Connect with us
Anglostratits

Business

Power Players – Africa Tech Festival’s 2023 Headliner Line-up

Published

3 years ago

on

Africa Tech Festival

Top notch speaker list, including several government ministers, exemplifies importance of tech to drive Africa’s needed economic big boom

JOHANNESBURG, South Africa, October 5, 2023/APO Group/ — 

Africa has abundant economic potential and the enormous uptake of digital technology socially and in the business sector, has positioned the continent for explosive growth, but there are challenges that lie in wait.  Many of these will be spotlighted at the 2023 Africa Tech Festival (https://apo-opa.info/3myppVu) in Cape Town 13-16 November, along with innovative solutions all led by a line-up of headline speakers including several African government ministers.

“Businesses across Africa have benefitted enormously from leap-frogging traditional technology to the digital world and wireless connectivity, and this is spurring incredible growth across the continent,” says James Williams, Director, Events | Connecting Africa | Informa Tech. “The incredible advantages of digitalisation are, however, dependent on a plentiful and reliable source of power, and it’s essential that the public sector has strong strategies in place to drive this growth.”

The tech world is driven by entrepreneurial innovators, but it relies heavily on the public sector to provide infrastructure, regulations and often funding to smooth the way for technological advancement, especially in terms of providing access and infrastructure for the public to access to engage with and benefit from the technology.

Among the 200-plus speakers, presenters and panellists will be Gwede Mantashe, Minister of Mineral Resources and Energy, whose input on how the South African government is tackling the critical issue of loadshedding will no doubt ensured a packed hall of delegates all hopeful of hearing positive news. The dynamic H.E. Dr. Kgosientsho Ramokgopa, South Africa’s Minister in the Presidency responsible for electricity, will provide backup to the Minister in shining a light on the country’s energy crisis.

Not to be missed, is the panel discussion ‘Universal Power Access: Plotting a Route Through Africa’s Electricity Challenge’, which puts the future of digital transformation squarely on the shoulders of electricity and citizens’ access to energy.

In Africa, energy insecurity has been a chronic inhibitor of economic development for decades, and continues to cripple enterprise growth and innovation, and the panel will unpack why a staggering 30 of Africa’s 54 nations face daily power shortages and supply interruptions, all of which play economic havoc with local business and consumer activity. It’s important to understand how the collaboration of public and private funding is essential for striking the right balance between the two sectors to create the perfect solution to the crisis.

Also addressing delegates will be H.E. Ousmane Gaoual Diallo, the Republic of Guinea’s Minister of Posts, Telecommunications and Digital Economy, as well as Namibia’s Minister of Information and Communication Technology, H.E. Minister Dr Peya Mushelenga, and their Executive Director & Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Information and Communication Technology, Dr Audrin Mathe.

Another key area of public sector engagement with the tech sector will be discussed in the keynote panel ‘Unleashing Digital Prosperity: How Progressive Policy is Shaping Africa’s Tech Transformation’. This session will present African Ministers from across the continent with an opportunity to share how they are tailoring policy to their unique national environment and priorities, in addition to the need for a more continental, collaborative approach.

“The process of developing and implementing policy across myriad industries and sectors is, however, an inherently complex and lengthy process and relies heavily on industry consultation, sector-specific legislation and flexibility to evolve with rapidly changing sectors,” says Williams, highlighting the importance of the growing number of Ministerial delegations at Africa Tech Festival year on year. 

Among the high-level speakers sharing with delegates over the three days are:

  • Dion Jerling (Co-Founder, Connect Earth)
  • Richard Cazalet (Exec: Strategy and Transformation, Telkom SA)
  • Robert AOUAD (CEO, ISOCEL Telecom)
  • Russell Southwood (CEO, Balancing Act)
  • Vuyani Tati (Managing Partner, AfriTech Catalytic Growth Fund),
  • Jocelyn Nyaguse (Head of Marketing and Storytelling, Startupbootcamp AfriTech)
  • Calvin Govender (General Manager ICT Fixed Services, MTN)
  • Marjorie Saint-Lot (Country Manager, Ghana and the Ivory Coast, Uber)
  • Evan Jones (CEO, The Collective X)
  • Nfaly Sylla (Ministry of Posts, Telecommunications and Digital Economy, Republic of Guinea)
  • Kellie Murungi (Chief Investments Officer, East African Power)
  • John Davies (TMT Equity Research Analyst, EMEA, TMT, Bloomberg Intelligence) An expanded list of speakers is noted below).

