Good Morning Africa

As African universities accelerate the adoption of Artificial Intelligence, experts are calling for a model rooted in collaboration and context.Education leaders say South–South partnerships are critical — allowing institutions to share infrastructure costs, scale successful pilot projects, and avoid costly mistakes. Networks such as the Education Collaborative are already helping universities learn from one another and co-develop solutions suited to emerging markets.But collaboration alone is not enough.Innovation leaders within the AfriLabs ecosystem argue that AI systems must be built on local data and traditional knowledge systems to ensure relevance. They warn that overreliance on foreign datasets and external funding risks producing tools that fail to reflect African realities.The message is clear: Africa's AI future must be shared — but it must also be sovereign.

Experts urge African universities to adopt AI strategically, focusing on value, cost, training, and strong policies to build trust and ensure sustainable integration in higher education.

African aviation is shaped by geography — from Southern Africa's efficiency to East Africa's structural challenges and West Africa's untapped demand. The future depends on reliability, partnerships, and stronger aviation ecosystems.

Africa's aviation story right now? Two sides of the same coin.Demand is soaring. A continent of over 1.4 billion people, fast-growing cities, and limited transport alternatives means air travel isn't a luxury — it's a necessity.African airlines face some of the highest operating costs in the world, fragmented airspace, strict visa regimes, and limited connectivity. Yet change is in the air.African passengers are more informed, more demanding, and less loyal to national carriers — pushing airlines to improve reliability and deliver real value.The question now: can Africa turn rising demand into sustainable growth — or will the same headwinds continue to ground the industry?

Across the continent, startups are developing intelligent tools, talent is growing, and innovation is accelerating. But funding gaps, weak infrastructure, and limited policy support still hold many founders back.Right now, most investors are focused on fintech and logistics — not artificial intelligence. And many governments still see AI as a future issue, not an economic priority.Yet globally, we've seen how fast things can change. When OpenAI accelerated AI adoption, investment and policy quickly followed.Amadou Daffe CEO of Gebeya joins us for this episode 

Africa's competitiveness in 2026 hinges on making the AfCFTA real for small and mid‑sized businesses, not just the big corporates. That means cutting red tape, simplifying compliance, and reducing trade friction so entrepreneurs can spend less time navigating bureaucracy and more time scaling across borders.Minister Ahmed Shide Mohamed from Ethiopia ,Angela Oduor Lungati from Kenya and Minister , Yusuf Maitama Tuggar from Nigeria discuss the risks if we overload AfCFTA with agendas it wasn't designed for  we stall execution. 

The African Trade Report 2025 shows that social enterprises are a core part of Africa's economy. Across the continent, there are over 2.18 million social enterprises creating tens of millions of jobs and contributing up to 3% of Africa's GDP.What stands out is who is driving this growth. Nearly half of these enterprises are led by women, and a third by young people. These leaders are not just building businesses, they are creating jobs for women and youth in their communities.The report also highlights a major challenge. More than 55% of social enterprises struggle to access financing, caught in a middle funding gap. Unlocking patient, flexible capital and supportive policies will be critical if Africa is to fully harness the power of social enterprises.

In this episode of "Meet the CEO," we welcome Amadou Daffe, CEO and Co-Founder of Gebeya. Get ready for an engaging discussion that explores the impact of AI on the African continent. Amadou doesn't shy away from conversations about policy and regulation—Is now the right time to start mapping those out?We also delve into talent retention and what support for African startups should look like.

Ethiopia's message is clear: Africa's youth jobs crisis is not about lack of labor or ambition — it's about the high cost of doing business. Unreliable energy, logistics bottlenecks, and expensive production prevent firms from expanding and hiring at scale.Minister of Finance in Ethiopia  Ahmed Shide says Jobs are already coming from three areas: agri-food value chains, light manufacturing and industrial parks, and fast-growing urban services.

Uganda's digital finance space is shifting fast — from closed systems to open banking. Banks, fintechs, and mobile money operators are realizing they can't thrive alone, as the national switch and mobile money tax debates reshape how Ugandans move money.

