𝐒𝐏𝐎𝐓𝐋𝐈𝐆𝐇𝐓 𝐈𝐍 𝐀𝐅𝐑𝐈𝐂𝐀 (2025)

10/09/2025

Africa’s presence in outer space is gaining real momentum. As of mid-2025, 18 African countries have launched 67 satellites, including 11 by commercial entities. Egypt, whose Nilesat-101 became Africa’s pioneer satellite in 1998, continues to lead with major investments, including the construction of Africa’s largest satellite manufacturing facility in “Space City.” Most recently, Botswana joined the space club with the launch of BotSat-1 on 15 March 2025.-These satellites are purpose-built to address real-world challenges, from precision agriculture and disaster response to climate tracking and internet connectivity. Kenya has boosted crop yields by up to 20% using satellite data, while Algeria’s Alcomsat-1 connects thousands of schools and hospitals. Morocco’s Mohammed VI satellites support both civil and military applications, tracking agriculture, borders, and disasters. The continent-wide Digital Earth Africa platform is projected to unlock $2 billion in annual value through Earth observation insights.-Driving this evolution is the African Space Agency (AfSA), headquartered in Cairo, which began coordinating space policy and capacity-building across the continent in 2023. AfSA’s role is to foster collaboration among national space programs, streamline partnerships with global players, and centralize Africa’s space governance. UNCTAD notes that space technologies—particularly Earth observation—could deliver billions in socio-economic benefits, from boosting food security to enhancing disaster resilience and weather forecasting.-Yet the surge in activity comes with strategic complexities. China, for instance, has embraced African space engagements aggressively—building satellite plants, launching dual-use (civil-military) satellites, and forging partnerships with 23 countries. While these investments boost local capabilities, they raise questions about data sovereignty, geopolitical influence, and Africa’s long-term autonomy in space. Ensuring Africa maintains control over its data and strategic direction—through institutions like AfSA—will be key to realizing the full promise of its space ambitions.-✅ ғᴏʟʟᴏᴡ !

10/09/2025

The Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) stands as a monumental infrastructure endeavor in Africa's narrative, signaling a significant leap towards economic progress. With an investment of $5 billion on the Blue Nile, GERD transcends being merely a dam to become a pivotal driver of economic metamorphosis.In a landscape where Ethiopia grappled with limited electricity access, fragile industrial capabilities, and agricultural susceptibility to climate fluctuations, GERD emerged as a transformative force. Noteworthy is its unique funding model, predominantly sourced from Ethiopian bonds, contributions, and public investments, embodying both self-sufficiency and a springboard for prosperity.GERD yields over 5,000 MW of electricity, effectively doubling Ethiopia's power capacity and igniting avenues for industrial growth, employment opportunities, and enhanced competitiveness. Extending its impact regionally, the dam positions Ethiopia as a key power exporter in East Africa, bolstering foreign currency reserves and fostering deeper regional cohesion.Beyond its energy prowess, GERD plays a pivotal role in water regulation along the Blue Nile, bolstering irrigation systems, climate resilience, and agricultural sustainability. Notably, it redefines Ethiopia's stature in Nile-centered dynamics, endowing the nation with newfound strategic influence in regional diplomacy and commerce.The Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam transcends its function as a power generator; it symbolizes an economic cornerstone, a shield of sovereignty, and a reshaper of Africa's trajectory.✅Follow us on LinkedIn✅ Follow at spotlightinafrica.com for more insights on Africa's developmental journey.

