he has been featured in the New York Times. Follow him on Twitter: @shapshak

0 comments
0 FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail
Blog

Tony Elumelu Foundation announces Selected 1000 Entrepreneurs for the 2016 #TEEP

by lanredahunsi
written by lanredahunsi

Over 45,000 African Entrepreneurs applied from 54 African countries, more than doubling the number of applications received in 2015.

The Tony Elumelu Foundation have announced the top 1,000 applicants for the second cycle of the Tony Elumelu Entrepreneurship Programme.

The Tony Elumelu Foundation Entrepreneurship Programme (TEEP)  a 12-week programme to equip startups with the basic skills required to launch and run their businesses at the early stage of their growth.The programme will bring together the best tools and frameworks to teach and hone entrepreneurship skills in Africa and globally.

The Tony Elumelu Foundation Entrepreneurship Programme #TEEP, a Pan-African entrepreneurship initiative of the Tony Elumelu Foundation, is a multi-year programme of training, funding, and mentoring, designed to empower the next generation of African entrepreneurs.

 

Algeria

  1. Sakina Benabdelkader, Healthcare

Angola

  1. Tchinessole Martins Pinto De Andrade Mensah, Fashion

Benin Republic

  1. Enoc Roméo Azonhoumon, Energy/Power Generation
  2. Euloge Ahmed Sare, Agriculture (Agri-business, Farming, etc.)
  3. Igor Noé Semanou, Education and Training
  4. Yesuto Adam Lawson, Agriculture (Agri-business, Farming, etc.)

Botswana:

  1. Agang K. Ditlhogo, ICT
  2. Kitso Alicia Kusane, Telecommunication
  3. Tebogo Bomo Gaopotlake, Agriculture (Agri-Business, Farming, etc.)
  4. Wada Nametso Busani, FMCG

Burkina Faso:

  1. Abdoul Nasser Yepane Zongo, Agriculture (Agri-business, Farming, etc.)
  2. Chalya Lar, Education and Training
  3. Rosemary Olufunke Reis, Energy/Power Generation

Burundi

  1. Aimée Ishimwe, Agriculture (Agri-business, Farming, etc.)
  2. Anatole Ndikumana, Manufacturing
  3. Avelin Kubwimana, ICT
  4. Benjamin Ndikubwayo, Manufacturing
  5. Vanina Alexandra Estrela Ferro, Manufacturing
  6. Robertine Denodji, Agriculture (Agri-business, Farming, etc.)
  7. Anturia Mihidjai, Agriculture (Agri-business, Farming, etc.)
  8. Georcia Levinet, Agriculture (Agri-business, Farming, etc.)
  9. Emmanuel Manirakiza, Manufacturing
  10. Godelieve – Manirakiza, Agriculture (Agri-business, Farming, etc.)
  11. Jacques Hicintuka, Commercial/Retail
  12. Nduwimana Jean Claude, Healthcare

Cabo Verde

  1. Vanina Alexandra Estrela Ferro, Manufacturing

Cameroon

  1. Adamou Nchange Kouotou, Healthcare
  2. Agbor Ashumanyi Ako, Healthcare
  3. Albert Tsafack, Agriculture (Agri-Business, Farming, Etc.)
  4. Alvine Mireille Ghomsi Tchuente, Healthcare
  5. Anye Cho Bovinille, Manufacturing
  6. Arsene Anama, Media And Entertainment
  7. Augustin Fogue, Construction
  8. Bamai Namata, Professional Services
  9. Beaugas Orain Djoyum, Media and Entertainment
  10. Fekembie Walters Tonteh, Agriculture (Agri- Business, Farming, etc.)
  11. Gabin Neyou Noupa, Agriculture (Agri-Business, Farming, etc.)
  12. Geraldine Kamana Biagne, Agriculture (Agri-Business, Farming, etc.)
  13. Michel Nkuindja, Media and EntertainmentMohamed Salibaka, ICT
  14. Ndelly Ngunde Julius, Agriculture (Agri-Business, Farming, etc.)
  15. Ntoko Franz Ajebe Munge, Commercial/Retail
  16. Osangu Ajang Ngaaje, Media and Entertainment
  17. Patu Ndango Fen, Waste Management
  18. Paulin Nana, Agriculture (Agri-Business, Farming, Etc.)
  19. Samnick Maemble Liboum, Healthcare
  20. Serge Ntong, Commercial/Retail
  21. Teche Tende Tah, ICT
  22. Valery Awah Asafor Atowo, Commercial/Retail
  23. Vincent Ghislain Wokmou, FMCG
  24. Vumomsi Ngwefontaa Vutumu, Fashion

Central African Republic

  1. Yannick Henri Jackson Malessandji, Agriculture (Agri-business, Farming, etc.)

Chad

  1. Robertine Denodji, Agriculture (Agri-business, Farming, etc.)

Comoros

  1. Anturia Mihidjai, Agriculture (Agri-business, Farming, etc.)

Cote d’Ivoire

  1. Ange Olivier Vanga, Media and Entertainment
  2. Anin Mariame Ouattara, Construction
  3. Armel Yves Seri, ICT
  4. Bah Elvis Dan, Oil & Gas
  5. Bintou Timite, Financial Services
  6. Danielle Stephanie Dibahi, Transportation
  7. Didier Eudes Houle, ICT
  8. Ditchewa Justine Amah, Agriculture (Agri-business, Farming, etc.)
  9. Dominique Prisca Affiba Dadie
  10. Agriculture (Agri-business, Farming, etc.)
  11. Dougnoumassigue Silue, Fashion
  12. Elvis Jean Constantin Onadien, Oil & Gas
  13. Idriss Marcial Djombissie Monthe, ICT
  14. Jean Claude Gouesse, ICT
  15. Kouadio Fidele Yao, Agriculture (Agri-business, Farming, etc.)
  16. Loualou Bertine Tiemoko, Agriculture (Agri-business, Farming, etc.)
  17. Martial Kouacou Yao, Consulting
  18. Sahone Pierre Augustin Nahoa, ICT
  19. Yao Kply Emmanuel, Agriculture (Agri-business, Farming, etc.)

Congo

  1. Georcia Levinet, Agriculture (Agri-business, Farming, etc.)

Democratic Republic of Congo

  1. Pathy Tamba Pita, Tourism/Hospitality
  2. Paul Roger Ngoy Elenga, Commercial/Retail
  3. Tresor Mununga Mangenda, Professional Services

Djibouti

  1. Abdek Idriss Youssouf, Waste Management
  2. Barreh Guelleh Daoud, Manufacturing

Egypt:

  1. Amr Medhat, Professional Services

Equatorial Guinea

  1. Tojaka Jeroboam, Agriculture (Agri-business, Farming, etc.)

Ethiopia

  1. Abrham Mulu Tessema, Agriculture (Agri-business,Farming, etc.)
  2. Adane Adame Yihune, Manufacturing
  3. Andargie Alemayehu Fentie, Agriculture (Agribusiness, Farming, etc.)
  4. Asmeret Gebre Tesfahunegn, ICT
  5. Befrdu Biru Wondim, Manufacturing
  6. Belsti Amanu Chekol, Manufacturing
  7. Bereket Erkie Alemu, Agriculture (Agri-business,Farming, etc.)
  8. Biruk Luelseged Asgedom, Fashion
  9. Desalegn Tadele Awoke, Agriculture (Agri-business,Farming, etc.)
  10. Emebet Mekonen Ambaye, Manufacturing
  11. Fethi Abdurehman Mohammed, ICT
  12. Gezahegn Zafu Million, Agriculture (Agribusiness,Farming, etc.)
  13. Habtamu Abafoge Dobamo, Healthcare
  14. Haileyesus Luel Zelalem, Manufacturing
  15. Mulugeta Yohannes Fresew, Waste Management
  16. Natnael Getachew Demisse, ICT
  17. Nebiyu – Assefa, Energy/Power Generation
  18. Tazeb Alelign Abera, Manufacturing
  19. Tedla Ababu Kassie, Energy/Power Generation
  20. Tewodros Endawake Taye, Manufacturing
  21. Yemanebirhan Tadesse Abirham,Manufacturing

Gabon

  1. Christophe Ikegwu, ICT
  2. Gatien Gildas Tsamba, Professional Services
  3. Perrine Epouse Makouba Mouedi, Agriculture (Agri-business, Farming, etc.)
  4. Tamarah Moutotekema Boussamba, Agriculture (Agri-business, Farming, etc.)
  5. Yolande Kualikoung, Agriculture (Agri-business, Farming, etc.)

Ghana

  1. Akwasi Prempeh Gyambibi, Agriculture (Agribusiness,Farming, etc.)
  2. Alexander Kofi Amoateng, Education and Training
  3. Andrews Kwaku Ayisi Elkington, Agriculture (Agribusiness, Farming, etc.)
  4. Ato Kwamina Buabeng Bentsi-Enchill, Education and Training
  5. Brian Mac Ocrah, Agriculture (Agri-business, Farming, etc.)
  6. Bright Appiah, Consulting
  7. Bright Kwakye-Awuah, Commercial/Retail
  8. Bright Sablah, Agriculture (Agri-business, Farming,etc.)
  9. Collins Afeti Gadawusu, Commercial/Retail
  10. Daba N Bob-Manuel, Professional Services
  11. Daniel Osei Agyekum, Waste Management
  12. Emma Tandoh, ICT
  13. Emmanuel Agyekum, Manufacturing
  14. Emmanuel Elvis Kofi Woyome, Fashion
  15. Emmanuel Yawo Dzisi, Agriculture (Agri-business, Farming, etc.)
  16. Evans Hokey, ICT
  17. Evans Owusu Amankwah, Education and Training
  18. Glorie Agyemang-Duah, Construction
  19. Isaac Kyei Barffour, Fashion
  20. Jida Asare, Healthcare
  21. Joanita Ayebea Addo, Education and Training
  22. Kimberly Addison, Manufacturing
  23. Kofi Boakye Demitia, Agriculture (Agri-business, Farming, etc.)
  24. Kokou Mawuena Viho Houmey, Agriculture (Agribusiness, Farming, etc.)
  25. Lawrencia Boahemaa Awuah, Agriculture (Agribusiness, Farming, etc.)
  26. Linda Adjei, Agriculture (Agri-business, Farming, etc.)
  27. Mahmoud Jajah Saeed, Professional Services
  28. Martin Baalongbuoro, Waste Management
  29. Mawuenana Yomekpe, Fashion
  30. Mawulom Kumah Hagan, Agriculture (Agri-business, Farming, etc.)
  31. Mohammed Musah, Agriculture (Agri-business,Farming, etc.)
  32. Nana Birago Amoako, Tourism/Hospitality
  33. Nathalie Kourouma, Commercial/Retail
  34. Prince Nyarko Aggrey, Media and Entertainment
  35. Richard Nunekpeku, Agriculture (Agri-business, Farming, etc.)
  36. Rufina Nindow, Agriculture (Agri-business, Farming,etc.)
  37. Salma Abdulai, Agriculture (Agri-business, Farming,etc.)
  38. Shakirudeen Akinyemi, Commercial/Retail
  39. Stephan Eyeson, Media and Entertainment
  40. Victor Pul, Aviation
  41. Wilson Kojo Mori, Energy/Power Generation
  42. Yasin Jamal Aquil, Manufacturing
  43. Yaw Otchere Mante, Manufacturing
  44. Yvonne Kukua Ayitey, Agriculture (Agri-business, Farming, etc.)
  45. Zakari Alhassan, Agriculture (Agri-business, Farming, etc.)