Aside from presenting cutting-edge content and a speaker line-up of note, the Africa Tech Festival is also the meeting place of Africa’s largest community of tech champions and offers this vibrant grouping the ideal space to connect and interact. However, just as these connections are so important for the industry, so is the connecting of 1.2-billion people across Africa’s 54 unique nations, vital for the continent’s growth, with cross-border connectivity a particular concern.

Continental broadband penetration is currently around 45%, but this varies dramatically across regions.  Connectivity is critical to the rapidly expanding SME business community, as well as for wider socioeconomic development needs.  Looking at this the fireside chat, ‘Connectivity Beyond Borders: Unlocking Universal Broadband Access in Africa’, will explore how innovations in strategy and technology are aiming to ensure that no individual, business, or community is left behind in Africa’s pursuit of universal broadband access.

While most of the discussions and presentations relate to most players in the industry, the event has been structured in such a way as to ensure that specialists are also able to sit in on the most relevant content to them, either by staying in one venue for a series of talks, or by exploring the ‘centre stages’ in each of the exhibition halls in which masterclasses and presentations will take place.

Other major topics on offer this year include:

  • Connectivity for All: Addressing the Needs of Underserved Communities
  • Driving Innovation: Unravelling the Business Applications of 5G FWA in Africa
  • The Changing Role of Satellites to Leapfrog Africa Into an Era of Online Connectivity.

This year, the Africa Tech Festival will offer delegates several new features, along with six presentation stages and a staggering amount of content, while hundreds of exhibitors on the show floor will once again engage with the brightest tech gurus from around the continent and globally, who will all descend on the Cape Town International Convention Centre to discover the latest products and services and to connect with other tech professionals.

Williams shares that: “This year we have added a new interactive feature to the festival – a dedicated tech demo area that we are sure will draw crowds throughout the three days. It’s a chance to engage with the cutting-edge innovations that Africa needs to know about… as well as some of the exciting innovations that Africa has to offer the world.”

This year we have added a new interactive feature to the festival – a dedicated tech demo area that we are sure will draw crowds throughout the three days

For more information, please see website here: Africa Tech Festival 2023 – The Home of AfricaCom & AfricaTech (https://apo-opa.info/3myppVu)

View all ticket options for Africa Tech Festival, including start-up passes, here (https://apo-opa.info/3Q04o2r).

(Please note that all requests are adjudicated and there may be some delay before you hear back from us).

List of Speakers:

Dion JerlingCo-FounderConnect Earth (https://apo-opa.info/46gFyRs)

Richard CazaletExec: Strategy and TransformationTelkom SA (https://apo-opa.info/3ZFTeTq)

Miriam AltmanDirector: Altman Advisory & Professor of 4IR PracticeUniversity of Johannesburg (https://apo-opa.info/3F2uvzd)

Guy ZibiManaging DirectorXalam Analytics (https://apo-opa.info/46vWqE5)

Robert AOUADCEOISOCEL Telecom (https://apo-opa.info/48DshE8)

Ronan De RenesseSenior Research Director, Service Provider MarketsOmdia (https://apo-opa.info/3ZEV4nH)

Russell SouthwoodCEOBalancing Act (https://apo-opa.info/3Fad7bL)

Matt ReedChief Analyst, Service ProviderOmdia (https://apo-opa.info/3Q0SYLJ)

Vuyani TatiManaging PartnerAfriTech Catalytic Growth Fund (https://apo-opa.info/3Q2cdEx)

Jocelyn NyaguseHead of Marketing and StorytellingStartupbootcamp AfriTech (https://apo-opa.info/3Q38KWg)

Nathan-Ross AdamsData & Tech LawyerMichalsons (https://apo-opa.info/45l5JVP)

Paula GilbertEditorConnecting Africa (https://apo-opa.info/45nYfRL)

Matshepo SehlohoAssociate EditorConnecting Africa (https://apo-opa.info/45jiVKW)

Calvin GovenderGeneral Manager ICT Fixed ServicesMTN (https://apo-opa.info/46yJixt)

Marjorie Saint-LotCountry Manager for Uber Ghana and the Ivory CoastUber (https://apo-opa.info/45minno)

Joseph NdabaCEO of Mafikeng Digital Innovation Hub4IR Commissioner: Presidential Commission on the Fourth Industrial Commission (https://apo-opa.info/48IAhUv)

Marion BalandraFounder & CEOMeridian Remote Teams (https://apo-opa.info/3RHf8E3)

Evan JonesCEOThe Collective X (https://apo-opa.info/3RP8Dir)