10/09/2025

Africa stood out in 2024 as one of the few regions to buck global investment headwinds. Foreign direct investment (FDI) surged by 75%, in sharp contrast to the global 2% decline. Much of this was driven by Egypt’s $35 billion Ras El-Hekma real estate megaproject, but even without it the continent still posted a respectable 12% gain—evidence of growing investor appetite for African opportunities.-The continent’s share of global FDI flows doubled to 6% in 2024, up from 3% the year before. While modest in absolute terms, this underscores Africa’s rising profile in global capital markets. Yet beneath the headlines, the picture is mixed. Greenfield project values dipped 5% even as the number of projects rose, showing investors are spreading bets across smaller ventures. -Sector trends reflect shifting investor priorities. Telecom projects nearly doubled in value, driven by Africa’s expanding digital economy and demand for mobile connectivity. In contrast, investment in extractive industries plunged by 48%—a result of lower commodity prices and increased caution around carbon-intensive projects. At the same time, UNCTAD notes that activity is heavily concentrated in real estate, infrastructure, and energy transition-linked projects, leaving development-critical areas like health, education, and water underfunded. This divergence highlights Africa’s challenge: attracting investment not just in high-profile megaprojects, but in sectors most critical to inclusive development.-The launch of AfCRA, Africa’s upcoming credit rating agency, and AU-led pushes around blended finance may help de-risk these investments. But progress will require more than institutional innovation. UNCTAD stresses the need for stronger public–private pipelines, harmonized regulatory frameworks, and smarter incentives to shift flows from real estate and extractives into SDG-aligned industries. Africa may be capturing attention, but translating momentum into impact depends on turning rising FDI into long-term, broad-based growth.-✅ ғᴏʟʟᴏᴡ !-Source: UNCTAD

07/09/2025

Africa stands at the center of a global supply shift, holding about 30% of the world’s critical mineral reserves, including lithium, cobalt, copper, and rare earths. The continent also accounts for over 40% of reserves in cobalt, manganese, and platinum—essential for batteries, hydrogen technologies, and clean energy infrastructure. With surging demand from AI, EVs, and renewable systems, Africa’s resource base offers both strategic promise and geopolitical leverage.
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To capture value beyond raw exports, Africa is turning to innovation and partnerships. Startups are deploying digital traceability tools to strengthen supply chain transparency, while collaborations such as Critical Minerals Africa Group (CMAG) with APO Group are boosting global visibility. The African Development Bank has even proposed a “critical minerals–backed” currency to link export earnings directly to development capital. But true value capture hinges on credible governance and technology that formalizes and streamlines mineral tracking.
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The opportunity is vast. The International Energy Agency (IEA) projects the market for energy-transition minerals—copper, lithium, nickel, cobalt, graphite, and rare earths—will more than double to $770 billion by 2040. Africa’s mineral investment is expected to reach $50 billion by 2040, reflecting rising investor appetite. Yet China still dominates downstream processing, especially refining and battery material production, underscoring Africa’s need to build its own capabilities.
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To avoid remaining a resource backstop, Africa must act decisively. This means empowering governments with robust regulation, investing in local beneficiation, and attracting transparent global partners. Success could position the continent as a value-added powerhouse—anchoring a vertically integrated minerals ecosystem that transforms geological wealth into sustainable growth and global industrial relevance.
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✅ ғᴏʟʟᴏᴡ !
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Source: IEA

05/09/2025

Lethabo Motsoaledi is a pioneering South African tech entrepreneur best known as Co-Founder and CTO of Voyc, a cutting-edge AI platform that enables contact centres to monitor every interaction for consistency, compliance, and customer care. She co-launched Voyc to address the inefficiencies of manual quality assurance, creating voice-recognition and automated analytics tools that help companies better understand and serve their customers with precision.
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Her leadership and innovation in tech have earned significant acclaim. Motsoaledi has been recognized as one of the Mail & Guardian’s 200 Young South Africans and among South Africa’s Inspiring Fifty Women in Technology. Her impact is further underscored internationally with inclusion in Forbes’ 30 Under 30 Europe (Technology) list, and recognition as one of Europe’s top women CTOs by Financial Times Sifted magazine.
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Beyond Voyc, Lethabo is deeply engaged in cultivating tech ecosystems and thought leadership. Her work has spanned from initiating STEM education efforts like 3D4Youth and building peer‑support platforms like E‑Quo, to being a Mandela Rhodes Scholar and Allan Gray Orbis Foundation Fellow who models inclusive innovation. Through building a tech company with global clients and recognition, Lethabo Motsoaledi embodies the potential of African women in leadership, engineering world-class solutions while inspiring a generation of innovators.