Guinea:

  1. Mamadou Saidou 1 Souare, Agriculture (Agri-business, Farming, etc.)

Guinea Bissau

  1. Tamba N’Fatoma Tolno, Financial Services

Kenya

  1. Agnes Nyawira Kionga, Media and Entertainment
  2. Allan Elisha Ong’Ang’A, Education and Training
  3. Amani Katana Karabu, Waste Management
  4. Andrew Habel Odongo, Education and Training
  5. Antony Mulaimu Mwendwa, Telecommunication
  6. Anwar Amin, Agriculture (Agri-business, Farming, etc.)
  7. Ben Musya Mbevi, Financial Services
  8. Benard Okeyo Ongudi, Agriculture (Agri-business, Farming, etc.)
  9. Bernadette Otiko Muyomi, Agriculture (Agribusiness, Farming, etc.)
  10. Bernard Wanjala Namano, Construction
  11. Boaz Onyango Okello, Energy/Power Generation
  12. Caleb Loitabei, Construction
  13. Carol Wambui Weru, Waste Management
  14. Charles Musingo Kairu, Energy/Power Generation
  15. Christine Nyambura Karanja, Agriculture (Agribusiness, Farming, etc.)
  16. Collince Oluoch Osewe, Healthcare
  17. Dan Odhiambo Opiyo, ICT
  18. Daniel Khisa Wanjala, ICT
  19. Daniel Mwai Mahingo, ICT
  20. Daniel Ratemo Nyakora, Media and Entertainment
  21. David Nderitu Wanjiru, Agriculture (Agri-business, Farming, etc.)
  22. David Weru Githae, Agriculture (Agri-business, Farming, etc.)
  23. Edward Mbogo Shangala, ICT
  24. Edward Muturi Githae, Media and Entertainment
  25. Enock Wabomba Wandabwa, Tourism/Hospitality
  26. Eric Joshua Wabomba, Agriculture (Agri-business, Farming, etc.)
  27. Esther Kagendo Rugendo, Healthcare
  28. Esther Mwaniki, Education and Training
  29. Esther Wanjiku Katiba, Consulting
  30. Everlyn Awuor Okumu, Agriculture (Agri-business, Farming, etc.)
  31. Fatuma Nafula Baraza, Agriculture (Agri-business, Farming, etc.)
  32. George Odhiambo Agan, Energy/Power Generation
  33. Hezron Opiyo Oluoch, Agriculture (Agri-business,Farming, etc.)
  34. Hillary Omae Chweya, Manufacturing
  35. Humphrey Munga Janji, Manufacturing
  36. Irene Elvin Lumosi, Construction
  37. Jaclyn Njoki, Tourism/Hospitality
  38. James Brian Kihindas, Fashion
  39. James Saitoti Masindet, Agriculture (Agri-business, Farming, etc.)
  40. Jannes Ochieng Otieno, Manufacturing
  41. Jeremiah Kimanthi Mwangangi, Professional Services
  42. John Magiro, Energy/Power Generation
  43. John Ogot Slater, ICT
  44. Johnmark Mutuma Mutea, ICT
  45. Julie Awino Abuka, Haulage/ Logistics
  46. June Njeri Muchuku, Manufacturing
  47. Justin Musyoki Kasia, Professional Services
  48. Kennedy Kahugu Itibi, FMCG
  49. Kenneth Eric Muthomi, Agriculture (Agri-business, Farming, etc.)
  50. Kenneth Theuri Kanyogoro, Energy/PowerGeneration
  51. Leah Wambui Mwehia, Agriculture (Agri-business, Farming, etc.)
  52. Leroy Henry Mwasaru, Waste Management
  53. Linnet Nyambura Maina, Media and Entertainment
  54. Maurine Chebiwott Birir, Waste Management
  55. Michael Caleb Irungu Wambugu, Agriculture (Agribusiness, Farming, etc.)
  56. Michael Odhiambo Ondialla, Agriculture (Agribusiness, Farming, etc.)
  57. Moseti Benard Mireri, Commercial/Retail
  58. Nancy Njoki Kariuki, Healthcare
  59. Patrick Gichuru Muriuki, ICT
  60. Paul Muriithi Mwige, Transportation
  61. Paul Nyawanda Okello, Construction
  62. Priscilla Gathigia Wahome, Agriculture (Agribusiness, Farming, etc.)
  63. Reginah Njambi Matiru, Energy/Power Generation
  64. Rosse Chepkosgei Shikuku, Agriculture (Agribusiness, Farming, etc.)
  65. Ruth Ogechi Kemunto, FMCG
  66. Silvia Njeri Muturi, Telecommunication
  67. Simon Ndirangu Mwangi, Education and Training
  68. Solomon Mwangi Karanja, Waste Management
  69. Stanley Gitau Mburu, Commercial/Retail
  70. Stella Agola Sigana, Waste Management
  71. Tonny Tune Fondo, Transportation
  72. Towett Kipyegon Ngetich, Healthcare
  73. Veronica Mugure Mbugua, Commercial/Retail
  74. Violet Wanjiru Njoka, Agriculture (Agri-business,Farming, etc.)
  75. Zachariah Barichu Karanja, Education and Training

Lesotho

  1. Letete Letete, Agriculture (Agri-business, Farming, etc.)

Liberia

  1. Bethel Chisom Anthony, Consulting
  2. Michael Fallavius Fayiah, Education and Training

LIBYAN ARAB JAMAHIRIYA

  1. Mohamed Ahmed Hader, Oil & Gas

Madagascar

  1. Jessica Rakotoarisoa, Energy/Power Generation
  2. Soazara Ranivoarivelo, Agriculture (Agri-business, Farming, etc.)
  3. Thierry Ratsizehena, Education and Training

Malawi

  1. Anganile Edward Ngwira, Consulting
  2. Arthur Chikumbutso Muyepa, Education and Training
  3. Chikondi Samson Mafaiti, Healthcare
  4. Daniel Chiumia, Agriculture (Agri-business, Farming, etc.)
  5. Felix Yola, Agriculture (Agri-business, Farming, etc.)
  6. Francis Wakisa Chilenga, Energy/Power Generation
  7. Lombola Gama Lombola, Agriculture (Agri-business, Farming, etc.)
  8. Thokozani Fortunata Mkawa, Haulage/ Logistics
  9. Vitumbiko Fyness Zgambo, Agriculture (Agri-business, Farming, etc.)

Mali

  1. Patrick Musafi Gregoire, Commercial/Retail

Mauritania

  1. Bocar Ba, Education and Training

Mauritius

  1. Aboubacar Fode Camara, Transportation
  2. Adarshsingh Bholah, Healthcare
  3. Mohammad Ilrshaad Goolamally, Education and Training

Morocco

  1. Khadija Hamouchi, Education and Training

Mozambique

  1. Ergilio Sarmento Correia, Energy/Power Generation

Namibia

  1. Josephine Naango Ndakulilwa Shikongo, Agriculture (Agri-business, Farming, etc.)
  2. Lukas Nghilukilwa Thomas, Agriculture (Agri-business, Farming, etc.)

Niger

  1. Abdoulkader Mamadou Lamine, Agriculture (Agri-business, Farming, etc.)
  2. Housseini Ahssimi Mamadou, ICT
  3. Yacouba Alfari Bonkano, Manufacturing
  4. Yahouza Bouye Boude, Healthcare