Badi SudhakaranCo-FounderVALR.com (https://apo-opa.info/45iLiIU)

Nfaly SyllaChief of CabinetMinistry of Posts, Telecommunications and Digital Economy, Republic of Guinea (https://apo-opa.info/46yzZxs)

Mumbi Ndung’uChief Growth and OperationsPower Learn Project (https://apo-opa.info/48QSa3w)

Dr Cherise DunnCo-founder and COOSouth Africa Makes (https://apo-opa.info/46yrSks)

Judith GardinerVice President, Growth and Emerging MarketsEquinix (https://apo-opa.info/46jvC9O)

Robinson Tombari SibeMD/CEODigital Footprints (https://apo-opa.info/3Q3M4oW)

Bernard WanyamaPresident, Kampala ChapterISACA (https://apo-opa.info/3tgQSyh)

Ryan Van den BerghManaging Executive: Group Technology Strategy, Architecture, Spectrum & AssuranceVodacom (https://apo-opa.info/45l7DWt)

Andy HalsallCEOpoa! Internet (https://apo-opa.info/46ArUrZ)

Sabrine ChennaouiCo-FounderMONSAPO (https://apo-opa.info/3tjBYHA)

Pablo MlikotaSenior Vice President – International Mobility Servicese& GROUP (https://apo-opa.info/3ZEWvT7)

John DaviesTMT Equity Research Analyst, EMEA, TMTBloomberg Intelligence (https://apo-opa.info/3Q4dAmn)

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Africa Tech Festival.

Related Topics:
Continue Reading
Advertisement

Business

The “Cool Hainan” Global Campaign Generates Buzz and Attracts International Travelers

Published

14 minutes ago

on

August 31, 2026

By

communication project

HAIKOU, CHINA – Media OutReach Newswire – 28 August 2026 – Since the beginning of this year, an international social media promotion campaign themed “China’s Free Trade Port, World-Class Resort Island: Welcome to Cool Hainan” has brought China’s Hainan Free Trade Port into the view of global travelers, attracting more international tourists to visit this tropical island.
 




 

This international communication project was planned and implemented by the Department of Tourism, Culture, Radio, Television and Sports of Hainan Province. Through social media platforms, 56 travel-themed pieces of content were published for global audiences, with total exposures exceeding 16 million. The campaign spanned major inbound tourist source markets for Hainan—including Russian-speaking regions, Southeast Asia, Europe, and North America—distributed via multilingual accounts in Russian, Thai, Indonesian, French, Spanish, and Portuguese, ultimately reaching an audience of over 52 million followers.

Breaking from traditional promotional models, the campaign released seven themed series of Hainan tourism content featuring practical travel guides and immersive on-site scenarios, showcasing international branding labels such as “Cool Hainan”, “Top Ten Hainan Tourism Icons”, and “Cool Island”. Starting with high-end luxury getaways on the Sunshine Coast in January, themes shifted monthly: February showcased Hainan’s distinct Li and Miao ethnic Spring Festival customs; March focused on trendy surfing experiences and Wenchang aerospace study tours; April highlighted water sports and wellness tourism; May featured archaeological study tours and rainforest adventures; June promoted rainforest self-driving tours and ethnic minority villages; and July rolled out “Ten Signature Marine Tourism Routes”, with a single post achieving over 2.6 million impressions.

This content not only showcases diverse landscapes and experiences such as bays, rainforests, folk customs, health and wellness, and sports, but also highlights practical travel information including visa-free policies for 86 countries, temporary permits for foreign driver’s licenses, shopping, and duty-free/departure tax refund policies for off-island travel, seamlessly integrating the island’s natural scenery, local intangible cultural heritage, and modern tourism consumption business formats.

Global social media users have shown a strong interest in traveling to Hainan. Many have left comments asking about specific details such as visa-free policies, dining, accommodation, sightseeing, and self-driving trips, and several users said they have added Hainan to their future travel bucket lists.

Hainan hopes to leverage this themed social media campaign to build an international image as a “World-Class Resort Island”, enhance its appeal as an inbound tourism destination, and support Hainan’s development into an international tourism and consumption center. According to an official from the Department of Tourism, Culture, Radio, Television and Sports of Hainan Province, Hainan possesses tropical coastal tourism resources that are unique in China. Capitalizing on the policy dividends and openness advantages of the Free Trade Port, Hainan will continue to optimize its tourism service offerings for international visitors and foster a tourism consumption environment that meets international standards.
 




