Former Microsoft program manager, Patrick Awuah decided to leave one influential job to maybe begin something to have broader impact. Awuah has moved back to Ghana to start Asheshi University. “Africa needs to have a renaissance,” said Awuah, as he explains his decision. He said he wants to contribute towards the development in Africa so he would build a university. The University would be a state-of-the-art education hub that would help educate the country’s next generation of leaders.
Chris and Tope Folayan are two brothers from Nigeria who have created a business which is getting desirable goods into the hands of their countrymen in a very unique way. Founded in 2013, MallforAfrica is making it easier for Nigerians to place online orders for American and British products. Typically these goods are difficult to find in the Nigerian retail market. Furthermore many online retailers don’t offer may products to African consumers because of burdensome customs duties and paperwork, shipping costs and fear of fraud. As Nigeria’s middle and upper classes have grown, so has the appetite for foreign goods. The company now sells products from more than 120 online retailers, including Amazon, Barneys, Bloomingdale’s and J. Crew. Among the most popular vendors are Children’s Place, Macy’s and an online retailer called Perfume Junkie, according to Mr. Folayan.
http://www.ozy.com/rising-stars-and-provocateurs/jon-gosier-spreading-the-wealth/39518
Black Tech Week, which takes place February 23-28, has been established in order to provide celebrate black innovators, with the week of events aiming to “change the narrative surrounding our community and replace it with innovation, creativity and technology that stretches the trajectory of our community”.
Speakers will include angel investor Eric Osiakwan, AppAfrica and Apps4Africa founder Jon Gosier, and Chinedu Echeruo, the Nigerian founder of directions app HopStop, which was acquired by Apple for US$1 billion in 2013.
http://disrupt-africa.com/2015/02/african-investors-entrepreneurs-address-black-tech-week-miami
“Our mission is to celebrate innovators of color and accelerate Miami as the US gateway to Africa and the diaspora,” the organisers said.
“With the proliferation of social networks, wearable technology, mobile, technology tools and social connections, our generation holds the keys to change the world and it has never been as accessible as it is today. During this exciting week organisations, community partners, startups and tech companies will be hosting events to highlight tech innovation and diversity across the globe.”