Nigeria

  1. Abdulganiyu Gbolahan Onabanjo, Energy/Power Generation
  2. Abdulkabir Oyerinde, Manufacturing
  3. Abdullateef Olaosebikan, Agriculture (Agri-business, Farming, etc.)
  4. Abdulquadri Abiodun Sotomiwa, ICT
  5. Abdulrashid Sadiq Ibrahim, Construction
  6. Abednego Ikwulono Jeremiah, Agriculture (Agri-business, Farming, etc.)
  7. Abibat Boluwatife Bello, Fashion
  8. Abideen Adeleye Adelu, Education and Training
  9. Abigail Olayemi Ayoola, Fashion
  10. Abigail Temidayo Adeturinmo, Fashion
  11. Abimbola Ololade Oligbinde, Media and Entertainment
  12. Abimbola Tolulope Ajayi, Agriculture (Agri-business, Farming, etc.)
  13. Abiola Adedoyin Ilupeju, ICT
  14. Abiola Aminat Sikiru, Education and Training
  15. Acheme Christopher Acheme, Commercial/Retail
  16. Acho Anselm Akunna, Commercial/Retail
  17. Adama Aliyu Abdullahi, Agriculture (Agribusiness, Farming, etc.)
  18. Adanna Chioma Ukonu, FMCG
  19. Adebayo Olugbenga Osinuga, Waste Management
  20. Adebisi Akindele Oyegoke, Construction
  21. Adebisi Christianah Adeeko, Fashion
  22. Adebukola Modupeola Balogun, Commercial/Retail
  23. Aded Temitayo Orekoya, Education and Training
  24. Adedayo Olasunkanmi Banjo, Media and Entertainment
  25. Adedayo Patrick Adetiloye, Consulting
  26. Adegoke Timothy Adeyemi, Education and Training
  27. Adekola Olawale Adewale, Agriculture (Agri-business, Farming, etc.)
  28. Adeola David Adelakun, Agriculture (Agribusiness, Farming, etc.)
  29. Adesola Oyedele, Agriculture (Agribusiness, Farming, etc.)
  30. Adesunkanmi Okupe, Commercial/Retail
  31. Adewale Henry Olabintan, ICT
  32. Adewale Paul Oseni, Education and Training
  33. Adewole Alaba Agbokere, Manufacturing
  34. Adeyemi Olabiyi Alayode, Construction
  35. Adeyinka Ebenezer Adeniyi, Manufacturing
  36. Adeyinka Isioye, Professional Services
  37. Adeymi Peter Akinrinade, Energy/Power Generation
  38. Agnes Nwakaego Umeh, Manufacturing
  39. Ahmad Tijani Sani, Agriculture (Agribusiness, Farming, etc.)
  40. Ajiroghene Omanudhowo, Commercial/ Retail
  41. Akeem Kola Wahab, Agriculture (Agribusiness, Farming, etc.)
  42. Akintayo Olusesan Akinola, Agriculture (Agri-business, Farming, etc.)
  43. Akintunde Teslim Akinbode, Agriculture (Agri-business, Farming, etc.)
  44. Akinwunmi Obafemi Okuyiga, Consulting
  45. Aklahyel Haruna Goni, Agriculture (Agribusiness, Farming, etc.)
  46. Akpevweoghene Ogheneowho Ugono Energy/Power Generation
  47. Aladi Ojobo Moses, Commercial/Retail
  48. Alan George Mugalu-Ntale, Fashion
  49. Alexander Inusa, Agriculture (Agribusiness, Farming, etc.)
  50. Alexious Olarinde Akande, Manufacturing
  51. Aliyu Oyereyi Abede, Manufacturing
  52. Amaebi Stanley Pere-Albert, ICT
  53. Amaobi Joseph Onyema, ICT
  54. Amarachi Vera Aroh, Construction
  55. Amina Jummai Gimba, Education and Training
  56. Amina Nana Bolujoko, Agriculture (Agribusiness, Farming, etc.)
  57. Andrew Chibuzor Iloh, Manufacturing
  58. Andrew Oseiza Oyanna, Fashion
  59. Angela Matthew Maxegba-Sule, Education and Training
  60. Aniemeka Christopher Okeke, Professional Services
  61. Anne Ngozi Benjamin, Fashion
  62. Anthonia Udemeh, ICT
  63. Anthony Chima Iwuh, Construction
  64. Anthony Daramola Oyeyemi, Manufacturing
  65. Anthony Ogheneovo, Manufacturing
  66. Aondohemba Kelvin Tuleun, Agriculture(Agri-business, Farming, etc.)
  67. Apeh Akwu Omede, Tourism/Hospitality
  68. Arthur Afam Ezenwanne, ICT
  69. Augustine Ashi Nawa, ICT
  70. Austin Egwu Egwu, Agriculture (Agribusiness, Farming, etc.)
  71. Austin Omozokpia Oriabure, Transportation
  72. Awonto Samuel Mosimabale, Agriculture (Agri-business, Farming, etc.)
  73. Ayobami Oludiran Adedokun, Energy/ Power Generation
  74. Ayodeji Anubi, FMCG
  75. Ayodeji Oluseyi Alade, Agriculture (Agribusiness, Farming, etc.)
  76. Ayodele Donald Opadoyin, Agriculture (Agri-business, Farming, etc.)
  77. Ayodele Olufemi Morakinyo, Education and Training
  78. Ayondu Elizabeth Izukanne, Agriculture (Agri-business, Farming, etc.)
  79. Ayoola Joy Okpa-Iroha, Manufacturing
  80. Aziza Sani El-Rufai, Tourism/Hospitality
  81. Babajide Joseph Ipaye, Fashion
  82. Babajide Samuel Oyewole, ICT
  83. Babatunde Benjamin Akinbohun, Commercial/Retail
  84. Babatunde Hakeem Lawal, Agriculture (Agri-business, Farming, etc.)
  85. Babatunde Tajudeen Yaya, Construction
  86. Bamidele Fatoba, FMCG
  87. Bamiji Oladayo Olaogun, Commercial/ Retail
  88. Bankole Emmanuel Olalekan, Commercial/Retail
  89. Barbara Keitumetse Mashope-Potgieter, ICT
  90. Bashir Adepoju Bakare, Education and Training
  91. Becky Oiza Akerele, Commercial/Retail
  92. Bede Obinna Ahuchama, Professional Services
  93. Ben Lawrence, Agriculture (Agri-business, Farming, etc.)
  94. Benjamin Gar, Education and Training
  95. Benjamin Ojah Makpa, Agriculture (Agribusiness, Farming, etc.)
  96. Benjamine Ekene Okpala, Commercial/ Retail
  97. Bernard Eyiewurami O’Bien, Fashion
  98. Binkur Binfa, Education and Training
  99. Bisola Joy Babalola, Fashion
  100. Blessing Abeng, Fashion
  101. Blessing Ajodo, Education and Training
  102. Blessing Alexander, Commercial/Retail
  103. Blessing Amos, Manufacturing
  104. Bolarinwa Charles Motoni, Transportation
  105. Boma Tai-Osagbemi, Education and Training
  106. Bonisiwe Rodah Tembe, ICT
  107. Boyo Affiang Nduonofit, Agriculture (Agribusiness,Farming, etc.)
  108. Brian-Gabriel Chiedozie Ndubuisi, Manufacturing
  109. Bright Chinwendu Osisiogu, ICT
  110. Calista Ekene Eze, Manufacturing
  111. Cassandra Ifeoma Enujeko, Agriculture (Agri-business, Farming, etc.)
  112. Celestina Ayomide Adesomo, Waste Management
  113. Charles Chikwendu Ozurumba, Agriculture (Agri-business, Farming, etc.)
  114. Charles Ikenna Chukwu, Education and Training
  115. Charlie Charlie Ekpo, Manufacturing
  116. Chibuikem Igwe Eme, Financial Services
  117. Chidiebere Innocent Ozoalor, Manufacturing
  118. Chidiebere Peace Okorie, FMCG
  119. Chidimma Stella Onyearugbulem, Agriculture (Agri-business, Farming, etc.)
  120. Chidochiri Grace Ononuju, Manufacturing
  121. Chieme Fan-Osuala, ICT
  122. Chigozie Adaugo Nwanguma, Agriculture (Agri-business, Farming, etc.)
  123. Chigozie Anselem Omeoga, Manufacturing
  124. Chigozie Chidiebere Ahumibe, Commercial/Retail
  125. Chigoziri Henry Okeke, Commercial/Retail
  126. Chigozirim Golden Ohuabunwa, Transportation
  127. Chijioke Ola Kalu, Commercial/Retail
  128. Chika Ozoemena, Healthcare
  129. Chika Ugochi Ohuoba, Waste Management
  130. Chimaobi Henry Okezie, Professional Services
  131. Chimezie Bright Udensi, Agriculture (Agribusiness, Farming, etc.)
  132. Chinedu Charles Onubogu, Manufacturing
  133. Chinedu Leslie Emenalo, Financial Services
  134. Chinemerem Ekemezie, Construction
  135. Chinenye Justin Nwaogwugwu, Manufacturing
  136. Chinonso Nnabuike Unaogu, Agriculture (Agri-business, Farming, etc.)
  137. Chinyelu Rita Ugwuoju, Agriculture (Agribusiness, Farming, etc.)
  138. Chinyere Felicia Ibezim, Fashion
  139. Chinyere Florence Eze, Media and Entertainment
  140. Chinyere Genevieve Obi, Construction
  141. Chioma Christabel Ifeanyi-Eze, Professional Services
  142. Chioma Iloanusi, FMCG
  143. Chioma Millicent Eto, Waste Management
  144. Chisom John Okereke, Commercial/Retail
  145. Christopher Olatunji Folorunsho Matthew, Manufacturing
  146. Chukwuekezika Josemaria Ekenta, Commercial/Retail
  147. Chukwuemeka Festus Nwagbo, Commercial/Retail
  148. Chukwuemeka Iheme, Media and Entertainment
  149. Chukwuemeka Nelson Chukwu, Energy/ Power Generation
  150. Chukwuma Thomas Akubue, Agriculture (Agri-business, Farming, etc.)
  151. Chukwunonso Aloysius Amadi, ICT
  152. Chukwunonso Nnaemeka Osakwe, Transportation
  153. Ckukwuenye Lemuel Okoli, Manufacturing
  154. Comfort Oluwaseun Taylor, Fashion
  155. Cyril Chinedu Otali, Agriculture (Agribusiness, Farming, etc.)
  156. Damian Enyaosah Enyaosah, Transportation
  157. Damilare Abayomi Tejumade, Consulting
  158. Damilola Samuel Mutiu, Healthcare
  159. Dangana Robert Jatau, Consulting
  160. Daniel Ayomide Ajumobi, Agriculture (Agribusiness, Farming, etc.)
  161. Daniel Chiemeka Ariahu, Agriculture (Agribusiness, Farming, etc.)
  162. Daniel Inah, Agriculture (Agri-business, Farming, etc.)
  163. Daniel Momoh, Commercial/Retail
  164. David Ifeanyi Umunna, Manufacturing
  165. David Okeibunor Chinye, Agriculture (Agribusiness, Farming, etc.)
  166. David Olufemi Adesanya, Healthcare
  167. David Uwagwuna, ICT
  168. Davids Oluwaseye Ayodele, Media and Entertainment
  169. Desayo O. Ajisegiri, Consulting
  170. Desmond Ighosotu Orogun, Fashion
  171. Desola Daramola Omorodion, Fashion
  172. Destiny Frederick, Waste Management
  173. Donald Obinna Offor, Commercial/Retail
  174. Doom Mary-Jane Torhee, Agriculture (Agribusiness, Farming, etc.)
  175. Douglas Olisa Agu, Waste Management
  176. Ebenezer Adegoke Ajayi, Education and Training
  177. Ebenezer Opeyemi Anifowose, Education and Training
  178. Ebere Conscience Uzoma, Fashion
  179. Ebun Grace Olugbodi, Telecommunication
  180. Edidiong Michael Umoh, Education and Training
  181. Edwin Onoja Akogwu, Agriculture (Agribusiness, Farming, etc.)
  182. Ejura Eve Okpanachi, Agriculture (Agribusiness, Farming, etc.)
  183. Ekaette Mfon Udoudo, Fashion
  184. Ekene Christopher Okafor, Agriculture (Agribusiness, Farming, etc.)
  185. Ekpobari Neebee, Agriculture (Agri-business, Farming, etc.)
  186. Emeka Daniel Umechukwu, Agriculture (Agri-business, Farming, etc.)
  187. Emmanuel Augustine, Manufacturing
  188. Emmanuel Boraxe Okeh, Financial Services
  189. Emmanuel Enemona Omale, Professional Services
  190. Emmanuel Ikechukwu Kelechukwu, Agriculture (Agri-business, Farming, etc.)
  191. Emmanuel Okeoghene Okih, Tourism/Hospitality
  192. Emmanuel Olorunsogo Olabisi, Consulting
  193. Emmanuel Omoniyi Taiwo, Tourism/ Hospitality
  194. Emmanuel Patrick Obot, Agriculture (Agribusiness,Farming, etc.)
  195. Emmanuel Tope Ojuekanmi, Agriculture (Agri-business, Farming, etc.)
  196. Emmanuel Ugochukwu Ekweanua,Agriculture (Agri-business, Farming, etc.)
  197. Emotu Harrison Onimowo, Education and Training
  198. Ephraim Audu Andrew, Manufacturing
  199. Ernest Akale, Energy/Power Generation
  200. Esther Okeke, Media and Entertainment
  201. Esther Sule Danmaida, Professional Services
  202. Eunice Nkechi Omoyeni, Commercial/Retail
  203. Eunice Olabisi Ogunbowale, Healthcare
  204. Ezinwanne Anne Onyejemuo, ICT
  205. Fadesola Adedayo, Agriculture (Agribusiness,Farming, etc.)
  206. Farida Osikhueme Ladipo-Ajayi, Education and Training
  207. Fatima Binta Yahaya, Commercial/Retail
  208. Fatima Ojeosuman, Manufacturing
  209. Fatima Rufa’I Yusuf, Agriculture (Agribusiness, Farming, etc.)
  210. Favour Chima Christian, Tourism/Hospitality
  211. Favour Harvest Eberechukwu, Education and Training
  212. Favour Ololade Abioye, Commercial/Retail
  213. Felix Kemaona Adeleye, Media and Entertainment
  214. Festus Wale Akamo, Agriculture (Agribusiness, Farming, etc.)
  215. Feyisayo Ojo, Manufacturing
  216. Fidelis Bonaventure Uzoma, Education and Training
  217. Folashade Florence Aderonmu, Energy/ Power Generation
  218. Fortunatus Udogadi Udogadi, Commercial/ Retail
  219. Francis Oluwabusayo Oyewole, Waste Management
  220. Freedom Yakubu Hyellamada, Commercial/Retail
  221. Gabriel Chimaobi Nwogu, Education and Training
  222. Gift Dick Udoh, Agriculture (Agri-business, Farming, etc.)
  223. Gladys Nnedimma Anya, Agriculture (Agribusiness, Farming, etc.)
  224. Godfrey Akhayagboke Otoaye, Commercial/Retail
  225. Godfrey Itatu, Agriculture (Agri-business, Farming, etc.)
  226. Godson Okechukwu Ashimole, Agriculture (Agri-business, Farming, etc.)
  227. Godspower Ledogo, Commercial/Retail
  228. Godwin Udoh Benson, Education and Training
  229. Godwith Francis Udoh, Agriculture (Agribusiness, Farming, etc.)
  230. Grace Amalmai Ugi, Waste Management
  231. Grace Enyidiya Okpara, Financial Services
  232. Gregory Ojore Asenime, Haulage/ Logistics
  233. Habeebah Mojisola Bello-Ebhota, Fashion
  234. Habiba Inuwa, Commercial/Retail
  235. Hafsatu Aboki, FMCG
  236. Hafsatu Hamza-Babaji, Education and Training
  237. Hakeem Abiodun Kuranga, Agriculture (Agri-business, Farming, etc.)
  238. Hammed Olasunkanmi Odunsi, Education and Training
  239. Hans Yagazie Adindueme, Agriculture (Agribusiness, Farming, etc.)
  240. Happiness Ladi Simon, Fashion
  241. Henry Onyebuchi Iwuchukwu, Agriculture (Agri-business, Farming, etc.)
  242. Ibifunke Pegba-Otemolu, Healthcare
  243. Ibilola Oluwatomisin Bamgbelu, Construction
  244. Ibrahim Dikko, Fashion
  245. Ibrahim Fashola, Agriculture (Agri-business, Farming, etc.)
  246. Ibrahim Mohammed Aboki, Agriculture (Agribusiness, Farming, etc.)
  247. Ibrahim Muhammad Garba Sagagi, Transportation
  248. Idias Wendy Ezomo, Commercial/Retail
  249. Idopise Etim Essien, Agriculture (Agri-business, Farming, etc.)
  250. Idris Adamu Tanfen, Manufacturing
  251. Idris Muhammad, Waste Management
  252. Ifeanyi Boniface Emenne, Construction
  253. Ifeatu Nelson Amanambu, Waste Management
  254. Ifedayo Durosinmi- Etti, Commercial/Retail
  255. Ifeoluwa Kehinde Akala, Fashion
  256. Ifeoluwa Ololade Alonge, Fashion
  257. Ifeoma Violet Onwuzuruoha, Agriculture (Agri-business, Farming, etc.)
  258. Ifesanmi Opeyemi Afolabi, Agriculture (Agribusiness, Farming, etc.)
  259. Ifidon Irivboje, Commercial/Retail
  260. Ifiok Nkem, ICT
  261. Ignatius Enahoro Ofagbe, ICT
  262. Iheanyichukwu Godson Enyika, Education and Training
  263. Ijeoma Ambrose Amachukwu, Fashion
  264. Ikechukwu Chimezie Osuagwu, Education and Training
  265. Ikechukwu Seun Okoh, ICT
  266. Ikemefuna Iwunoh, Education and Training
  267. Ikenna Chukwuyere Nnadozie, FMCG
  268. Ikuba John Ona, Energy/Power Generation
  269. Innocent Ebiagbor Abada, Agriculture (Agribusiness, Farming, etc.)
  270. Isaac John Enubiak, Education and Training
  271. Ishaq Kariim, Manufacturing
  272. Israel Mene, Commercial/Retail
  273. Itanola Helen Oni, Agriculture (Agri-business, Farming, etc.)
  274. Iwu Ikechukwu Ekwueme, Transportation
  275. Izukanachi Udeh, Agriculture (Agri-business, Farming, etc.)
  276. James Chibuzo Ejimgini, ICT
  277. James Chukwuemeka Eze, Energy/Power Generation
  278. James Nnanyere Amaechi, Transportation
  279. Jamiu Adewale Adeniyi, Professional Services
  280. Jane Isioma Afamefune, Manufacturing
  281. Jesse Chukwunonso Ogabu, Education and Training
  282. Jibril Lawal, Agriculture (Agri-business, Farming, etc.)
  283. Joachim Chinaedu Nwachukwu, Healthcare
  284. John Phronesis James, Education and Training
  285. Johnson Adelere Bewaji, ICT
  286. Johnson Adeniyi Alaba, Waste Management
  287. Johnson Oyekunle Okunade, Waste Management
  288. Jonah Feibai Lokoson, Commercial/Retail
  289. Jonathan Kome Otovreno, Healthcare
  290. Joseph Chukwuebuka Onuegbu, Manufacturing
  291. Joseph Ekukinam, ICT
  292. Joseph Eze, Manufacturing
  293. Joseph Isimite, Agriculture (Agri-business, Farming, etc.)
  294. Joseph Umama, Agriculture (Agri-business, Farming, etc.)
  295. Joshua Chiemeke Odega, Agriculture (Agribusiness, Farming, etc.)
  296. Joshua Keshy, Fashion
  297. Joy Anuoluwapo Sokunbi-Ebor, Education and Training
  298. Judith Okeoghene Idogho, Agriculture (Agribusiness, Farming, etc.)
  299. Juliet Momoh Edache, Waste Management
  300. Juliet Ndidiamaka Ejimofor, Education and Training
  301. Julius Adeniyi Adeyera, FMCG
  302. Juyin Odeleye, Education and Training
