NAIROBI, December 31st (AMSP/CGTN) – – Africa is at the forefront of the global fintech revolution, with countries like Kenya, South Africa and Nigeria leading the way. Mobile payment solutions, like M-Pesa, are redefining how money moves across the continent.
Launched here in Kenya, M-Pesa has expanded into multiple countries, allowing millions of people, especially the unbanked, to access financial services using just a mobile phone.
“We have proven that Africa is raw with talent both in terms of the innovation but then also in terms of just being able to unpack regulation,” said Risper Onyango, Policy Specialist, GW-RIFAR Consultant.
Meanwhile, South Africa is tapping into renewable energy, investing in solar technologies to tackle electricity shortages. The power of the sun is lighting up homes and empowering communities.
In Nigeria, local innovators are developing affordable solar-powered gadgets, such as lamps and phone chargers, making energy access more inclusive.
Tech hubs in Nairobi, Accra, and Addis Ababa are thriving, attracting both local and international investments. The centers are not only nurturing local talent but also incubating ideas that challenge global norms.
“The innovation space is ever changing, it’s never linear right and we also believe that innovation cannot happen in isolation so we have leveraged the power of creating partnerships that support the entrepreneurs within the continent and not just in Kenya,” said Aidah Nganga, Head of Community and EcoSystems, CcHub.
In countries like Rwanda, drones are delivering medical supplies to remote areas, reducing the time it takes to get critical medicines to those in need.
Within the agricultural sector, smallholder farmers, who form the backbone of Africa’s agricultural output, are now embracing digital tools to boost crop yields, cut costs, and access new markets.
“So, at vertical gardens we create fully automated hydroponic systems and we do this using programmable timers. So, these timers help us to control what time the pump comes on and off,”said Fred Kimani, Co-founder of Vertical Gardens.
In the space industry, the AU is in the process of operationalizing the Africa Space Agency to support the continent’s space agenda.
“So far, the conversation has been centering around the navigation systems using the Chinese regional navigation systems called BeiDou services and we have had about two or three meetings, consultative meetings looking at how we can expand the BeiDou services so that the continent can enhance location-based services,” AU Specialist on Space Industry, Meshack Ndiritu disclosed.
As the continent looks to the future, analysts say its youthful and ambitious population is likely to be the driving force, in ensuring Africa can become a true leader and pioneer in the global tech industry, and help with the transition into a new era of peace and prosperity.
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