How Africa can drive youth entrepreneurship through Tech

In a recent interview at the 2018 Annual Meetings of the African Development Bank (AfDB), Clarisse Iribagiza, the Founder and CEO of Rwandan Tech Solutions Provider, DMM.HEHE, discussed how Africa can drive youth entrepreneurship through ICT. Iribagiza highlighted the importance of digital infrastructure for e-commerce, including e-logistics, digital payments, and online stores. She shared her inspiring story of leveraging social media to access funding, starting with a tweet to the president of Rwanda which eventually led to startup capital and business expansion. This innovative approach to accessing financing serves as an example of overcoming challenges faced by African youth entrepreneurs. When asked about the drive of African youth in pursuing entrepreneurship, Iribagiza emphasized the abundance of young people with dreams and ideas, particularly in sectors like agribusiness and technology. She noted a mindset shift towards embracing entrepreneurship as a viable path, bringing forth numerous opportunities for the younger generation. The conversation at the annual meetings also focused on bridging innovation with industry and addressing the financing needs of youth entrepreneurs. Iribagiza highlighted the lack of trust from financial institutions and the mismatch between available financing tickets and the actual capital requirements of young businesses as major challenges. Education and skills acquisition were also key topics of discussion, with an emphasis on preparing African youth for the future job market. Iribagiza highlighted the efforts of the presidential youth advisory group in addressing the need to equip young people with the skills and mindset necessary for the evolving workplace. Discussions included preparing youth to adapt to changes brought about by technologies like artificial intelligence and quantum computing, ensuring they are flexible and resilient in the face of future workforce transformations. As a member of the presidential youth advisory group, Iribagiza expressed the group's commitment to influencing policies across Africa to empower and skill the youth effectively. Leveraging innovative models such as the success of entities like Mandela, which create jobs through short-term training programs, the group aims to scale impactful initiatives that benefit young entrepreneurs beyond policy considerations. The collaborative efforts of the advisory group, along with the strategic positioning of the AfDB, provide a platform to drive positive change and uplift the next generation of African entrepreneurs.