 

Continue Reading

Education

Islamic Development Bank Institute (IsDBI) and Prince Mohammed Bin Salman College of Business & Entrepreneurship (MBSC) Celebrate Graduation of Strategic Business Leadership Program Participants

Published

23 minutes ago

on

August 31, 2026

By

IsDBI

Jointly developed by IsDBI and MBSC, the program combines executive education with practical learning to help leaders strengthen strategic execution, innovation, organizational transformation, and sustainable value creation

JEDDAH, Saudi Arabia, August 31, 2026/APO Group/ –The Islamic Development Bank Institute (IsDBI) (https://IsDBInstitute.org/) and Prince Mohammed Bin Salman College of Business & Entrepreneurship (MBSC) celebrated the graduation of the participants of the Strategic Business Leadership Program, recognizing 30 leaders from 15 IsDB Member Countries and Muslim communities.

 




  

Jointly developed by IsDBI and MBSC, the program combines executive education with practical learning to help leaders strengthen strategic execution, innovation, organizational transformation, and sustainable value creation.

The Strategic Business Leadership Program benefited from the support of three IsDB Group entities, namely the Islamic Corporation for the Insurance of Investment and Export Credit (ICIEC), Islamic Corporation for the Development of the Private Sector (ICD), and International Islamic Trade Finance Corporation (ITFC).

The graduation ceremony took place on 27 August 2026 at the IsDB Headquarters in Jeddah. It brought together senior representatives from the IsDB Group, MBSC, and program partners, along with the graduating participants.

In his opening remarks, Dr. Sami Al-Suwailem, Acting Director General of IsDB Institute, emphasized the importance of investing in human capital, knowledge, and institutional capacity to help Member Countries address emerging challenges and unlock new opportunities. He thanked ICIEC, ICD, ITFC, MBSC and all the team members who contributed to the success of the program.

The ceremony featured keynote remarks from Dr. Khalid Khalafalla, CEO of ICIEC and Acting CEO of ICD, and Mr. Nazeem Noordali, COO of ITFC, whose participation underscored the Group’s commitment to strengthening private-sector development, trade, investment, risk mitigation, and economic opportunity across IsDB Member Countries.

Dr. Zeger Degraeve, Executive Dean of MBSC, reflected on the partnership with IsDBI and commended the caliber of the graduating cohort, emphasizing the importance of translating leadership learning into tangible organizational and societal impact.

Dr. Muhammad Azam Roomi, Professor of Entrepreneurship at MBSC and Faculty Director of the program, highlighted the practical dimensions of the learning journey, including entrepreneurial thinking, strategic decision-making, innovation, and opportunity recognition and urged the participants to change lives.

Mr. Yahya Rehman, Head of IsDBI’s Knowledge Leaders Section, highlighted the Institute’s role in developing human capital and providing knowledge-based solutions that contribute to sustainable economic advancement across IsDB Member Countries.

Two representatives of the graduating cohort, Mr. Hesham Ahmed Suqail and Ms. Mahwish Naeem, also shared the participants’ perspective, reflecting on the program’s value, practical learning experience, and opportunity for peer exchange across countries and professional backgrounds. They expressed their gratitude to the IsDBI and MBSC for the life changing experience and learning.

The ceremony concluded with the award of certificates and recognition of program partners. The graduation marks the beginning of the participants’ next stage of leadership, equipping them to contribute to stronger organizations, more innovative businesses, and greater economic and societal impact in their respective countries.

The IsDBI–MBSC partnership provides a continuing platform for developing leadership capabilities across the IsDB ecosystem and empowering a new generation of leaders to translate knowledge into action and learning into sustainable development outcomes.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Islamic Development Bank Institute (IsDBI).

 

 




 

Continue Reading

Business

CIT VERICASH Recognized as Best Digital Financial Services Platform of 2026 by Global Business Outlook

Published

7 days ago

on

August 24, 2026

By

The recognition marks the latest in a series of industry acknowledgements for the company, which in 2025 was awarded Best Digital Transformation Platform, Fintech Strategic Partner of the Year, and Best Financial Services Platform Africa

LAGOS, Nigeria, August 24, 2026/APO Group/ –CIT VERICASH (https://www.CITVericash.com/), the fintech enablement platform serving banks and financial institutions across Africa, has been awarded Best Digital Financial Services Platform 2026 by Global Business Outlook, the UK-based international business publication known for its annual awards recognizing transformative performance across global financial markets.

