INSIGHTS FROM INDUSTRY STAKEHOLDERS

Regional Director, 4Afrika, Microsoft

What motivates Microsoft to invest in Africa’s tech industry?

Through initiatives including Cloud Society, the AI Business School, SkillsLabs, Interns4Afrika and partnerships with NGOs, governments, academia and businesses, we are helping to build digital talent pipelines for our partners and customers. But beyond the future workforce, digital talent will also support more local innovation, as developers and entrepreneurs are empowered to create locally relevant solutions that best address challenges and needs in healthcare, agriculture, financial services, government services and education.

Akinwale Goodluck Head of Sub-Saharan Africa, GSMA The GSMA promotes innovation to increase internet penetration. What have you observed during the pandemic?

Digital technologies and the digital economy will play a crucial role in boosting economic recovery. Innovations powered by broadband connectivity provide access to platforms and solutions that address real challenges that are unique to the region, for instance solar power supply solution, mobile financial services, digital healthcare solutions, e-learning solutions among others. The Africa50 Innovation Challenge is important because it will definitely have an impact on the last mile delivery in underserved regions in Africa.