Unlocking Africa

Episode 156, with Yewande Adewusi, a visionary strategist and dynamic leader, currently the Chief Operating Officer and Operating Principal at Alitheia Capital. With a keen eye for market trends and a proven track record in driving strategy, business development and operational excellence, she spearheads the firm's operations, steering value creation initiatives, and enhancing operational eff...

Episode 155, we speak with Dr. Austin Okpagu, the Country Manager for Nigeria at VertoFX. Dr. Okpagu joined VertoFX in June after an impressive tenure at JumiaPay, where he spent nearly four years driving business growth and expanding partnerships, culminating in his role as Managing Director for West Africa. His extensive experience in the payments and fintech sectors is further highlighted by hi...

Episode 154 with Bronwen Everill who was a fellow of Gonville & Caius College, University of Cambridge from 2015 and was the Director of Cambridge’s Centre of African Studies. In August, she joined the faculty of the Princeton Writing Program. She is a visiting fellow at the Laboratory for the Economics of Africa’s Past, in the Department of Economics at Stellenbosh University. Bronwen recentl...

Episode 153 with Benedict Owanga, who is powering Congo with Cutting-Edge Battery Technology. He is the founder of Owanga Solar, a pioneering company delivering clean energy solutions to energy-deprived regions. Through innovative use of recycled batteries and plastic, Benedict is transforming how electricity is accessed in the Congo. Discover how this young African leader's bold vision for r...

Episode 152 with Daniel Yu, who is the Founder & CEO of Wasoko and Co-CEO of their new merger with MaxAB. African B2B e-commerce pioneers Wasoko and MaxAB have recently completed the continent’s largest-ever tech merger following the signing of preliminary terms in Q4 2023. Conducted as an all-stock transaction, the deal establishes a truly Pan-African platform for communities to access essent...

Episode 150 with Somesh Adukia, Managing Director of Canon Central and North Africa. Canon, renowned as the world’s leading imaging company, was established in 1937. Over its 85-year history, Canon’s relentless drive for innovation has positioned it at the forefront of imaging excellence. The company is committed to strategic investments and seizing growth opportunities to sustain its leadership....

Episode 150 with Jihan Abass, who is CEO and Founder of Lami, which is an insurance as a service platform that digitises the entire insurance process and allows users to create and distribute digital insurance products in record time. As one of the first female African founders to secure $5.5 million in funding for her startup, Jihan's journey is nothing short of inspiring. Lami addresses Afr...

Episode 149 with Yuma Sasaki, CEO and founder of Dodai, a groundbreaking e-mobility firm revolutionising transportation in East Africa. Based in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, Dodai Manufacturing PLC is assembling and selling high-speed, affordable electric motorcycles equipped with long-lasting lithium batteries. Yuma shares how Dodai is making e-mobility accessible for everyone in Africa, helping commut...

Episode 148 with Emeka Obiwulu, Founder & CEO of The Offshore Lab (TOL). With over two decades of global experience in engineering and project delivery, Emeka has led impactful projects across continents, emphasising sustainable, community-driven solutions that prioritise local engagement and long-term growth. At The Offshore Lab, Emeka focuses on harnessing technology to empower communities,...

Episode 147 with Prachi Agarwal and Alberto Lemma, who are both Research Fellows at the International Economic Development Group at ODI. They came on the podcast to discuss their latest report, "Advancing Implementation of the AfCFTA Protocol on Digital Trade in Nigeria" , which explores the transformative potential of the AfCFTA Protocol on Digital Trade for Nigeria. ODI (Overseas Devel...

Episode 146 with Sylvia Brune who is CEO of pawaPass, a platform making it possible for millions of people in Africa to access services and opportunities without the need for a government-issued ID. With over 50% of people in Africa lacking valid identification, pawaPass offers an inclusive and secure solution to verify users online, enabling them to engage in remote jobs, financial services, onli...

Episode 145 with Parminder Vir OBE, a commercially focused executive with a distinguished career spanning entrepreneurship, media, and business development. Awarded the Order of the British Empire by Queen Elizabeth for her contributions to broadcasting and film, Parminder has made a significant impact on the global stage. As the former CEO of the Tony Elumelu Foundation, she spearheaded a groundb...