The recognition marks the latest in a series of industry acknowledgements for the company, which in 2025 was awarded Best Digital Transformation Platform, Fintech Strategic Partner of the Year, and Best Financial Services Platform Africa. For CIT VERICASH, the Global Business Outlook award extends the company’s growing international profile at a moment when digital financial services adoption across sub-Saharan Africa is accelerating at institutional scale.

Those numbers are difficult to dispute. A single deployment of the VERICASH platform currently powers the digital banking operations of a pan-African banking group across 22 countries, processing over 500 transactions per second, handling more than 30 million digital services per day, and maintaining more than 7 million active subscribers. In the client’s first five years of full digital platform operations, the results compounded: 5x growth in digital subscribers, 10x growth in monthly transactions, and 30x growth in monthly financial transaction value, translating directly into higher fee income and lower servicing costs.

Building the Backbone of African Digital Finance

CIT VERICASH, a division of CIT GLOBAL, draws on the parent company’s 30-plus years of system integration and software expertise since its founding in Toronto in 1993, delivering award-winning technology to clients across more than 50 countries.

The cornerstone of the company’s performance is the VERICASH Fintech Enablement Platform, a centralized, integrated ecosystem designed to enable financial institutions to launch, operate, optimize, and continuously scale digital financial services through a single platform. Powered by an agile, low-code/no-code service builder, the platform allows commercial banks, digital banks, microfinance institutions, mobile money operators, and fintechs to rapidly deploy and evolve digital banking, agency banking, mobile wallets, payment ecosystems, lending, and other financial services while reducing complexity, accelerating time-to-market, and maximizing the value of existing infrastructure. Currently live in approximately 25 markets across Africa, the platform supports Tier 1 banks, digital banks, neobanks, and fintech operators with the technology, operational capabilities, and strategic enablement required to drive sustainable digital growth.

Global Business Outlook, in selecting CIT VERICASH for the 2026 award, pointed to the platform’s demonstrated ability to operate at institutional scale across fragmented regulatory environments, a challenge that continues to frustrate expansion-minded financial institutions across the continent.

Strategic Partnership That Goes beyond software delivery

To ensure sustainable, long-term client growth, CIT VERICASH anchors every deployment in a Strategic Partnership Model that extends far beyond traditional software delivery. Rather than acting as a technology vendor, CIT VERICASH operates as a long-term strategic partner, aligning technology, operational excellence, and business growth around shared success.

The partnership model combines a scalable fintech platform with dedicated Centres of Excellence, 24/7 operational monitoring, continuous platform optimization, development and customization capabilities, business intelligence and performance analytics, application quality support, and proactive fraud monitoring. Beyond technology operations, CIT VERICASH works alongside clients to evaluate business models, support licensing requirements, build operational teams, develop financial forecasts, and accelerate go-to-market execution for new digital service offerings.

Supported by a collaborative revenue-sharing model that aligns incentives between CIT VERICASH and its partners, this approach enables financial institutions to reduce technology risk, accelerate profitability, continuously evolve their digital capabilities, and unlock sustainable long-term growth.

This enterprise-grade approach has translated into critical long-term alliances. In East Africa, CIT VERICASH has formed a strategic alliance with Bluechip Technologies, combining the VERICASH platform with Bluechip’s localized market expertise to deliver agency banking, digital payments, and mobile wallets to banks, telcos, and fintechs. Further across the continent, a decade-long partnership with CWG PLC in West Africa that powers large-scale financial ecosystems.

A key differentiator shaping CIT VERICASH’s product direction is its approach to artificial intelligence. Rather than positioning machine learning as an optional layer, the company operates under a clear philosophy: “AI is not a feature. It is how the digital channel thinks, decides, and acts.” By embedding 360° AI-powered capabilities across retail, SME, and corporate banking, including personalized customer experiences, automated credit scoring, real-time transaction risk scoring, and proactive fraud prevention, the platform is built for the next generation of digital finance infrastructure, not the last.

A Pattern of Recognition

What distinguishes CIT VERICASH’s recent run of awards from standard industry noise is the consistency. Three industry recognitions in 2025, now followed by an international designation from Global Business Outlook in 2026, suggest a narrative that is beginning to cut through: a company that has spent years building infrastructure continues to be acknowledged because its clients are scaling profitable, inclusive digital services.

The timing is not incidental. Digital financial services adoption across sub-Saharan Africa accelerated sharply following the pandemic, and the institutions that emerged well-positioned were largely those that had invested in scalable ecosystems rather than attempting to build proprietary stacks. CIT VERICASH positioned itself on the right side of that structural shift.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of CIT VERICASH.

 

Continue Reading

Trending