Female Entrepreneurs and Social Innovators Rally for 4-country Tech Tour of Africa

ATLANTA - March 3, 2014 - PRLog -- In an act of camaraderie and collaboration a group of female change-makers across technology and the social impact space embarked on a 2 week innovation excursion across the continent of Africa. The  uplifting journey promoting women’s empowerment and global entrepreneurship granted the women and other distinguished guests the opportunity to meet with fellow entrepreneurs, attend pitch parties and government meetings, enjoy cultural excursions, and connect with innovators across Ghana, Nigeria, South Africa and Kenya.

With the assistance of sponsor Arik Air the women started their voyage in Accra, Ghana. The country known for its warm hospitality and vibrant celebrations greeted the group in style with a dinner sponsored by the GLICO Group at the La Villa Boutique Hotel. Attendees of the dinner included several of the Queen Mothers of Ghana and renowned beauty entrepreneur Mrs. Mame Serwaa Achampong-Kyei. Additional highlights of the Ghanaian portion of the trip included sitting on The Global Shapers Accra’s ‘The Accra Discourse’ and visits to the The Meltwater Entrepreneurial School of Technology which trains, mentors, and invests in world-class tech entrepreneurs and African startups from Ghana and the HUB Accra, a collaborative workspace, that not only grants budding entrepreneurs with access to internet but leadership workshops, business building events, coding courses and more. At the HUB the attendees were introduced to the next wave of startups and founders impacting Ghana including Robbyville International’s Samuel Robertson, Encodev Labs’ Alfred Rowe, Kwasi Osei-Kusi of Upcountry Coffee Company, Dziedzorm “JayJay” Segbefia of Braveheart Expeditions and MGLnaturals’ Kafui Mansu.

The next leg of the tour brought the group to Lagos, Nigeria where SHOD Systems Nigeria LTD.’s hosted the a series of presentations and informations surrounding economic growth and international investment in Nigeria. Speakers over the sessions included Ajibola Edwards of Adeniji Kazeem & Co who advised the entrepreneurs on best business practices when entering the market and Choice Fisheries’ Remi Ahmed who shared insights in the commercial farming and agriculture sectors. Attendees also visited Co-Creation Hub (CCHub), Nigeria’s first open living lab and pre-incubation space designed to be a multi-functional, multi-purpose space where work to catalyze creative social tech ventures takes place. The CCHub is a place for technologists, social entrepreneurs, government, tech companies, impact investors and hackers in and around Lagos to co-create new solutions to the many social problems in Nigeria. Co-founder Femi Longe graciously offered a full tour of the facility and introduced tour participants to several of their startups and rising entrepreneurial stars such as business location and recommendation app Nearest Locator’s Andrew Ogbewele, BudgIT- a creative agency meant to develop a multi-platform user friendly presentation of state and federal budget to include charts and performance analysis for proper understanding of what budgets entail and Efiko, a multi-platform app of timed quizzes with shareable results aimed at secondary school students.

After several days in Nigeria, the group jetted off to Johannesburg, South Africa and followed with a visit to Cape Town. South Africa proved to be an humbling lesson in history and the civic duty surrounding the advancement of the continent.

“I particularly enjoyed visiting Johannesburg Impact Hub, where I was able to meet founder Lesley Donna Williams.” says attendee Jamela Peterson. “She gave me great incite in the foreign investments across Africa and warned of a repeat in history-- the second scramble for African continent.  Therefore, there is an absolute necessity to empower the people living in Africa, so they can control their own countries and destinies.”

The innovation excursion concluded in Nairobi, Kenya where participants visited iHUB Nairobi and met with fellow social entrepreneurs at Sankalp’s Annual Summit, the  largest social enterprise focused gathering in the world.

Sidewalk District Founder Janelle Jolley sang iHUB Nairobi’s praises “ I have never seen such a comprehensive approach to co-working and an entrepreneurial ecosystem anywhere in the world,” says Jolley. “They literally have anything a founder would ever need to have a successful business there.”

The trip proved to be an overwhelmingly powerful and life-changing experience for all of those in attendance. Participants left with a new wealth of knowledge, understanding, compassion and respect for their Pan-African innovators and have committed to strengthen entrepreneurial and economic ties between their respective continents with additional excursions, increased communication and the establishment of collaborative programming.

“As members of the African Disapora we are undoubtedly tied to our countries of origin.” says attendee and PR Coordinator Amanda Spann. “The investment of our mutual time, energy and equity will inevitably prove to be hugely beneficial to change-makers across continents. We look forward to promoting positive change, increased engagement and impactful results.”

For media inquiries or interview requests, please contact Amanda Spann, PR Coordinator at aspann@brandspanpr.com.