Episode 144 with Jo Griffiths, a visionary global strategist and entrepreneur who works at the crossroads of tech startups, major corporations, government, academia, and investors.  As the Co-Founder and CEO of The Global Startup Awards Africa, the largest independent international startup awards platform, Jo has successfully launched groundbreaking innovation initiatives across the African contin...

Episode 143 with Isidore Kpotufe, founder of Rivia, a network of smart clinics redefining the healthcare experience across Africa. Rivia offers a "WOW" experience for both in-person and virtual care by leveraging cutting-edge technology to deliver personalised healthcare, convenience, and broaden access to primary care services on the continent. Isidore is an accomplished tech entreprene...

Episode 142 with Diseye Isoun who is a recognised authority in African broadband development, focusing on expanding internet access, connectivity, and stakeholder engagement across the continent. With extensive experience in the sector, he has a deep understanding of how broadband access drives technological innovation, economic development, education, and business growth. Diseye has been instrume...

Episode 141 with Sola Osinoiki, who is an author, advisory board member, speaker, founder, growth strategist, and most importantly, angel investor in African startups. Sola Osinoiki is a business executive with over 25 years of working experience in the tech industry. Sola has spent numerous years working on global HR systems implementation and consulting with major international organisations and...

Episode 140 with Charles Miller, who is Director of Strategic Alliances and Development at Solynta. Charles also serves as a board member of the African Seed Trade Association and on the American Seed Trade Associations International Committee. In addition, Charles is a member of the International Seed Federations Value Chain Expert Group. Solynta uses hybrid potato breeding to grow a more sustain...

Episode 139 with Andrew Mori, the CEO and co-founder of Deimos, Africa’s leading cloud technology and professional services company based in South Africa. Deimos was born from the desire to place Software Engineering best practices and first principles at the heart of decision making and strategic direction at technology startups and enterprises, the Deimos story started in Lagos, Nigeria and Cape...

Episode 138 with Yonas Ademassu Alemu, an investment banker turned entrepreneur who founded Lovegrass Ethiopia. As the Managing Director of this innovative health food company, Yonas has been instrumental in bringing the rich heritage of Ethiopian grains to the global stage. Lovegrass Ethiopia specialises in creating a diverse range of products, including pasta, breakfast cereals, pancake mixes, p...

Episode 137 is with Walter Wanyanya, a Zimbabwean creative and tech entrepreneur. He's the founder of Apple gadget retail company TechTools Technology as well as the founder of Ngoma Nehosho, a music promotion and marketing company. In the music industry, he is commonly known for his work as the manager of the late popular musician, Oliver Mtukudzi.   He is also the Founder and Artistic Direc...

Episode 136 is with Gretchen Villegas, a global development executive with a passion for transformation—disrupting poverty and empowering vulnerable populations. Gretchen began her career as a Peace Corps volunteer, where she experienced firsthand the challenges of living in poverty without access to basic resources or education. This experience inspired her to work with global development organis...

Sydney Scott Sam, a celebrated leader in Africa’s marketing and entrepreneurship landscape, notably recognized as a Forbes 30 Under 30. Over the past decade, he has been at the forefront of a mission to assist African entrepreneurs in establishing robust brands through his tech platform, Workspace Global.  Workspace Global has revolutionized access to top-notch creative services and created remote...

Episode 134 is with Claude Grunitzky, a Togolese-American journalist, editor, and entrepreneur, renowned for his work in media and investment. As the founder of TRACE TV, Claude has built a career on elevating diverse voices, particularly women and people of colour. He's also committed to nurturing the next generation of entrepreneurs in his home country of Togo through specialized training p...

Episode 133 is with Prakash Sabunani, Senior Vice President & Partner at N-Soft, a company that uses its advanced solutions to generate extra Government revenues without raising taxes. In ten years of working with emerging states, N-Soft has built substantial expertise in creating innovative technological solutions providing essential support to national budgets. Our solutions allow government...

Episode 132 is with Nader Abdelrazik, Co-Founder and CEO of MoneyHash, a company that addresses all payment needs, helping businesses build, optimise, and scale their payment infrastructure at any stage of growth. MoneyHash recently raised $4.5 million to combat payment failures across the MEA region, despite a significant funding slowdown. They achieved this remarkable feat by tripling their reve...