John Okoro: Investing in Clean Energy in Africa – Challenges and Opportunities

In this interview, Initiative Africa speaks with John Okoro, an energy and infrastructure expert who has worked across more than 30 African countries, about the challenges and opportunities shaping Africa's clean energy transition. With hundreds of millions of Africans still lacking access to electricity, he discusses the barriers to financing clean energy projects, investors' perceptions of risk, and the need for business models that make electricity affordable for local communities. From Kenya and Burundi to Nigeria and Zanzibar, John Okoro explores the initiatives transforming the energy sector, including renewable energy development, battery storage, smart grids and local manufacturing. He also shares his perspective on Africa's next major investment opportunities, particularly at the intersection of energy, artificial intelligence and data centres. Journalist: Asha Sumputh

Publications

Tech 9 December 2022

Eric Armel N’Doumba, President of the African Centre for Research in Artificial Intelligence

During the second edition of the Semaine Francophone de la Jeunesse Estudiantine Scientifique, the AUF created the first Francophone network of artificial intelligence to grant financial stability to researchers and valorising Francophone research on an international scale. Eric Armel N'Doumba, the vice president of this network, is also the president of the African Centre for Research in Artificial Intelligence. The main objective is to develop digital skills on the African continent by delivering four training programmes on the subject, accessible to primary school pupils and company employees.

Tech 7 December 2022

Africa embracing the opportunities of AI and Big Data

Artificial intelligence and Big Data are taking hold in Africa, generating a lot of investment in technology, employment and the economy, especially in creating jobs. Bénie Mabela, CEO of Bensearch Solutions SAS, aims to better prepare the continent for this inevitable digital transformation through the Bensearch Solutions Business Conference Initiative. Starting with Cameroon, this project is touring the continent to engage as many countries as possible in this in-depth digital transformation.

Tech 31 August 2022

Guest of the week : Doctor Abasi Ene-Obong

Doctor Abasi Ene-Obong is a recognised specialist in cancer and genomics. He founded the startup 54 gene to give all its potential to the African genome and help save lives with better targeted drugs or vaccines.

Tech 15 July 2022

AfricaTech at Vivatech in Paris 2022

Since its first edition in 2017, VivaTech has offered us the AfricaTech programme, highlighting the most influential African startups. This year, we had the pleasure of attending the first edition of the AfricaTech Awards, a pan-African initiative developed to recognise and support startups impacting three key sectors: ClimateTech, HealthTech and FinTech.

Tech 6 July 2022

Guest of the week: Serge Boupda

Born in Cameroon, Serge Boupda left France to settle in his native country and create Diool, a payment platform that presents itself as an alternative to cash payments. He reveals how he managed to persuade investors and discusses with us his plans for the future.

Tech 23 March 2022

No-Code technology to create mobile applications

The creation of mobile applications at a lower cost is now possible thanks to the no-code technology. This movement, which is very present in Africa, is less costly and creates opportunities. Offering a promising future to the youth, especially in Kenya, Nigeria, and South Africa.

Tech 9 March 2022

How much of Africa’s NFT art boom is hype?

A look at Africa’s booming NFT art market with a focus on obstacles and future growth potential, based on interviews with Nigerian digital artist, Niyi Okeowo, and Kenyan blockchain expert, Anne Kaluvu.

Tech 19 November 2021

Eric Ntonfo encourages the African diaspora to support the continent’s socio-economic development

Asha Sumputh, our journalist, met with Eric Ntonfo at the African Diaspora Summit in Strasbourg last October. Entrepreneur and Founder of Fiatope Invest, a participative fundraising platform that enables the African diaspora to invest in companies with a high social impact on the continent, Eric Ntonfo insists on the importance of establishing partnerships between members of the diaspora to sustain the continent's development.