  303. Kabir Olaosebikan, Waste Management
  304. Kabir Onimisi Ademoh, Agriculture (Agribusiness, Farming, etc.)
  305. Kabir Suleiman Mohammed, Agriculture (Agri-business, Farming, etc.)
  306. Kalu Ejim, Commercial/Retail
  307. Kehinde Hussein Gbadamosi, Transportation
  308. Kehinde Olanshile Onadehinde, Media and Entertainment
  309. Kelechi Victor Duru, Fashion
  310. Kenechukwu Eme Rapu, Fashion
  311. Kenneth Onyewuchi Ugorji, Agriculture (Agribusiness, Farming, etc.)
  312. Kevwe Onome-Irikefe, Energy/Power Generation
  313. Kingsley Chidi Onyema, Agriculture (Agribusiness, Farming, etc.)
  314. Kingsley Chiejina Odiamma, Agriculture (Agri-business, Farming, etc.)
  315. Kingsley Onyeka Akunwa, ICT
  316. Kirunda Paul Kakaire, Waste Management
  317. Kolarele Emmanuel Odekanyin, Agriculture (Agri-business, Farming, etc.)
  318. Kolawole Akinjiola, Healthcare
  319. Kolawole Nathaniel Sanni, Commercial/Retail
  320. Kunmi Otitoju, Fashion
  321. Kyenpia Goje Haruna, Agriculture (Agribusiness, Farming, etc.)
  322. Lanre Maqdandola Awojoodu, Commercial/Retail
  323. Lateefat Balogun, Commercial/Retail
  324. Lightner Eromosele Imarhobobhor, Waste Management
  325. Lilian Oluchi Odeh-Change, Agriculture (Agribusiness, Farming, etc.)
  326. Livinus Nonso Okoye, Agriculture (Agribusiness,Farming, etc.)
  327. Love Okochi, Agriculture (Agri-business, Farming, etc.)
  328. Mark Arorim Ori, Energy/Power Generation
  329. Martins Okonkwo, Media and Entertainment
  330. Martins Uzoma Osuji, Agriculture (Agribusiness, Farming, etc.)
  331. Mary Ebua Ushie, Agriculture (Agri-business, Farming, etc.)
  332. Matthew Joseph Agoro, Transportation
  333. Maureen Ogochukwu Apeh, Agriculture (Agri-business, Farming, etc.)
  334. Maymunah Kadiri, Healthcare
  335. Mercy Chukwuji Ikeji, Professional Services
  336. Mesturah Olayinka Shittu, Manufacturing
  337. Michael Amushitan, Waste Management
  338. Michael Balogun, Tourism/Hospitality
  339. Michael Iheanyi Osumo, Education and Training
  340. Michael Oluwadamilare Lekan-Kehinde, Tourism/Hospitality
  341. Michael Oluwatobiloba Akinnike, Education and Training
  342. Michael Oluwatosin Adebanjo, Manufacturing
  343. Miracle Chimechefughim Nduka, Commercial/Retail
  344. Mivanyi Andrew Jalani, Agriculture (Agribusiness, Farming, etc.)
  345. Modupe Magdalene Fadiji, Tourism/ Hospitality
  346. Mofoluwake Ruth Job, Agriculture (Agribusiness,Farming, etc.)
  347. Mogbitse Francis Okitikpi, Fashion
  348. Mohammad Saidu Ohitoto, Agriculture (Agribusiness, Farming, etc.)
  349. Mohammed Ali, Fashion
  350. Mojisola Obioma Eteng Oloto, Education and Training
  351. Molawa O. Adesuyi, ICT
  352. Morenike Funke Ojofeitimi, Agriculture (Agribusiness, Farming, etc.)
  353. Moyosola Olufunmilayo Tugbobo, Fashion
  354.  Muideen Adewale Adegoke, Agriculture (Agri-business, Farming, etc.)
  355. Musa Olayinka Salaudeen, Agriculture (Agribusiness, Farming, etc.)
  356. Muyiwa Kayode, Media and Entertainment
  357. Nathaniel Okwoli, ICT
  358. Ndubisi Arinze Eze, Aviation
  359. Ndukwe Ihuoma Onuoha, Manufacturing
  360. Nelson Omachonu Ikenye, Agriculture (Agribusiness, Farming, etc.)
  361. Nene Pearl Ojukwu, Professional Services
  362. Nkiru Antoinette Amadi-Emina, ICT
  363. Nkoyo Grace Onome-Ojigbo, Education and Training
  364. Nnamdi Lilking Ezeh, Healthcare
  365. Nnenna Hannah Okpara, Agriculture (Agribusiness, Farming, etc.)
  366. Noguese Aigbogun, FMCG
  367. Nonso Obidinma Eriobu, Construction
  368. Nonso Peter Efobi, Healthcare
  369. Nosakhare Friday Amayo, Commercial/ Retail
  370. Nwamaka Nkechi Uzochukwu, Agriculture (Agri-business, Farming, etc.)
  371. Nwamaka Racheal Nwangwu, Healthcare
  372. Obaro Dafe Akise, Manufacturing
  373. Obaro Oghene, Haulage/ Logistics
  374. Obiajuru Luya, Agriculture (Agri-business, Farming, etc.)
  375. Obinna Joachim Ezendu, Energy/Power Generation
  376. Obinwanne Steadfast Onyenakuchi, Agriculture (Agri-business, Farming, etc.)
  377. Obot Jacob Umoh, Agriculture (Agribusiness, Farming, etc.)
  378. Odinakachi Jacinta Philip, ICT
  379. Ogbeide Derrick Oigiagbe, ICT
  380. Ogbu Samuel Ukpa, ICT
  381. Ogechi Agarth Mmadubueze, Professional Services
  382. Ogechi Fidelia Benyeogor, Education and Training
  383. Ogechi Nnenna Njoku, Manufacturing
  384. Ogechukwu Blessing Ezeh-Madueke, Manufacturing
  385. Ogechukwu Florence Chife, FMCG
  386. Ogechukwu Kingsley Ezeibekwe, Tourism/ Hospitality
  387. Oghale Charles Utomudo, Commercial/ Retail
  388. Oghenedoro Claudia Udeh, Manufacturing
  389. Ojonigwu Fred Ekpa, Agriculture (Agribusiness, Farming, etc.)
  390. Ojonoka Opaluwa Ujorha, Construction
  391. Oka Juliana Elame, Waste Management
  392. Okechukwu Benjamin Onwuorah, Education and Training
  393. Okechukwu Frank Dike, Healthcare
  394. Okechukwu Jr Emmanuel Emmanuel, ICT
  395. Oladipo David Okeniyi, Media and Entertainment
  396. Oladotun Jonathan Akadiri, Agriculture (Agri-business, Farming, etc.)
  397. Oladunmade Olurotimi Otitoola, Tourism/Hospitality
  398. Olakunle Oluwole Ajayi, Agriculture (Agribusiness, Farming, etc.)
  399. Olalekan Akinwale Akinseye, Fashion
  400. Olaleye Luther Lawoyin, Commercial/Retail
  401. Olamide Idowu Ayeni-Babajide, Waste Management
  402. Olamide Olabode, Agriculture (Agribusiness, Farming, etc.)
  403. Olanike Olubunmi Olugboji, Waste Management
  404. Olaoluwa Emmanuel Olatunbode, Commercial/Retail
  405. Olaoluwa Michael Makanjuola, Agriculture (Agri-business, Farming, etc.)
  406. Olatorera Oniru, Commercial/Retail
  407. Olatunde Opeyemi Ayilara, Commercial/ Retail
  408. Olawumi Mayowa Ishola Ogundele, ICT
  409. Olayemi Ariyo, Healthcare
  410. Olayemi Dorcas Akinkunmi, Professional Services
  411. Olayemi Idowu, Fashion
  412. Olayemisi Afusat Ajala, Agriculture (Agribusiness, Farming, etc.)
  413. Olayinka Mulekanle Olayade, Manufacturing
  414. Oliseamaka Tamunobelema Olise, Waste Management
  415. Olivia Chinenye Onyemaobi, Fashion
  416. Olorunfemi John Michael, Agriculture (Agribusiness, Farming, etc.)
  417. Olorunfemi Oluwanisola Obasa, Education and Training
  418. Olubunmi Ngozi Onaolapo, Commercial/ Retail
  419. Olubunmi Olufemi Fajuyibe, Media and Entertainment
  420. Oluchi Lilian Onuorah, FMCG
  421. Oludayo Emmanuel Akinwole, Transportation
  422. Olufemi Odeleye, Manufacturing
  423. Olugbenga Emmanuel Odeyemi, Education and Training
  424. Olumide Akintayo, Agriculture (Agribusiness,Farming, etc.)
  425. Olumide Alex Ojo, Waste Management
  426. Olumide Ebenezer Omotoso, ICT
  427. Olumide Ishola Emmanuel, Agriculture (Agri-business, Farming, etc.)
  428. Olusegun Ajiboye Bello, Construction
  429. Olusegun Kolade Okelola, Media and Entertainment
  430. Olusegun Michael Opakunle, Education and Training
  431. Olusegun Oluwatosin Ayoade, Media and Entertainment
  432. Oluseun Temitope Adebowale, Manufacturing
  433. Olusola Samuel Owonikoko, Commercial/Retail
  434. Olutoye Oyedeji Kofoworola, Energy/Power Generation
  435. Oluwabukola Atinuke Hassan, Agriculture (Agri-business, Farming, etc.)
  436. Oluwabunmi Janet Kufisile, Agriculture (Agri-business, Farming, etc.)
  437. Oluwadamilare Michael Oladotun, Agriculture (Agri-business, Farming, etc.)
  438. Oluwadamilola Ajoke Adesanya, Commercial/Retail
  439. Oluwagbenga Peter Francis-Omiiye (formerly Omiata), Fashion
  440. Oluwasegun Oladiji Sogbein, Manufacturing
  441. Oluwaseun Ekundayo, Agriculture (Agribusiness, Farming, etc.)
  442. Oluwaseun Hajarat Jenrola, Commercial/ Retail
  443. Oluwaseyi A. Sowunmi, Media and Entertainment
  444. Oluwaseyi Ruth Olagundoye, Fashion
  445. Oluwaseyi Tunde Oladipo, Haulage/Logistics
  446. Oluwatobi Ampitan, Agriculture (Agribusiness, Farming, etc.)
  447. Oluwatobi Emmanuel Onasanya, FMCG
  448. Oluwatoyin Tijani Ogunsanya, Education and Training
  449. Oluwayemisi Wasilat Akintonwa, Healthcare
  450. Oluwole Sunday Ogunrinde, ICT
  451. Omasirichukwu Joseph Udeinya, Healthcare
  452. Omolara Elizabeth Ogunbosi, Fashion
  453. Omolola Abiola Okediji, Fashion
  454. Omotayo Adeyemi Adegeye, Fashion
  455. Omotayo Olarinde Olaoye, Media and Entertainment
  456. Omotayo Oluwaseun Oloruntoba, FMCG
  457. Onakorame Emajemite, Agriculture (Agribusiness, Farming, etc.)
  458. Onyedika Bruno Okafor, Agriculture (Agribusiness, Farming, etc.)
  459.  Onyinye A. Obi, Manufacturing Opemipo Obasanmi Famogbiele,
  460. Agriculture (Agri-business, Farming, etc.)
  461. Opemiposi Oluwadamilola Ajayi, Commercial/Retail
  462. Orezime Mary Igata, Agriculture (Agribusiness, Farming, etc.)
  463. Orisunayomide Oluwafunmilayo Fagbenle,ICT
  464. Osagie Osaze Okunbor, Agriculture (Agribusiness, Farming, etc.)
  465. Osamwonyi Festus Eguavoen, Education and Training
  466. Osarenkhoe Matthew Ogbomo-Osifo, ICT
  467. Osekafore Adebija, Agriculture (Agribusiness, Farming, etc.)
  468. Osemudiamen Samuel Etiobhio, Professional Services
  469. Otobong Emmanuel Essiet, Agriculture (Agribusiness, Farming, etc.)
  470. Owolabi Sefiu Alarape, Agriculture (Agribusiness, Farming, etc.)
  471. Oyeboade Makinde, Agriculture (Agribusiness, Farming, etc.)
  472. Oyebukola Olawunmi Oyeyemi, Agriculture (Agri-business, Farming, etc.)
  473. Ozemoya Rowland Ozemoya, Education and Training
  474. Patience Ikpongifono Udokang, Agriculture (Agri-business, Farming, etc.)
  475. Patrick Ifeanyi Acho, Consulting
  476. Patrick Umeadi Ugbechie, Commercial/ Retail
  477. Paulina Oyenike Oyeniran, Agriculture (Agri-business, Farming, etc.)
  478. Peter Asuk Amba, Agriculture (Agri-business, Farming, etc.)
  479. Peter Edward Osanebi, Oil & Gas
  480. Peter Otunuya Chukwusah, ICT
  481. Philip Iroegbulam, Manufacturing
  482. Philip Maduabuchi Oko, Manufacturing
  483. Pius Oluwatosin Reis, Education and Training
  484. Praise Ezichi Uke, Agriculture (Agri-business)
  485. Precious Omonigho Ikokwu, Commercial/ Retail
  486. Prince Joshua Oyeniyi, Media and Entertainment
  487. Princess Idongesit Udoh, Manufacturing
  488. Priscilla Temitope Adebusuyi, Education and Training
  489. Pslot Lot, Agriculture (Agri-business, Farming, etc.)
  490. Rachel Anyanwu, Agriculture (Agri-business, Farming, etc.)
  491. Rahaman Olaide Yinusa, Agriculture (Agribusiness, Farming, etc.)
  492. Rapheal Imoleayo Ogunnaike, Agriculture (Agri-business, Farming, etc.)
  493. Rebecca Oluwayemisi Adeyeye, Healthcare
  494. Rebecca Zamari Daniel, Agriculture (Agribusiness, Farming, etc.)
  495. Remigius Ejike Emmanuel, Agriculture (Agribusiness, Farming, etc.)
  496. Rhoda Odigboh, Education and Training
  497. Rilwan Bankole Layeni, Commercial/Retail
  498. Rita Omosigho Egonmwan, Agriculture (Agribusiness, Farming, etc.)
  499. Roseline Joshua, Agriculture (Agri-business, Farming, etc.)
  500. Roseline Ojo, Manufacturing
  501. Rosemary Isioma Obi, Commercial/Retail
  502. Rotimi Adebare Sonde, Agriculture (Agribusiness, Farming, etc.)
  503. Rotimi Sunday Oyebode, Agriculture (Agribusiness, Farming, etc.)
  504. Rotimi Tijani, Fashion
  505. Rufai Abdulsalam Salihu, Agriculture (Agribusiness, Farming, etc.)
  506. Rukayat Oyinkansola Edidi, Construction
  507. Saheed Oyeyemi Awojide, Tourism/Hospitality
  508. Saleh Bilyaminu, Agriculture (Agri-business, Farming, etc.)
  509. Sampson Emeka Nwafor, Construction
  510. Samson Morgan, Professional Services
  511. Samson Udiomuno Omamuzo, Media and Entertainment
  512. Samuel Ajifolokun, Healthcare
  513. Samuel Anonele Abu, Media and Entertainment
  514. Samuel Idoko Adah, Energy/Power Generation
  515. Samuel Ireke Okonkwo, Agriculture (Agribusiness, Farming, etc.)
  516. Sarah Success Hart, Agriculture (Agri-business, Farming, etc.)
  517. Segun Osiki, Commercial/Retail
  518. Sheriff Opeyemi Aliu, Agriculture (Agri-business,Farming, etc.)
  519. Sileola Goodness Oluyehun, Fashion
  520. Simeon Omonofa Ogunnubi, ICT
  521. Simon Ayoade Olatunde, Agriculture (Agribusiness, Farming, etc.)
  522. Sodiq Alabi, Agriculture (Agri-business, Farming, etc.)
  523. Soji Augustine Megbowon, Education and Training
  524. Solomon Solomon George, Agriculture (Agribusiness, Farming, etc.)
  525. Sophia Ezeudu, Agriculture (Agri-business, Farming, etc.)
  526. Stella Onyeche Omepa, Education and Training
  527. Stephen Ikechukwu Obiora, Professional Services
  528. Stephen Kunle Olanrewaju, Agriculture (Agribusiness, Farming, etc.)
  529. Stephen Ogheneochuko Sasodje, Agriculture (Agri-business, Farming, etc.)
  530. Stephen Onuoha, ICT
  531. Steven Kelechi Nwadike, Education and Training
  532. Success Eze Boniface, Agriculture (Agribusiness, Farming, etc.)
  533. Sufyan Kabo Lawal, Media and Entertainment
  534. Sulaiman Hammen Assayouti, ICT
  535. Suleiman Aliyu Musa, Agriculture (Agribusiness, Farming, etc.)
  536. Sunday King Adika, ICT
  537. Sunday Ocheje Oguche, Agriculture (Agribusiness, Farming, etc.)
  538. Sunday Olawale Okunogbe, Agriculture (Agribusiness, Farming, etc.)
  539. Sunday Peter Oshaji, Manufacturing
  540. Sylvester Okoro Ajah, ICT
  541. Taiwo Michael Okunoren, Tourism/Hospitality
  542. Taiwo Peter Odeyale, Agriculture (Agribusiness, Farming, etc.)
  543. Tanko Auta Musa, Agriculture (Agri-business, Farming, etc.)
  544. Taofeek Abidemi Owolabi, Healthcare
  545. Temitayo Ajayi, Agriculture (Agri-business, Farming, etc.)
  546. Temitope Esosa Afolabi, Fashion
  547. Temple Olotu Abbott, ICT
  548. Terwase Fidelis Kor, Education and Training
  549. Timi Paul Olagunju, Education and Training
  550. Timothy Prince Chidike Ezeorba, Waste Management
  551. Tinyang Adi, Media and Entertainment
  552. Titus Sinabijinyi, Energy/Power Generation
  553. Tobiloba Ayodele Kolawole, Agriculture (Agribusiness,
  554. Farming, etc.)
  555. Tochukwu Chibuzor Nwofor, Manufacturing
  556. Tochukwu Edwin Emelone, Manufacturing
  557. Tochukwu Samuel Ikpegbu, Agriculture (Agribusiness, Farming, etc.)
  558. Tolani Charles, Construction
  559. Tolulope Gideon Kilanko, ICT
  560. Toluwase Adesomo, Healthcare
  561. Tomilola Olaide Ajayi, Manufacturing
  562. Tony Abah, Manufacturing
  563. Tony Oghenekevwe Igbigbi, Manufacturing
  564. Tuebi Paul Egbuson, Manufacturing
  565. Tunji Lanrewaju Akande, Fashion
  566. Uche Collins Nwosu, Agriculture (Agri-business,Farming)
  567. Uche Vincent Mbaka, Waste Management
  568. Uchechi Tochi Aloy Iwualla, Commercial/Retail
  569. Uchechukwu Churchill Amuchi, Media and Entertainment
  570. Uchechukwu Ebere Obioha, Tourism/Hospitality
  571. Uchenna Emmanuel Nwoke, Manufacturing
  572. Uchenna Francis Onuorah, FMCG
  573. Ugochinyere Freda Aroh, Healthcare
  574. Ugochukwu Samuel Okeke, Professional Services
  575. Ugochukwu Stephen Ugwudi, Agriculture (Agribusiness, Farming, etc.)
  576. Ukeme-Abasi Akpan Akpabio, Oil & Gas
  577. Usman Ali Lawan, Agriculture (Agri-business, Farming, etc.)
  578. Usman Ibrahim Abubakar, Waste Management
  579. Usoko Limdam, Commercial/Retail
  580. Uzoma Okwuonu Aham, ICT
  581. Valentine Nwocha, Media and Entertainment
  582. Victor Willie Amos, Agriculture (Agri-business, Farming, etc.)
  583. Violet Nneamaka Nwankwo, Agriculture (Agribusiness, Farming, etc.)
  584. Virtue Bassey, Manufacturing
  585. Vivian Chioma Iroegbulam, Manufacturing
  586. Wakanbaga Joshua Gana, Agriculture (Agribusiness,Farming, etc.)
  587. Wesley Ande Yakubu, Agriculture (Agribusiness, Farming, etc.)
  588. Wisdom Oyeni Akari, Tourism/Hospitality
  589. Yakubu Isah Yau, Energy/Power Generation
  590. Yinka Adeola Olanrewaju-Olawepo, Fashion
  591. Yole Odior, ICT
  592. Zion Onazi, Manufacturing