03/09/2025

Africa’s telecom sector is entering a decisive decade, with the potential to connect 500 million new users by 2030—a shift that could unlock an estimated $170 billion in GDP growth. The continent’s demographics are central to this story: by 2030, Africa is projected to have 602 million people aged 15–34, a generation that will drive demand for mobile connectivity, digital services, and online financial tools. Subscriber numbers are also rising steadily, with mobile pe*******on expected to reach 50% (751 million users) by 2030, up from 44% (527 million) in 2023. This growth, however, is unfolding against a backdrop of low internet adoption, with sub-Saharan Africa’s mobile internet pe*******on at just 27% in 2023, compared to a global average of 69%.
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Beyond connectivity, telecoms are becoming a platform for financial and digital inclusion. Sub-Saharan Africa already hosts 835 million mobile money accounts, making telcos a vital link in the region’s fintech boom. This infrastructure is enabling services from cross-border payments to small-business credit, further embedding telcos in Africa’s economic transformation. Yet challenges persist. Entry-level smartphones remain expensive—costing nearly a full month’s income for the poorest 20% of households. Meanwhile, rising energy costs, sector-specific taxes, and currency devaluations continue to squeeze operator margins, raising questions about long-term sustainability.
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Looking ahead, the integration of generative AI could be transformative. Applications range from enhancing customer service with AI-driven chat and personalization, to network optimization and predictive maintenance, to the design of entirely new digital products. For Africa’s telecom operators, the decade ahead is less about incremental subscriber growth and more about reinvention—turning telcos into digital ecosystems that not only provide connectivity but also power Africa’s broader digital economy. If executed well, these strategies could ensure the sector delivers both growth and impact, helping Africa leapfrog into a more connected, inclusive future.
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✅ ғᴏʟʟᴏᴡ !
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Source: McKinsey

23/08/2025

Africa’s presence in outer space is gaining real momentum. As of mid-2025, 18 African countries have launched 67 satellites, including 11 by commercial entities. Egypt, whose Nilesat-101 became Africa’s pioneer satellite in 1998, continues to lead with major investments, including the construction of Africa’s largest satellite manufacturing facility in “Space City.” Most recently, Botswana joined the space club with the launch of BotSat-1 on 15 March 2025.
-
These satellites are purpose-built to address real-world challenges, from precision agriculture and disaster response to climate tracking and internet connectivity. Kenya has boosted crop yields by up to 20% using satellite data, while Algeria’s Alcomsat-1 connects thousands of schools and hospitals. Morocco’s Mohammed VI satellites support both civil and military applications, tracking agriculture, borders, and disasters. The continent-wide Digital Earth Africa platform is projected to unlock $2 billion in annual value through Earth observation insights.
-
Driving this evolution is the African Space Agency (AfSA), headquartered in Cairo, which began coordinating space policy and capacity-building across the continent in 2023. AfSA’s role is to foster collaboration among national space programs, streamline partnerships with global players, and centralize Africa’s space governance. UNCTAD notes that space technologies—particularly Earth observation—could deliver billions in socio-economic benefits, from boosting food security to enhancing disaster resilience and weather forecasting.
-
Yet the surge in activity comes with strategic complexities. China, for instance, has embraced African space engagements aggressively—building satellite plants, launching dual-use (civil-military) satellites, and forging partnerships with 23 countries. While these investments boost local capabilities, they raise questions about data sovereignty, geopolitical influence, and Africa’s long-term autonomy in space. Ensuring Africa maintains control over its data and strategic direction—through institutions like AfSA—will be key to realizing the full promise of its space ambitions.
-
✅ ғᴏʟʟᴏᴡ !

