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How technology could promote growth in 5 African countries

How technology could promote growth in 5 African countries

by | Feb 17, 2021 | Africa, General, Other News

growth Innovation in Africa

For several years now, Africa has been viewed as an upcoming growth market. According to experts, there are several reasons to back the optimism: the continent has the youngest population globally, a promising consumption market for decades to come, and the continent is increasingly mobile phone-enabled.

A growing digital ecosystem becomes a crucial factor in economic growth, as access to mobile phones and other smart devices enhances consumer information, job creation, networking, and financial inclusion. The development of intuitive technology through mobile-friendly apps provides the perfect avenue for growth. 

An excellent example is the Betway app, an exclusive betting app that allows users to customize their accounts for ease of use. It comes in a simple interface which makes going through different sections on the website easy. With Betway already operating across several African countries, the launch of the app acts as an ideal blueprint for further innovations created for other sectors.

Despite all these reasons, the promise of growth remains underwhelming. Growth in the continent has stalled, forcing the IMF and the World Bank to trim their 2019 economic growth expectations for Sub-Saharan Africa to 3.5 and 2.8 percent, respectively. Disturbing stats reveal that close to 440 million of the poorest people live in Sub-Saharan Africa. The World Bank went further to project that should poverty reduction measures remain sluggish, Africa could be home to 90 percent of the world’s poorest by 2030. 

The Impact of Technology Across 5 African Countries

Countries drawn from different regions in Africa offer diverse potential in terms of economic growth, median age, governance, and digitalization. Looking at South Africa, Egypt, Nigeria, Kenya, and Rwanda, technology offers significant growth potential. We are looking at three prime categories capable of driving economic growth via technology: job creation through digital platforms, digital potential per country, and the tools necessary for digital growth.

Job Creation Through Digital Platforms

Countries like Kenya, Nigeria, and South Africa look ready for high-skilled digital jobs and have structures to take up online freelance jobs. The level of education among the youth is on the rise, and the IT sector is attracting massive enrolment primarily due to the promise of the digital revolution taking over the globe. 

Local and foreign companies are already working across Africa in poverty-alleviation programs in conjunction with local governments. Such projects are steered through technological innovations created by local youths. Companies like Betway are creating income-earning opportunities, but the freedom given to local graduates to develop systems for specific industries is both motivating and empowering. 

Digital Potential Per Country

Different countries have put in place digital structures to support local economic growth. Looking at development over a decade or so, it is clear to see the biggest beneficiaries. Rwanda and Egypt have incorporated foreign input into their systems to boost growth, and it seems to be working remarkably well for both countries.

The use of mobile money is also on the increase. Kenya takes the biggest market share of mobile money technology, with more than 85 percent of the Kenyan population already using MPesa, the first of its kind in the world.

Tool Necessary for Digital Growth

Besides governments providing the necessary infrastructure for growth, governance and online freedom remain key. Internet connectivity is above average across these five countries, but poverty levels remain a major hindrance. 

Through respective ministries, governments have been at the forefront to address widening gaps in the digital divide. It is out in the public domain that the future is digital, and businesses are currently operating online. The emphasis on having citizens embrace technology as the new order is at an all-time high, and the fruits are evident. Various industries are working towards getting everything done online, and that includes the betting industry, where players like Betway offer the latest digital trends for users.

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Check out other stories making the news across Africa and Middle East region.

Building an operating system that works for emerging markets, Lessons from Nigeria that shaped Windows 10

Building an operating system that works for emerging markets, Lessons from Nigeria that shaped Windows 10

by | Jun 26, 2019 | General, Windows, Windows 10, Windows Insider

What is it like building an operating system for the world? Microsoft Windows Insider chief, Dona Sarkar talks about how diversity helps in the development of the Windows operating system. Sharing how the development team builds an operating system that works for emerging markets like Africa thriving on diversity.

Dona was talking to Mark Smith (nz365guy), about Building a Tech Community: Windows Insider Program on his podacst.

Knowing how people use tech in the world is how we grow and build better products.

Dona Sarkar

Lessons from Nigeria that shaped Windows 10 for emerging markets

Dona talks passionately about how she appreciates diversity in a corporate team. “I appreciate diversity of experience and diversity of background really helps. What people who are diverse bring to the table is open mindedness.”

As someone who helps in building a global product, she says she will have only a specific point of view sitting in Redmond. “I think we need a global thinking. How do people use tech all around the world. What more should we build and invest in.”

Knowing how people use tech in the world is how we[Microsoft] grow and build better products, Dona says.

About three years ago we realized we know very little about how to build a windows that works well in emerging markets. Especially for places where electricity and good wifi is not a given.

So we choose Lagos, Nigeria because there’s are a hundred and eighty million people there. They love technology, they use it all the time but the infrastructure is not quite as reliable as it might be in Redmond.

When we were there i was trying to install insider builds, have skype calls and podcast and it was challenging. We had rolling blackouts everyday, wifi was extremely slow and spotty. The expense of having wireless connectivity is way higher.

We realized having the ability to have longer battery life is extremely important. Having devices that work on cellular like our Windows on ARM PCs is extremely important compared to always relying on wifi. The ability to have a windows download size that’s not 3GB but maybe 2GB is extremely important.

A 2G network on Microsoft campus

We had these realizations only after spending time in Nigeria – with Nigerian Fellows of the Insiders4Good Program – says Dona Sarkar. The “experiences in Nigeria had a wider impact on the company’s development practices. We’re fundamentally changing the way we develop Windows.” Dona says they built a 2G network on Redmond campus to simulate the conditions under which users in ‘occasionally connected’ markets have to use their devices.

Dona and the Windows development team are making Windows better with the help of a diverse Insider community. A community of people across the world who help test pre-relase Windows builds and provide feedback.

Click to visit podcast page and listen to the full conversation with Mark.