Rwanda

  1. Alice Uwarugira, Energy/Power Generation
  2. Ange Imanishimwe, Healthcare
  3. Ange Ingabire, Commercial/Retail
  4. Carine Pierrette Mukamakuza, Agriculture (Agribusiness, Farming, etc.)
  5. Cephas Nshimyumuremyi, Manufacturing
  6. Cyriaque Sinayobye, Agriculture (Agri-business, Farming, etc.)
  7. Denyse Uwineza, ICT
  8. Emmanuel Ntawuyirusha, Manufacturing
  9. Gisele Uwera, Healthcare
  10. Ignace Ignace Nyiringabo, Agriculture (Agribusiness, Farming, etc.)
  11. Iragena Jean, Media and Entertainment
  12. Irakoze David, Commercial/Retail
  13. Jean Wilson Ndoruhirwe, Agriculture (Agribusiness, Farming, etc.)
  14. Olive Ashimwe, Agriculture (Agri-business, Farming, etc.)
  15. Regis Umugiraneza, Manufacturing
  16. Seleman Nyirurugo, Agriculture (Agri-business, Farming, etc.)
  17. Uka Essien Osaigbovo, Media and Entertainment
  18. Uwamugirimfura – Rene, Energy/Power Generation
  19. Uwayezu Janvier, Agriculture (Agri-business,Farming, etc.)
  20. Yvette Ishimwe, Waste Management