20/08/2025

Ivan Mbowa is a seasoned finance innovator and entrepreneur transforming access to capital across Africa. After over eight years at Citigroup serving across seven African markets, he co-founded Umati Capital in 2012 with Munyutu Waigi to introduce tech-enabled supply-chain finance via mobile money to Kenyan agriculture. This venture addressed the barriers smallholder farmers faced in securing credit, quickly establishing Umati as a pioneering force in fintech for the agricultural sector.
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In 2020, Mbowa took the reins of Tala Kenya as General Manager, overseeing strategy and ex*****on across East Africa during a period of rapid fintech expansion. His leadership focused on enhancing the business’s organizational health, driving long-term growth in consumer access to financial services, particularly in underserved communities. Beyond corporate roles, he serves as a Business Coach in the SHONA Growth Program, which supports high‑potential East African entrepreneurs through coaching, networks, and capital access.
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Mbowa’s impact lies in his unwavering belief that technology can democratize finance. As CEO and co-founder of Umati Capital, he redefined credit delivery to farmers. At Tala, he further scaled digital financial access across Kenya. His current role with the SHONA Growth Program showcases his commitment to building robust entrepreneurial ecosystems. Through strategic leadership and innovation, Ivan Mbowa continues to elevate Africa’s fintech landscape and empower future changemakers.
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👉🏾 ᴄʜᴇᴄᴋ ᴏᴜᴛ ᴍᴏʀᴇ ɪɴsᴘɪʀɪɴɢ ᴇɴᴛʀᴇᴘʀᴇɴᴇᴜʀs ᴀᴛ ᴛʜᴇ ʟɪɴᴋ ɪɴ ᴏᴜʀ ʙɪᴏ
✅ ʟɪᴋᴇ, sʜᴀʀᴇ & ғᴏʟʟᴏᴡ ғᴏʀ ᴍᴏʀᴇ ᴄᴏɴᴛᴇɴᴛ!

16/08/2025

Africa stood out in 2024 as one of the few regions to buck global investment headwinds. Foreign direct investment (FDI) surged by 75%, in sharp contrast to the global 2% decline. Much of this was driven by Egypt’s $35 billion Ras El-Hekma real estate megaproject, but even without it the continent still posted a respectable 12% gain—evidence of growing investor appetite for African opportunities.
-
The continent’s share of global FDI flows doubled to 6% in 2024, up from 3% the year before. While modest in absolute terms, this underscores Africa’s rising profile in global capital markets. Yet beneath the headlines, the picture is mixed. Greenfield project values dipped 5% even as the number of projects rose, showing investors are spreading bets across smaller ventures.
-
Sector trends reflect shifting investor priorities. Telecom projects nearly doubled in value, driven by Africa’s expanding digital economy and demand for mobile connectivity. In contrast, investment in extractive industries plunged by 48%—a result of lower commodity prices and increased caution around carbon-intensive projects. At the same time, UNCTAD notes that activity is heavily concentrated in real estate, infrastructure, and energy transition-linked projects, leaving development-critical areas like health, education, and water underfunded. This divergence highlights Africa’s challenge: attracting investment not just in high-profile megaprojects, but in sectors most critical to inclusive development.
-
The launch of AfCRA, Africa’s upcoming credit rating agency, and AU-led pushes around blended finance may help de-risk these investments. But progress will require more than institutional innovation. UNCTAD stresses the need for stronger public–private pipelines, harmonized regulatory frameworks, and smarter incentives to shift flows from real estate and extractives into SDG-aligned industries. Africa may be capturing attention, but translating momentum into impact depends on turning rising FDI into long-term, broad-based growth.
-
✅ ғᴏʟʟᴏᴡ !
-
Source: UNCTAD

