In the 1990s, the South Korean government invested massively in broadband infrastructure; Samsung now rules the waves – the only company close to rivalling US firm Apple.
On the continent, different approaches have emerged in two growing tech powerhouses. In Nigeria, the central government holds its young tech-savvy entrepreneurs responsible for enabling the 2020 #EndSARS protests that culminated in the Lekki massacre. The central bank has banned commercial banks from participating in cryptocurrency transactions.
But the barriers to technology go beyond the latest government crackdown. A survey by Nigeria’s science and tech ministry showed that innovation within local companies was edged out by the other concerns they face daily.
“In Nigeria, firms have to struggle to provide their own electricity, water, security, haulage,” researcher Abiodun Egbetokun told reporters.
Egypt, too, has had a difficult relationship with tech since it helped enable the Tahrir Square-birthed revolution of 2011. In recent years, however, the government has tried to grow the sector; it recently launched a fintech support fund worth £1bn ($64m) and licensed non-banking financial companies.
Disrupt Africa’s latest deep dive on the subject shows Egypt is the ‘fourth-largest startup ecosystem on the continent’. Egyptian start-ups raised $190m in 2020; in 2021, they had surpassed that figure by July.
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We believe that Africa is poorly represented, and badly under-estimated. Beyond the vast opportunity manifest in African markets, we highlight people who make a difference; leaders turning the tide, youth driving change, and an indefatigable business community. That is what we believe will change the continent, and that is what we report on. With hard-hitting investigations, innovative analysis and deep dives into countries and sectors, The Africa Report delivers the insight you need.