As artificial intelligence reshapes the global economy, Africa faces a defining moment.The continent is producing world-class tech talent — but without fast-growing local AI companies, that talent will continue to be absorbed elsewhere, driving a new era of brain drain.This conversation is not just about innovation, but about infrastructure: building companies, creating career pathways, and ensuring AI education shifts from memorization to practical skills in robotics, agents, and real-world problem-solving.Amadou Daffe, Ceo and Co-founder of Gebeya joins us 

Africa's banking sector is also seeing increased mergers and acquisitions, as institutions strategically position themselves to capture growth in high-potential regional markets. These moves reflect a broader shift toward stronger, more competitive financial ecosystems across the continent. This episode with Anthony Kirui is the Head of Global Markets at Absa Bank, explores mergers and  Acquisitions in the African Banking sector and also explores, in part, the credit rating conversation on the continent. 

On this episode of MEET THE CEO. Kelvin Kimutai, the chief upskilling officer at Breedj joins us to discuss the future of remote work. He talks about closing the persistent gap between education and employment by equipping African youth with the skills, structure, and readiness needed to compete in the remote work economy.

Local investment is becoming one of the clearest indicators of economic confidence across the continent. The principle is simple: foreign direct investment follows local belief.Ethiopia is emerging after decades of economic rebuilding, now attracting significant cross-border investment from African business leaders. But challenges remain, especially for small businesses. In Ethiopia, just 2% of enterprises receive up to 90% of bank lending, leaving SMEs — the real job creators — underserved. Bernard Laurendeau, Managing Director of Enkopa Lab joins us to discuss Africa's next growth chapter and why it depends on building stronger support systems for enterprise.

South Africa is once again top of the table in the latest Africa Financial Markets Index, scoring 86 out of 100 — even as other countries quietly make gains. Mauritius follows closely, while Uganda continues its steady climb, improving its score and ranking ahead of larger economies like Nigeria.The index, now covering 29 African countries, is more than just a ranking. It's a diagnostic tool — measuring how well countries are building the foundations for deep, resilient financial markets, from market infrastructure and transparency to investor access and legal frameworks.On this episode, we're joined by Anthony Kirui, Managing Director and Head of Global Markets for Africa Regional Operations, who breaks down the pillars that most African countries are still struggling  to get right 

 In the early 2000s, debt relief gave many countries breathing room — but not transformation. The debt was cancelled, yet the structures that pushed economies back into borrowing remained untouched.Today, nearly half the continent is once again in or near debt distress, with some governments spending more on interest repayments than on health or education.

The internet in Uganda is no longer just a communication tool. It is economic infrastructure.When connectivity was  disrupted in Uganda, innovation didn't pause — it unravelled Freelancers miss payments. Startups missed investor calls. And much of the damage never appears in official statistics.

On this week's Meet the CEO, we sit down with Kakurah Ninsiima, Founder of Diamond Consult and author of A Guide to Building Generational Wealth.In this episode, Kakurah shares the personal experiences that shaped her deep passion for financial literacy. She unpacks how different generations perceive wealth-building, what we've inherited, what we've misunderstood — and what must change.

The East Africa Venture Capital Association is pushing for a fundamental shift in how Africa finances its own development. While private equity and venture capital across East Africa are largely managed by Africans, over 99% of the capital still comes from outside the continent.

Africa is staring down a growing debt crisis — one that didn't happen overnight. Today, the continent is spending over $1.4 trillion servicing debt, even as economies struggle to grow and governments race to meet rising public needs.In this episode, Jason Rosario Braganza unpacks how Africa got here, why some countries are defaulting, and what needs to change if the continent is to break free from this cycle of borrowing to survive.

Uganda's chaotic presidential election features internet shutdowns and the disabling of the Mobile Money withdrawal function. Welcome to yet another edition of the same election, different country.