15/08/2025

Founded in 2013 by Cameroonian programmer and designer Olivier Madiba, Kiro’o Games is the first professional video game studio in Central Africa, dedicated to promoting African values through entertainment. The studio gained international attention with Aurion: Legacy of the Kori-Odan, a 2D action RPG deeply inspired by African legends and culture. Released on PC in 2016 and published by French-based Dear Villagers, the game was praised for its rich narrative, distinctive art style, and for challenging perceptions of what themes a role-playing game could explore. In 2024, Aurion made the leap to the Xbox console, marking another milestone for African-developed games.
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Kiro’o Games has expanded beyond game development to become a driver of Africa’s digital creative economy. The studio created Rebuntu, a mentorship and investment platform designed to help other African internet ventures grow. Through its innovative “Rebuntu Equity Crowdfunding” process, Kiro’o raised over $500,000—allowing private investors to buy shares starting from as little as $500. In July 2024, the studio partnered with Microsoft, a landmark collaboration for the continent’s gaming sector. Its team has also been building Elites of Mboa, a social parody multiplayer comedy game satirizing aspects of African life, which has already attracted strong interest with tens of thousands of downloads of its demo.
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Madiba’s entrepreneurial journey has earned him numerous accolades, including being named one of the 20 Most Promising Francophone Africa Entrepreneurs in 2013 and placing second in Total Cameroon’s Startupper Challenge in 2016. At the Games Industry Africa Awards 2021, Kiro’o won more categories than any other nominee, taking home Industry Innovation of the Year, Debut of the Year, Team of the Year, and Most Impactful Mobile Game. With a vision to build the most inspiring digital entertainment catalogue in Africa, Kiro’o Games continues to blend cultural authenticity with global-quality production—positioning itself as both a pioneer for African gaming and a bridge to the world stage.
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✅ ʟɪᴋᴇ, sʜᴀʀᴇ & ғᴏʟʟᴏᴡ !

12/08/2025

LeLapa AI, co-founded by South African biomedical engineer turned entrepreneur Pelonomi Moiloa alongside technical co-founder Jade Abbott and AI researcher Vukosi Marivate, is building artificial intelligence solutions tailored to African languages. Based in Johannesburg, the company develops tools like its flagship model InkubaLM, which supports Swahili, Yoruba, isiXhosa, Hausa, and isiZulu, enabling transcription, translation, and natural conversation in languages often ignored by mainstream AI. By allowing people to engage in their native languages, LeLapa AI advances digital equity for underserved African communities and ensures that technology reflects local culture and identity.
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LeLapa AI’s models are culturally grounded and designed to be resource-efficient, working closely with linguists and communities to gather, annotate, and validate data—avoiding the biases common in Western-trained systems. Their AI helps businesses improve customer service, empowers voice-driven technologies, and supports social impact projects, from aiding Open Restitution Africa in locating African artifacts overseas to enabling mothers to communicate with healthcare workers through real-time translation. Beyond language AI, Moiloa has expressed ambitions to venture into robotics, continuing to expand the company’s role in Africa’s digital transformation.
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Since its founding in 2022, LeLapa AI has drawn global attention for its ethical and inclusive approach to AI. In 2023, it secured $2.5 million in funding from Mozilla Ventures, with support from Atlantica Ventures and Google AI chief Jeff Dean. Moiloa was named one of Time magazine’s 100 Most Influential People in AI (2023), a recognition of her advocacy for AI that respects African people, languages, and cultures. As LeLapa AI scales its Vulavula platform—offering APIs for speech-to-text, translation, sentiment analysis, and more—it is positioning itself not just as a tech company, but as a pioneer shaping a more inclusive and representative digital future for Africa.

06/08/2025

In this issue, Hilda shares sharp insights on digital leapfrogging, financial inclusion, and what it really takes to scale purpose-driven solutions in African markets. Named a Bloomberg New Economy Catalyst and Tech & Innovation Award winner from Forbes Woman Africa, Hilda is more than a founder—she’s a systems builder.

Don’t miss out! Click the link in bio for more 👆🏾

𝐒𝐏𝐎𝐓𝐋𝐈𝐆𝐇𝐓 𝐈𝐍 𝐀𝐅𝐑𝐈𝐂𝐀

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