Tech

Tech4Dev launches Techsters Fellowship Class for African women

Published

2 years ago

May 3, 2023

Tech4Dev, a non-governmental organisation founded by Nigerian tech entrepreneur, Joel Ogunsola, with the aim of empowering young people in the tech ecosystem, has launched its 2024 Women Techsters fellowship class as part of the efforts to mark the 2023 International Day of Girls in ICT.

According to the Executive Director of Tech4Dev, Oladiwura Oladepo, the purpose of the cohort is to empower women across African countries to have knowledge and experience in technology and enroll them for internships in their respective fields.

She explained that over the last five years, the organisation had made tremendous progress from impacting 2,400 women in Nigeria to impacting 89,483 females across Africa by the year 2023.

Oladepo said Tech4Dev had started operations in five African countries before spreading to 15 others and was now in operation in 22 nations in the region.

“The countries where Tech4Dev is in operation are Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya, Zimbabwe, Botswana, Egypt, South Africa, Ethiopia and Democratic Republic of Congo.

“Others are Morocco, Madagascar, Sierra Leone, Uganda, Mozambique, Tanzania, Sudan, Liberia, Uganda, Algeria, Angola, Rwanda and Gambia,” she said at the unveiling of the 2024 edition.

“Tech4Dev is a tuition-free one-year technology upskilling programme that empowers young girls and women within the age range of 16 to 40 years across Africa with global in-demand skills, relevant to kickstart careers and businesses in technology,” she added.

Also speaking at the unveiling, the Women Techsters Programme Lead, Blessing Ashi, said the programme was held to train women for one year and the organisation had recorded great success as “there have been lots of success stories from women, who underwent the programme.”

“This year, we will be empowering our beneficiaries in software development, product design, cyber security, science, mobile application development, product management, blockchain and many other technology-related sectors and fields.

“In the one-year free program, there are six months of intensive training and six months of internship and enrollment to equip women and build their careers in the line of technology.

“The goal of Tech4Dev is to impact 50,000 African women in different fields of technology by 2030, which is more reason why there is a yearly increase in the number of applicants,” she added.

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Tech

DR Congo sues tech giant Apple over illegal mineral exploitation

Published

14 hours ago

December 18, 2024

Isaac Dachen

The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), has filed a criminal case against the European subsidiaries of tech giant, Apple, accusing them of illegal mineral exploitation and allegedly using “blood minerals” in its supply chain.

In the suit filed on Tuesday, the DRC alleges that Apple has bought contraband supplies from the country’s conflict-ladden east and Rwanda, zones in which it allege the materials are mined illegally and then integrated into global supply chains before ending up in tech devices.

The DRC suit specifically mentioned Apple subsidiaries in France and Belgium, accusing the tech giant of using conflict minerals in its supply chain.

The DRC is a major source of tin, tantalum, and tungsten which are used in electronic devices, with some mines controlled by armed groups responsible for human rights violations.

International lawyers representing the African country’s government have accused Apple’s local subsidiaries of taking these minerals from conflict areas and laundering them through international supply chains, with one lawyer telling journalists that Belgium had a moral duty to act given its history of exploiting the country’s resources under colonial rule.

However, in its response, Apple claims it conducts supplier audits and does not directly source primary minerals.

https://www.thenews.com.pk/print/1262670-dr-congo-sues-apple-over-alleged-illegal-mineral-exploitation

Tech

Moroccan retail-tech startup Z raises $1.5m to drive intense growth

Published

4 days ago

December 15, 2024

Isaac Dachen

Morocco-based B2B retail-tech marketplace, ZSystems, has announced closing a $1.5 million seed funding round which will see it carry out its ambitious expansion dreams.

In a statement by co-founder and CEO, Meriem Benabad, the funding round was led by Morocco-based Venture Capital firms, MNF Ventures (through its MNF II fund), Witamax (through Fund II and III), Cash Plus Ventures, and Kalys Ventures.

“This funding marks a pivotal moment for Z, as we aim to scale operations and bring cutting-edge solutions to traditional retail.

“Our vision is to empower small businesses and unlock growth across Morocco and Africa,” Benabad said.

According to Benabad, the newly acquired capital will support Z’s technology development, product catalogue expansion, and preparation for its next growth phase.

“Z is reshaping the retail landscape by integrating technology and innovation across the value chain. Its scalable platform empowers traditional retailers and brands with direct access to consumers, reviving competitiveness in traditional trade (hanouts), which accounts for 85% of the FMCG market,” he added.

Founded in 2022 by the trio of Benabad, Samer Choumar and Youssef Ait-Haddouch, Z’s platform empowers traditional retailers and brands with direct access to consumers, reviving competitiveness in traditional trade (hanouts), which accounts for 85% of the FMCG market.

Since launch, the startup has helped over 15,000 active retailers, and seen more than 800,000 orders placed.