We're kicking off the year with Pompi — an African giant doing big numbers across the continent and sitting right at the forefront of shaping Afro Gospel in Africa.

The Africa Cup of Nations final is scheduled to take place in Rabat on January 18. Morocco has set a standard for what the tournament should look like going forward. We speak to Clive Kyazze of CK Sports who is currently in Morroco covering the tournament 

Agroecology is often framed as an environmental solution - but today, it's also a business opportunity.As climate pressures reshape food systems, agroecology offers a climate-resilient model that reduces risk, strengthens supply chains, and opens new sustainable markets. Early adopters aren't just protecting the planet - they're positioning themselves for long-term commercial gain.We are joined by Joachim Ewechu Co-Founder & CEO, SHONA Group,  Ivan Mandela, CFACEO & Co-Founder, SHONA Capital and  Fabio Leippert Co-Head of Policy & Advocacy at Biovision

Jason Rosario Braganza,Executive Director at African Forum and Network on Debt and Development (AFRODAD) joins us for this episode, breaking down if African countries can truly get justice.

Successful AfCFTA trade requires careful preparation, customer validation, and risk awareness to avoid costly disputes and losses.This requires knowledge of concepts under the Africa Continental Free. In this epsiode Briggette Harrington, Chief Executive Officer at Igire Continental Trading Company breaks down the rule of origin concept. 

Maleiha Malik, Executive Director of Protect Education in Insecurity and Conflict (PEIC) at the Education Above All Foundation, discussed the challenges of education amidst insecurity. In this episode, she focused on Nigeria and the right to education, even in conflict and insecurity.  Prince Gideon Olarewaju from Fastrack Nigeria spoke on the close ties between innovation and education.

The importance of investment in education cannot be overstated. Everything from new syllabi to reorienting teachers and improving infrastructure requires various forms of investment. In this context, we spoke with Rowdah Ibrahim Alnami, Investment Department Manager at the Qatar Fund for Development.

There is a lot of discussion about AI, but many are questioning whether there are tangible research and policy papers examining use case scenarios across different continents. Selma Talha Jebrl, Director of Policy and Research at WISE, discussed the work being undertaken in research and digital literacy in Africa.

Mo Gawdat, former Chief of Business at Google, emphasized the need for a reorientation of both students and teachers in the age of augmented intelligence. He highlighted the importance of asking better questions of AI tools to improve learning outcomes.

Innovation is the driving force behind all progress; as the saying goes, you either evolve or become obsolete. Agroecology, like every other discipline, is undergoing transformation. We will challenge CEOs and policy leaders to share their perspectives on how innovation is shaping the future. 

Are funders in the agroecology sector effectively communicating within the capital markets to secure the necessary funding? We'll also explore the progress of policy development across the continent and what this means for the thriving agroecology community. 

Certification is an essential part of good business practices, and in agroecology, it is even more crucial. It serves as your identifier, validating everything you say and do as an Agroecological Extension Expert (AEE). In this episode, we discuss certification and the importance of leveling the playing field between AEEs and other agricultural setups. Joachim Ewechu, Co-Founder & CEO of SHONA Group, Fabio Leippert, Co-Head of Policy & Advocacy at Biovision, and Herbert Thuo, CEO & Founder of ANSA Africa, delve deep to provide insightful answers. 

In this episode, we bring you a thought-provoking discussion on agroecology. What do you know about agroecology? Is it just a passing trend, or is it here to stay? We have assembled a roundtable of CEOs and top experts to break down the concept. Joining us are: - Joachim Ewechu, Co-Founder & CEO of SHONA Group - Ivan Mandela, CFA, CEO & Co-Founder of SHONA Capital - Lucy Asiimwe, Programs Manager at AfriFood Founders, SHONA Group - Fabio Leippert, Co-Head of Policy & Advocacy at Biovision - Francis Shivonje, Country Coordinator at Biovision - Herbert Thuo, CEO & Founder of ANSA Africa We will start by exploring the fundamentals of agroecology and the components that make up an agroecological enterprise.