Having frequently suffered from malaria as a child, Joan Nalubega, a social entrepreneur and the co-founder of Uganics, was inspired to create a venture that would tackle the disease that accounts for 20% of Uganda’s hospital deaths.
Despite being a trained chemical engineer, Rudo Mazhande struggled for years to use her skills. Now her soap-making business is creating jobs and serving the needs of her community and beyond.
For the past four years, the Tony Elumelu Foundation has been supporting African entrepreneurs and startups with US$5 000 funding. Now the foundation is launching an online platform that will connect and link up all African entrepreneurs in a single digital space for improved networking and exchange of ideas.
A startup in Nigeria is set to revolutionise drug delivery in Africa with the use of drones to reach local clinics and hospitals that urgently need the medication. This innovative use of drones to deliver medical supplies is a first in Nigeria. Arone is an example of a technology made in Africa for Africans by Africans, writes Patrick Egwu.
Nigeria is gradually taking the lead in setting up incubation and tech hubs where startups and young people develop software programmes and apps. Roar Nigeria, the first fully fledged university-embedded technology hub in West Africa, is training young tech experts and innovators – despite funding challenges.
Alibaba founder Jack Ma is in South Africa to launch a new initiative for African entrepreneurs. Called the ‘Netpreneur Prize’, the aim is to build a community of 100 young African entrepreneurs by 2030 who will receive grants totaling US$10 million
Ghana’s President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo launched an entrepreneurial programme “Presidential Pitch” where young Ghanaians with business ideas but lack of capital could be supported through the Ministry of Business Development. Pres Akufo also gave nearly all his monthly salary to the winner of the competition.
Alvin Chitena believes that coding is an essential skill and he is sharing his knowledge with young people, hoping to equip them for a bright future. Chitena says: “Leaders who don’t understand the importance of technology hinder the advancement of tech spaces.”
Zimbabwe’s microfinance banks have begun accepting cattle and other livestock as collateral to enable entrepreneurs in rural areas to obtain startup finance for their projects.
For the first time, invitation to the Tony Elumelu Foundation forum is extended beyond the 1,000. The foundation received 93,246 applications from all over the continent and will be the largest gathering of African entrepreneurs from 54 countries.
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