SÃO TOMÉ AND PRÍNCIPE

  1. Ogimaykel Rainy Figueiredo Da Costa, Professional Services

Senegal

  1. Belinda Chamake Njefi, Fashion
  2. Djamila Ouedraogo, Education and Training
  3. Edouodji Sekou Oumar So, Agriculture (Agri-business, Farming, etc.)
  4. Fatou Fatou Diaby, Manufacturing
  5. Housseynatou Diallo, Manufacturing
  6. Ramatoulaye Rosine Sousso, Education and Training

Seychelles

  1. Melvin Jude Camille, Energy/Power Generation

Sierra Leone

  1. Jestina P.P Weekes, Construction

Somalia

  1. Abdoulrazak Ahmed Abdi, FMCG
  2. Jama Ibrahim Yassin, Agriculture (Agri-business, Farming, etc.)

South Africa

  1. Ariane Sindika Tamba, Energy/Power Generation
  2. Calvin Xhalabile, Transportation
  3. Divine Ngwa Amabo, Manufacturing
  4. Ishara Maharaj, Education and Training
  5. Kossi Toulassi, Agriculture (Agri-business, Farming, etc.)
  6. Malesaka Ilze Maimela, Construction
  7. Moshibudi Michelle Mokone, Fashion
  8. Muneeb Galant, ICT
  9. Musa Didam Danjuma Usman, Commercial/Retail
  10. Nneile Alexandrina Nkholise, Healthcare
  11. Nnodim Eliot Wogu, FMCG
  12. Nomvuyiseko Mbenene, Consulting
  13. Patrick Teikakpo Waide, Commercial/Retail
  14. Prince Ewere Eghobor, Energy/Power Generation
  15. Prince Skosana, Energy/Power Generation
  16. Rehana Mahomed, Manufacturing
  17. Tariro Frank Ngara, Education and Training
  18. Vimbayi Kanyonganise, Consulting

South Sudan

  1. Atoj Deng Mayol Chol, Agriculture (Agri-business, Farming, etc.)

Sudan

  1. Alwaleed Abdelhameed Abdeen, Media and Entertainment

Swaziland

  1. Sihle Magagula, Media and Entertainment

Tanzania

  1. Diana Nshangeki, Fashion
  2. Fortunatha Denis Kalala, Agriculture (Agri-business, Farming, etc.)
  3. Haika James Mtei, Transportation
  4. Hellen Dausen Munis, Manufacturing
  5. Herbert Tenson Mwashiuya, Commercial/Retail
  6. Japhet Mziza Sekenya, Agriculture (Agri-business, Farming, etc.)
  7. Joseph Chengo Lewa, Energy/Power Generation

Togo

  1. Elolo Emmanuel Agbenonwossi, Agriculture (Agri-business, Farming, etc.)

Tunisia

  1. Aymen Blagui Blagui Agriculture (Agri-business, Farming, etc.)

Uganda

  1. Alex Stephine Muwonge, ICT
  2. Annie Aketcha, Agriculture (Agri-business, Farming, etc.)
  3. Arthur Arinda, Healthcare
  4. Baingana Andrew, Education and Training
  5. Beatrice Namirembe, Healthcare
  6. Belinda Kate Okumu-Ringa, Manufacturing
  7. Ben Wokorach, Agriculture (Agri-business, Farming, etc.)
  8. Brenda Amongin, ICT
  9. Bruce Nabaasa, Construction
  10. Chandi Tome, Healthcare
  11. Charles Batte, Agriculture (Agri-business, Farming, etc.)
  12. Daniel Ameny, Agriculture (Agri-business, Farming, etc.)
  13. David M Katuramu, Agriculture (Agri-business, Farming, etc.)
  14. Denis Okwir, Agriculture (Agri-business, Farming, etc.)
  15. Ekuka Nasur Odong, Agriculture (Agri-business, Farming, etc.)
  16. Emma Laura Namwanje Kisa Education and Training
  17. Etukuri Omellah Charles, Agriculture (Agribusiness, Farming, etc.)
  18. Flavia Keirungi Turyammanya Agriculture (Agri-business, Farming, etc.)
  19. Georwell Emanu, Agriculture (Agri-business, Farming, etc.)
  20. Godwin Ocen , Haulage/ Logistics
  21. Harriet Diana Iseren, Agriculture (Agri-business, Farming, etc.)
  22. Isaac Roger Ndawula, ICT
  23. James Kakeeto, Energy/Power Generation
  24. James Kyewalabye, Agriculture (Agri-business, Farming, etc.)
  25. Jane Bemigisha, Consulting
  26. Jane E. Achen, Agriculture (Agri-business,Farming, etc.)
  27. Janson Mugabe, ICT
  28. Joel Mukisa, Agriculture (Agri-business, Farming, etc.)
  29. Jonathan Tamale, Agriculture (Agri-business, Farming, etc.)
  30. Josephine Nantongo, Waste Management
  31. Kazibwe David Kazibwe, Education and Training
  32. Keneth Twesigye, Consulting
  33. Kenneth Lubula, Construction
  34. Kenneth Tanaziraba, Transportation
  35. Keziya Kajubi, Commercial/Retail
  36. Kigere Julius Kavuma, Manufacturing
  37. Martin Muganzi, Fashion
  38. Mary Akumu, Agriculture (Agri-business, Farming, etc.)
  39. Micheal Innocent Kanwagi, Healthcare
  40. Nina Kakangaga Kebirungi, Fashion
  41. Nolbert Ronnie Muhumuza, Energy/Power Generation
  42. Olatunde Adedayo Afolabi, Healthcare
  43. Osigbodi Stephen Kolawole, Energy/Power Generation
  44. Pamela Makumbi Oketcho, Agriculture (Agribusiness, Farming, etc.)
  45. Pascal Alule, Agriculture (Agri-business, Farming, etc.)
  46. Paul Gwokto Ogaba, Energy/Power Generation
  47. Peter Innocent Magara, Fashion
  48. Peter Torach, Agriculture (Agri-business,Farming, etc.)
  49. Philip Buyi, Fashion Phillip Mubiru Babirete, Agriculture (Agribusiness,
    Farming, etc.)
  50. Richard Bbaale, Waste Management
  51. Roger Paul Kamugasha, Media and Entertainment
  52. Ronald Innocent Hakiza, Transportation
  53. Ronald Ssenfuka, Agriculture (Agri-business, Farming, etc.)
  54. Samuel Kalimunda, Manufacturing
  55. Sarah Eloba Awichi, Agriculture (Agri-business, Farming, etc.)
  56. Simon Peter Waigumba, Agriculture (Agribusiness, Farming, etc.)
  57. Stephen Arinitwe, Education and Training
  58. Stephen Sempande, Agriculture (Agri-business, Farming, etc.)
  59. Susan Nyanzi, Tourism/Hospitality
  60. Sylvia Natukunda, Agriculture (Agri-business, Farming, etc.)
  61. Thomas Ssali Kabugo, Agriculture (Agribusiness, Farming, etc.)
  62. Titi Josias Kaboré, Agriculture (Agri-business, Farming, etc.)
  63. Tom Kalyesubula, Agriculture (Agri-business, Farming, etc.)

Zambia

  1. Chikwanda Sumbukeni, Agriculture (Agribusiness, Farming, etc.)
  2. David Mwale Mbuta, Commercial/Retail
  3. Musa Chingoma, Agriculture (Agri-business, Farming, etc.)
  4. Njavwa Mutambo, Transportation
  5. Patrick Mwape, Agriculture (Agri-business, Farming, etc.)
  6. Royd Makuba, Haulage/ Logistics
  7. Sharon Mazimba, FMCG
  8. Tuliswensi Sinyangwe, ICT

Zimbabwe

  1. Happiers Nyowane, Fashion
  2. Kudakwashe Makuzwa, Agriculture (Agribusiness, Farming, etc.)
  3. Lawrence Hoba, Energy/Power Generation
  4. Mercy Musaida Manyuchi, Energy/Power Generation
  5. Nkosana George Mazibisa, FMCG
  6. Patience Gugulethu Mpofu, ICT
  7. Tanyaradzwa Ashleigh Tawengwa, Media and Entertainment
  8. Tatenda Robin Chaibva, Tourism/Hospitality
  9. Tawanda Vimbai Mutukwa, ICT
  10. Tinashe Morris Makina, Consulting
  11. Tinashe Saintness Chihuri, Financial Services
  12. Victor N/A Bhonyongwa, Manufacturing
  13. Vimbayi Shoko, Agriculture (Agri-business, Farming, etc.)
  14. Vimbiso Mashumba, Education and Training

Download the Full List of the 1,000 Entrepreneurs in PDF Format

Congratulations to all the selected participants for the Tony Elumelu Foundation Entrepreneurship Programme 2016 #TEEP. All the Best.

For More Information:

Visit the Official Webpage of the Tony Elumelu Foundation Entrepreneurship Programme

 

4 comments
0 FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail
Blog

African Leadership University officially launched in Mauritius.

by lanredahunsi
written by lanredahunsi

African Leadership University (ALU), a newly established tertiary institution offering programmes aimed at developing Africa’s future leaders, today held a grand opening ceremony at its Mauritius campus, African Leadership College. The event, attended by Mauritian Deputy Prime Minister, Xavier-Luc Duval formally marks the start of ALU’s drive to build 25 campuses across Africa that on completion would each host 10 000 students. The institution’s vision is to produce 3 million African leaders in the next 5 decades and distinguish itself as the premier institution for leadership education.

Speaking at the opening ceremony, ALU Chancellor, Graca Machel highlighted the role education institutions play in developing good leaders:

“Building strong education institutions is perhaps Africa’s most urgent priority today. A good education system produces good citizens and good leaders. ALU is an audacious initiative that uses innovation to create a fresh solution to an old problem – creating high calibre leaders who will drive Africa’s development and inspire generations to come. This event marks the beginning of what I believe will be an inspiring African story. As an educationist, I am thrilled to be part of this ground-breaking initiative.”

Other keynote speakers at the event included ALU’s Global Advisory Council Chairman, Dr. Donald Kaberuka, who is immediate former president of the African Development Bank and Prof. Pamela Gillies, Vice Chancellor of Glasgow Caledonian University, ALU’s accreditation and academic partner. The event was attended by over 300 guests that included global leaders in education, senior executives from ALU’s corporate partners, government representatives from several African countries and leading African academics.

Opening the event, ALU Founder and CEO, Fred Swaniker commented:

“The answer to the challenge of higher education in Africa today is a solution that leverages scarce resources to produces market-ready graduates at scale in a time-efficient manner. Resource constraints in Africa and the imperative to develop transformational leadership across the continent today forces on us an opportunity to re-imagine the traditional university model. ALU is proof that such a solution is within reach. We want to deliver high quality leadership education at scale, and we want to do it outstandingly.”

Over the next 2 days, these leaders will participate in discussions aimed at developing new perspectives in education and talent development that would guide the institution’s pedagogy

For More Information:

Visit the Official Webpage of the African Leadership University

 

0 comments
0 FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail
Blog

Orange launches Entrepreneur Club for start-ups in Africa and the Middle East.

by lanredahunsi
written by lanredahunsi

Orange is launching the Entrepreneur Club, a new space for information in French and English devoted to entrepreneurs in Africa and the Middle East.

The website is a source of information for entrepreneurs that puts them in touch with a variety of instruments from Orange that support entrepreneurship. The Entrepreneur Club also provides practical information and tools for company creation.

Orange supports start-ups in Africa and the Middle East

Entrepreneurs in Africa and the Middle East are contributing to their countries’ development and reputation. Orange collaborates with them on a daily basis by giving them access to quality voice and data services. Orange also supports small and medium companies in the region as part of its policy of corporate social responsibility, for example through the Orange Prize for the social entrepreneur in Africa and by working with a number of local incubators (CTIC in Senegal, CIPMEN in Niger, etc.).

A single window towards support by Orange

The Entrepreneur Club redirects the entrepreneur towards ecosystem instruments suited to his or her situation. For example, the entrepreneur can find pertinent information on numerous aspects of his or her business, including the legal environment, how-to sheets, best practices, tips and video verbatims.

Some entrepreneurs need the support, hosting and coaching that incubators provide, others want to improve their payment options with Orange’s APIs, still others are looking for financing. In addition to Orange’s local B2B services, the Net surfer is introduced to Imagine with Orange, Orange Partner, Orange Developer, Orange Fab and Orange Digital Ventures.

A survival kit for entrepreneurs

The business entrepreneur has to respond to a variety of questions, depending on the maturity of his or her start-up. At Entrepreneur Club, experienced entrepreneurs from Africa and the Middle East talk about the problems they have encountered and what they do to overcome them. Specialized journalists and lawyers contribute technical articles and practical advice in easy-to-understand language.

Orange is one of the world’s leading telecommunications operators with sales of 39 billion euros in 2014 and 157,000 employees worldwide at 30 September 2015, including 98,000 employees in France. Present in 28 countries, the Group has a total customer base of 263 million customers worldwide at 30 September 2015, including 200 million mobile customers and 18 million fixed broadband customers.

For More Information:

Visit the Official Webpage of the Orange Entrepreneur Club

1 comment
0 FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail
The-Morland-Scholarship-for-African-Writers
Blog

Miles Morland Foundation announces 2015 Morland Writing Scholarship Awards WInners.

by lanredahunsi
written by lanredahunsi

The Miles Morland Foundation is pleased to announce the winners of the 2015 Morland Writing Scholarships. The winners each receive a grant of ₤18,000 to allow them to take a year to write a book. This year for the first time MMF gave in addition two non-fiction awards of £27,000 to be paid over a year and a half to allow the scholars time for research. The awards are based on submissions which include a book proposal and an excerpt of published writing.

The winners are:

  • Fatin Abbas, Sudan (Non-fiction)

  • Akwaeke Emezi, Nigeria (Fiction)

  • Karen Jennings, South Africa, (Fiction)

  • Bolaji Odofin, Nigeria, (Fiction)

  • Noo Saro-Wiwa, Nigeria, (Non-fiction)

Michela Wrong, the MMF Foundation’s Literary Director commented:

“Women writers began emerging as an unstoppable force a year ago but this year it was a rout. All five scholarships have gone to women, despite the fact that overall there were more male than female applicants. Women dominated both the long list sent to readers and the shortlist that went to the judges. Of the twenty-one writers on the short list nineteen were women.”

Miles Morland, a man, said, “This shows that women are the superior gender but we knew that already, didn’t we?”

Michela continued, “Overall, the Foundation received 345 applications, down from 2014’s 482. The overall number has dropped, but we felt that individual applications were of a higher quality, suggesting that prospective writers now have a better grasp of what the scholarship offers and entails. Many writers are making second attempts, a development we encourage.

“The applications came from across the continent, 23 African countries in all, with Nigeria, South Africa and Kenya dominating as usual. The Judges gave three Scholarships to Nigerians, all very different writers. We were impressed by the explosion of literary energy coming from West Africa. MMF know there is also a wealth of creativity and talent in East Africa and hope that next year that will be reflected in the Scholarships.”

The Judges for this year were three distinguished African literary figures, Ellah Wakatama Allfrey, the Chair, accompanied by Olufemi Terry and Muthoni Garland. Below are Ellah’s comments on the new Scholars –

Fatin Abbas (Sudan) Non-fiction Fatin Abbas’ work will weave together personal narrative and an examination of contemporary Sudanese identity with an account of her country’s history of slavery. In a proposal that stood out for its clarity of thought and careful planning, Abbas impressed the judges with her ambition to transform a personal story into an investigation of colonialism, conflict and the unlikely ties that bind a people together.

Akwaeke Emezi (Nigeria) The Death of Vivek Oji – Fiction Emezi plans a novel in which a mixed race couple mourn the loss of their adult child – found murdered in the market place. What begins as a tale of loss becomes an investigation of sexuality, gender identity and intolerance. The judges praised Emezi’s prose style and her ability to weave narrative and character towards a potentially brilliant work of imagination.

Karen Jennings (South Africa) The Harbour’s Breast – Fiction Jennings’ novel is a story of a lighthouse keeper on an island off the coast of an unnamed African country whose solitary life is changed by the arrival first of an injured man seeking refuge and then the body of a murdered woman that washes up on shore. The judges were struck by Jennings’s proposal to use this story to explore the realities faced by African refugees who risk their lives to seek safety, and of the inhabitants on whose shores they land.

Bolaji Odofin (Nigeria) Ye Gods – Fiction
 Odofin will write a novel in which the deities of Nigeria find themselves invaded by a new pantheon and mortals find themselves the pawns in a fight for their souls. The bold ambition of this proposal delighted the judges who were inspired by Odofin’s desire to use humour to comment on Nigeria’s recent history, religion and the confluence of belief systems.

Noo Saro-Wiwa (Nigeria) Non-fiction  Saro-Wiwa’s book will focus on the lives of Africans who have chosen to live in China. It will shed light on relations between the Africans in this diaspora and the Chinese. The judges were inspired by Saro-Wiwa’s submission and impressed by her approach to a topic of vast political, economic and social relevance.

 For More Information:

Visit the Official Webpage of the Morland Writing Scholarship 

0 comments
0 FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail
Blog

AUC Chairperson H.E Dr Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma officially opens the 6th Batch Training of the African Union Youth Volunteer Corps (AU-YVC)

by lanredahunsi
written by lanredahunsi

 

The Chairperson of the African Union Commission (AUC), Her Excellency Dr. Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma officially welcomed the 6th Batch of the African Union Youth Volunteer Core (AU-YVC) training program.
Her Excellency took the opportunity to share valuable knowledge with the young
people that are taking part in this year’s program. She described their experience as a great privilege to contribute to the work of the AU and further stated that she is looking forward to exposing them to work skills benefiting from the competences of
those who would be assigned to her Office.
The future of Africa took centre stage in her address, revealing the AU’s position and vision for young people. In relation to Agenda 2063, the Chairperson stated,
‘we consider that the people who are going to drive Agenda 2063, those who will develop this continent to be prosperous, integrated and peaceful are young people along with women. You are part of that youth!’ As the Chairperson engaged the young people, she constantly reminded them to never stop believing in their abilities and never losing hope in the African continent and its people. In her own words, ‘this is the first step to Pan-Africanism’.
The Chairperson concluded her speech to young people by offering advice on the
importance of time management, passion for work, maintaining vibrancy and creating bigger opportunities for the next generation than those that were created for
them.
au-vyc-2016
In a true display of encouraging youth participation, Her Excellency, with the assistance
of University of Johannesburg’s Vice Chancellor Professor Tshilidzi Marwala, opened up the floor for young people to pose questions. Her answers revealed her journey from Cabinet Minister in South Africa to the AUC, plans to include vocational college graduates into the AU-YVC program, the need to quantify the work that women contribute to economies and the support structures that have enhanced her career.
The open session also gave AU-YVC training participant Heba Shama the opportunity to share her story. The young Egyptian shared her journey of discovery in identifying, appreciating and understanding her own Africanness, which began whilst she was studying in the USA. She further praised the AUYVC program for the work it is doing in helping her solidify her identify.
Addressing the audience before Her Excellency took to the podium, Acting Head of the Youth Division within the AUC, Dr Beatrice Njenga, gave insight into the program. She described the AU-YVC as a flagship programme which aims to instil the spirit Pan-Africanism, volunteerism, leadership, life skills, personal initiative, creativity and collective responsibility in young people across the continent and in the diaspora.
This year’s Batch of 80 participants (65% female and 35% male) from 37 AU Member States was selected out of 5000 applicants.

In relation to the higher percentage of females, Dr Njenga stated, ‘we are pleased to have more females in this year’s Batch as 2015 is the AU’s Year for Women Empowerment’. The training will conclude on the 19th of December 2015 and a majority of the participants will be deployed to different organisations in Member States across Africa including the AU

Headquarters in Addis Ababa.
The programme is currently supported by AU Member States and Ford Foundation. The training in Johannesburg is hosted by the University of Johannesburg and supported by the AU Foundation and the Nelson Mandela Foundation among others.
For m ore information contact:
Pamela Charidza : [email protected]
Daniel Adugna : [email protected]
For More Information:
1 comment
0 FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail
Blog

Meet the Winners & Runners Up from Africa for the 2016 Queen’s Young Leader Award.

by lanredahunsi
written by lanredahunsi

 

The Queen’s Young Leader Award recognises and celebrates exceptional people aged 18-29 from across the Commonwealth, who are taking the lead in their communities and using their skills to transform lives.

Winners of this prestigious Award will receive a unique package of training, mentoring and networking, including a one-week residential programme in the UK during which they will collect their Award from Her Majesty The Queen. With this support, Award winners will be expected to continue and develop the amazing work they are already doing in their communities.

 

BOTSWANA

CAMEROON

Runners -Up:  Arielle Kitio | Theresa Morfaw

GHANA

KENYA

Runners-Up:

  • Antonia Narengi
  • Bryan Wanyama
  • Carryl Masibo
  • Catherine Nyambura
  • Emmanuel Ekai Nabenyo
  • Grace Mageka
  • Irene Mwangi
  • Jacinter Ouma
  • Marvine Loyce Ochieng

LESOTHO

Runners Up

  • Lehlohonolo Mohola
  • Maalina Flory Molumo

MALAWI

Runners Up

  • Shabbir Esmael

MAURITIUS

MOZAMBIQUE

NIGERIA

Runners Up

  • Charles Immanuel Akhimien
  • Chijindu Umunnakwe
  • Godspower Oboido
  • Ijeoma Idika-Chima
  • John Oluwadero
  • Kate Ekanem
  • Victoria Ibiwoye
  • Wemimo Abbey

RWANDA

Runners Up

  • Emmanuel Nshimiyimana
  • Jean Claude Muhire

SEYCHELLES

SIERRA LEONE

SOUTH AFRICA

Runners Up

  • Busisiwe Msimango
  • Dean Benjamin
  • Khanya Funde
  • Sakhile Mngadi
  • Sechaba Nkitseng
  • Tokologo Phetla
  • Tshepo Seloane
  • Tshimangadzo Tshikomba

 

TANZANIA

  • Elizabeth Kitange
  • Fortunatus Ekklesiah
  • Hasna Ally
  • Marko Hingi
  • Petrider Paul
  • Vick John Vigero

UGANDA

Runners Up:

  • Brownie Ebal
  • Charles Batte
  • Nakandi Haawah
  • Nulu Naluyombya
  • Peter Ochieng
  • Rose Ndagire
  • Sharifah Nabambejja
  • Stuart Akua

For More Information:

Visit the Official Webpage of the 2016  Queen’s Young Leader Award

0 comments
0 FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail
BlogDemocratic Republic Of CongoMozambiqueNigeria

Caterpillar launches free e-learning website for future technicians in Africa

by OFA
written by OFA

Press Release:
Pilot phase of e-learning website launched for people who have the ambition to become a technician in Nigeria, Mozambique and DR Congo

Caterpillar today announced that it has launched the pilot-phase of the Technicians for Africa Project, an e-learning website for people who aspire to become a technician in Nigeria, Mozambique and DR Congo.

Technicians for Africa is an absolutely free online program for Africans seeking a new and exciting career as a service technician. Technicians for Africa is sponsored by Caterpillar, the global leader in construction and mining equipment. In just 3-6 months you can achieve Foundational Certification and begin an exciting journey towards a possible career as a well paid and highly valued service technician in the automotive, trucking or heavy equipment industry.

The website, which is available in French, Portuguese and English, is leveraging Caterpillar’s existing, state of the art e-learning solutions and makes them available for anyone in the three countries that has the ambition to develop a career as a heavy equipment Technician.

“This is just one of the ways that we’re looking to boost the skills in the industry as a whole. There is a vital need for skilled labour across these sectors in Africa. We are proud to see the launch of this initiative,” said David Picard, Region Manager responsible for Caterpillar’s distribution in Africa.

The pilot websites in English, French and Portuguese have already been launched and during the pilot stage they will be available in Nigeria, DR Congo and Mozambique. The access to the basic Caterpillar Technician curriculum is free. Those who register for the curriculum will have the opportunity to upgrade their knowledge and upon successful completion of the curriculum, will earn a certificate of completion.

“Many School leavers are unable to enter the job market because they have been unable to receive enough technical knowledge when they leave school. In schools, the latest technical information isn’t always available,” explained Maurice Manders, Caterpillar’s Learning and Development Manager and also team leader of the e-learning project. “Offering an Internet-based basic learning curriculum that is available to schools and students is an efficient solution to this challenge,” he added.

The new free e-learning curriculum, which contains 18 modules of easy-to-understand, technical insights about safety and basic fundamental systems like electrical, hydraulics and powertrain, complements the paid-for e-learning platforms that are available to Caterpillar’s dealers and customers. Paying customers get access to a wider range of e-learning and more functionality of the learning management system.

For More Information:

Visit the Official Webpage of the Technicians for Africa Project

1 comment
0 FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail
Blog

Four African Organizations Named Finalists for $100,000 One Africa Award

by lanredahunsi
written by lanredahunsi

The 2015 ONE Africa Award winner will be announced at a ceremony to be held in Accra, Ghana on 20 November 2015 as part of the Mo Ibrahim Foundation Annual Governance Weekend.

The 2015 finalists for the annual $100,000 USD ONE Africa Award ) were today announced by the ONE Campaign in Johannesburg.

These are:

  • Africa!Ignite of South Africa;
  • Community Link of Uganda;
  • Support for Women in Agriculture and Environment (SWAGEN) of Uganda; and
  • The Global Shea Alliance of Ghana.


The 2015 ONE Africa Award winner will be announced at a ceremony to be held in Accra, Ghana on 20 November 2015 as part of the Mo Ibrahim Foundation Annual Governance Weekend. The ceremony will take place a the Accra International Conference Center from 16h30 to 17h30.

For the last seven years, the ONE Campaign has recognized and promoted the innovative work of Africa-driven and Africa led advocacy efforts of those civil society organizations making on the ground progress towards the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) with the ONE Africa Award.

The $100,000 USD annual prize awards and recognizes innovative African efforts to fight poverty and will incentivise many more of such efforts towards the attainment of the new Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Nachilala Nkombo, Acting Africa Director at ONE applauded the work of the finalist organisations, and congratulated all of the 254 aspirants this year.

“As we exit the MDGs and prepare to implement the new  SDG, this year’s finalists standout  as examples of the effective work African  organisations working  tirelessly  sometimes with limited resources across the continent to help their communities make progress in the fight against poverty and diseases. Be it  halving extreme poverty, empowering women, or ensuring environmental sustainability.  The response rate was  overwhelming. Our finalists represent some of the most innovative and results oriented development advocates in Africa, whose incredible work  will no doubt contribute to the attainment of SDGs in Africa by 2030,” she said.

“At ONE we advocate for progressive policy solutions to African governments that promote economic opportunity and development, which are necessary to eradicate extreme poverty and preventable diseases in Africa. None of that would be possible without the indispensable role of indigenous African civil society organisations in accelerating the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals. We are therefore proud to support and partner with local civil society organizations, and it is for this reason that we initiated the ONE Africa Award in 2008. By honouring the commitment and progress on the ground, we hope that new efforts can be inspired and we can collectively create a better future for all Africans. Today, I am honored to recognize and announce this year’s finalists,” Nkombo added.

Previous winners of this prestigious award include

  • Friends Africa of Kenya in 2014;
  • Agricultural Non-State Actors Forum (ANSAF) of Tanzania in 2013;
  • Positive-Generation (PG) of Cameroon in 2012;
  • Groupe de Réflexion et d’action, Femme Démocratie et Dévelopement (GF2D) of Togo in 2011;
  • SEND-Ghana of Ghana in 2010;
  • Slums Information Development and Resources Centres (SIDAREC) of Kenya in 2009; and
  • Development Communications Network (DEVCOMS) of Nigeria in 2008.

ABOUT THE 2015 ONE AFRICA AWARD FINALISTS:

Africa!Ignite – South Africa

Africa!Ignite has created a market for the work of artisans from 60 different craft groups with just over 1,000 crafters where 90% are women, to be sold to major fashion and homewares companies across the globe. Africa!Ignite has paid more than R16 million to rural entrepreneurs since 2008, and in the past two years paid R2 million to rural women crafters. 

Community Link – Uganda

Community Link works toward  sustainable, self-reliance livelihoods of refugees in Nakivale settlement, known as one of the oldest settlements in Uganda. One such initiative is the creation of an electricity plant that uses a maize milling machine to provide electrical power to 100 surrounding tents/homes in the settlement.

Global Shea Alliance – Ghana

The Global Shea Alliance (GSA) engages all parts of the shea value chain — women’s groups, small businesses, suppliers, international food and cosmetic brands, retailers, non-profit organizations, governments and consumers.

Support for Women in Agriculture and Environment – Uganda

Founded in 1992 by a group of women from the forest-dependent community in Rwoho Natural Tropical Forest, SWAGEN’s advocacy activities and negotiations resulted in the Collaborative Forest Management agreement with the Ugandan government.

Soure: ONE Campaign

0 comments
0 FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail
Blog

Orange announces the winners of the 2015 Orange African Social Venture Prize

by lanredahunsi
written by lanredahunsi

The first prize was awarded to Bassita, an Egyptian start-up that has developed the idea of “click funding

Orange announced the winners of the 2015 Orange African Social Venture Prize during the AfricaCom Awards ceremony held in Cape Town last night.

For the fifth year in a row, the Orange Group is recognizing three innovative projects that are set to stimulate development in Africa. The prize aims to encourage entrepreneurs as they launch initiatives using technology to meet the needs of people living in Africa.

More than 600 candidates responded to the call for projects, which ran from May to September 2015, reflecting the potential of the telecommunications sector to support development in Africa in fields as diverse as healthcare, agriculture, education and energy. Eleven projects were selected by a panel of judges, consisting of Orange specialists, the media and institutions that promote development.

The shortlisted projects were presented on Orange’s pan-African web portal. The three prize-winners received grants of 10,000, 15,000 and 25,000 euros, along with six months of support from Orange experts. The first prize will also be offered a patent registration.

The winning projects:

  • The first prize was awarded to Bassita, an Egyptian start-up that has developed the idea of “click funding”. The platform allows businesses to host their social, cultural or environmental projects and receive donations depending on whether the project reaches its objectives in terms of number of clicks or times shared on social networks.
  • The socially-responsible start-up upOwa was awarded second prize. The Cameroon-based company has developed an intelligent solar-powered solution that aims to provide electricity to rural areas of Western and Central Africa that have not yet been connected to the national electricity grids.
  • The third prize was awarded to the Malian company myAgro / N’Ga Sene that has developed a mobile application which enables farmers to buy high-quality seeds and fertilizer, and to benefit from a range of training programs. myAgro is set to play a role in improving agricultural productivity in Africa and facilitating working conditions.

Finally, a “favourite project” was also selected by web users on the StarAfrica portal.

  • Over 22,000 visitors voted for the Moroccan project Kezakoo, an e-learning platform that publishes free online educational material (school documents and videos) by allowing members to share their own content with the community.

Source: Star Africa

 

0 comments
0 FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail
Blog

Meet the 2015 Anzisha Prize Winners: $USD 75,000 Prize for Young African Entrepreneurs.

by lanredahunsi
written by lanredahunsi

The Anzisha Prize is thrilled to announce this year’s winner of the $25,000 Grand Prize in the 5th year of Africa’s premier award for youth entrepreneurship. Chris Kwekowe (22), founder of Slatecube which offers a job-relevant skills learning platform and job placement services, impressed the judges. Slatecube has had significant success to date with potential for scale and will serve as an inspiring beacon for other youth interested in entrepreneurship.

The decision was not easy, however, given the talented pool of finalists.

  • Fintech entrepreneur Fabrice Alomo (22, Cameroon) was 1st Runner Up ($15,000) and
  • Fashion entrepreneur Mabel Suglo (22, Ghana) was 2nd Runner Up ($12,500).

anzisha-prize-winners

Chris Kwekowe founded Slatecube to increase job access for youth through creating a platform on which they can build job-relevant skills and linking them with virtual internship opportunities that enable them to develop experience. His vision for the venture is to see it grow into a wide-scale provider of relevant job market access, with increasing ability to open doors for job seekers.

“I did not believe that I could have won the prize when the competition started. But I feel confident in what I can achieve now given the capital and training that I have received through the Anzisha Prize. I congratulate all the other finalists as I believe they were all very impressive and look forward to engaging them as we support each other to grow going forward,” says Chris.

The first runner up was Fabrice Alomo from Cameroon, founder of My AConnect. The venture aims to increase the ease with which unbanked people in Cameroon transact and gain access to financial services. My AConnect provides AMoney, and electronic currency with which unbanked individuals can make purchases with over 500 enterprises by depositing money through charge cards. Fabrice’s vision is to increase financial service access for Cameroon’s 17 million unbanked people.

A still impressive second runner up was Mabel Suglo from Ghana, founder of Eco Shoes. Mabel offers an assortment of shoes and accessories that are fashionable and Afro-themed, using recycled materials. Her employee-base is predominantly disabled individuals. She aims to increase their economic participation through job opportunities. Mabel believes that disability is not inability and employs people with a variety of disabilities to create products that she sells into wholesale and retail markets.

The Anzisha Sector Prize in Agriculture was awarded to Chantal Butare, founder of Kinazi Dairy Cooperative. Chantal’s cooperative collects milk from over 3,000 families in her community, and processes the milk for sale. She generates income for these families, as well as for ten milk collectors who are in her employ. Her ambition is motivate for sufficient capital to mechanize her process and increase scale to create revenue for yet more families in her community. Chantal is a shining example of youth role models that Anzisha Prize aims to celebrate: Youth who are operating successfully in sectors that are considered non-traditional for youth, but that have immense potential to catalyze economic growth in Africa.

“Over the past five years, we have seen the Anzisha Prize evolve from a one-time prize for social entrepreneurship, to an entire community of young, innovative leaders across Africa who have access to comprehensive support and networking opportunities,” says Koffi Assouan, Program Manager, Youth Livelihoods at The MasterCard Foundation. “I continue to be impressed by the caliber of youth entrepreneurs that Africa has to offer and congratulate them on their ability to inspire both ourselves and the rest of the continent.”

The 2015 Anzisha Prize Finalists were celebrated at a prestigious invitation-only ceremony on Tuesday, November 17th 2015 at Room Five venue in Rivonia, Johannesburg. The keynote speaker was Alex Okosi, pioneer of MTV Networks in Africa, a staunch proponent for a truly African voice for youth.

The Anzisha Prize is a partnership between African Leadership Academy and The MasterCard Foundation. The 12 finalists for Anzisha Prize for 2015 were selected from an impressive initial pool of 494 young entrepreneurs, up from 339 applications in 2014. The Anzisha Prize is proud to have attracted applicants from 33 African countries, with finalists from Zimbabwe and Ethiopia identified for the first time this year. Applications were also received from a diversity of sectors, with agriculture having the most applicants.

Now in its fifth year, The Anzisha Prize celebrated these outstanding young people during Global Entrepreneurship Week joining the worldwide festivities. Having received a share of US$75,000, the Anzisha Finalists join a growing pool of now 54 Fellows to receive access to ongoing support to scale their enterprises and expand their impact.

Applications for the next cycle of the Anzisha Prize will open on the 15th of February in 2016. However, nominations for promising youth entrepreneurs are open all year round.

Source: Anzisha Prize

0 comments
0 FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail
Newer Posts
Older Posts