Afripreneur
Hustle and Business: Empowering a new generation of Africans through storytelling
Hustle and Business Host, Darlyn Okojie and Guest, Kelly Praise (Photo: Hustle and Business)
One missing link to sustainable growth in businesses in Africa prior to this time is the absence of the unique stories of African innovators and entrepreneurs disrupting the ecosystem. There are entrepreneurs breaking new ground in various sectors, but their successes are not replicated by others due to a lack of platforms to share their stories.
There is a scarcity of well-curated stories and accurate data about Africans succeeding in business and careers. As a result, those hoping to follow in their footsteps have no choice but to start from scratch, making the same mistakes as their predecessors or contemporaries. This circle of no reference to leverage continues to hamper Africa’s growth rate.
We haven’t done a good job of capturing the “how” in our African success stories. Knowing where the rubber meets the road is the missing link in explaining why we have not maximized our success in terms of replicating and building on the successes of our fellow Africans. There are not enough relatable stories out there for other Africans to learn from and lean on as they travel their own path.
The need to fill this crucial gap inspired the launch of the Hustle & Business Podcast this month; Africa’s premium podcast where innovators, disruptors, and entrepreneurs on the continent can share their stories for other Africans to learn from and leverage for their own growth. Most stories of business successes in Africa are not contained in many textbooks. So, the curation of these stories is critical as we seek to multiply success on the continent.
The podcast became the medium to reach our audience, whose fast-paced lifestyle may not always afford them enough spare time for new knowledge consumption, but can always listen while engaging in other routine activities, such as cleaning, driving, walking, working out, cooking, etc. It’s 100% convenient and easy to comprehend.
In the Hustle & Business podcast, we will be sharing inspiring stories of young and not-so-young Africans building businesses, excelling in their careers, and creating legacies for others to pattern after. We will be spotlighting opportunities for business in Africa and strategies to succeed in the world’s next-largest talent market.
We are also passionate about using this podcast to build and foster a community of listeners that includes proficient and business-inclined individuals, startups, women, tech founders, SMEs, aspiring founders, established businesses, and the like.
Through this podcast, we will be amplifying the voices of African entrepreneurs and innovators. Creating effective brand awareness for their enterprise. Hence, we are reaching out to everyone in the ecosystem. Are you an innovator, business leader, startup founder, career person, SME, entertainer, artist, tech bro, VC, or disruptor and you have got stories to share? Our door is open and we are excited to have you on the Hustle & Business podcast to inspire others. Regardless of where you are in your journey, your story is never insignificant; rather, it will have a greater positive impact on others than you can ever imagine. So let’s grow together on this journey.
“I’m writing my story so that others might see fragments of themselves.” –Lena Waithe.
Being a guest on this podcast also gives you a unique connection with your existing clients, new audience, and potential customers. It helps you to establish an authoritative presence in your field, and easily introduce new and existing products, special events you’re planning, or anything else you need to share.
To our listeners, expect premium content, masterclass interviews, practical lessons, and relatable stories, verifiable personalities, while you prepare to learn, laugh, have fun, relax, and get better at your craft as we listen to others share their stories.
Tune in every Wednesday at 4 pm (WAT) to listen to new episodes, and follow us with the hashtag #hustleandbusiness on social media. The Hustle & Business podcast is the long-awaited podcast for those making a difference on the continent. Join us on this exciting adventure!
Aiesha Bailey is the Founder of OCIR, an app developed and designed to help special needs children in schools. OCIR is a shared APP for special needs children 4 + some adults, their primary carers and educators. This APP has been designed to help users navigate their life learning and education in a safe way that fits around the skills they have, rather than forcing them to interact in ways that do not suit them.
Her reason for developing this app was because her child was non-verbal in a mainstream school and his only communication was grinding his teeth. So, as a mother, she got anxious and decided to have coffee mornings with other families to feel if this is an app worth having and that they would pay for. To her surprise they loved it and Aisha has a few of them featured on her podcasts.
Aiesha also does workshops to encourage parents with their well-being so that they do not feel isolated. The lasting testimony of this app is her son who has gone from non-verbal to a confident, contented and clever child and student who excels in lessons and enjoys socialising with all ages. Essentially, OCIR is a communication tool to improve the emotional well-being and psychological mental health of youngsters with special needs. Aiesha believes a purchase of this app is a donation that goes back towards the school.
Users
The app supports children with autism, Aspergers, anxiety, ADHD and speech delay. It has therapists for parents and carers as they have anxiety, maybe mental health issues and/or need someone to talk to who faces similar challenges.
Requirements
When special needs youngsters, children and young adults are affected by their condition, it is not always easy for them to communicate what they are feeling. Equally the time, occasion or person may not approach nor make it safe for them to express their feelings. These are the people OCIR was created to support.
Functions
Visualisation is an important aspect of how special needs people communicate. OCIR’s strength is that it is visual and allows users to interact and express emotions and how they feel in the moment through pictures, symbols, images and different emojis.
Equipment
The OCIR app can be used on various electronic devices, desktop computers, tablets, smart mobile phones or smartwatches.
Statistics
The information gathered is personalised for individuals. The data can be collected for reports, for monitoring, identifying trends and evidential purposes. All data is kept confidential and presented clearly in a pie chart to help support the child.
Working together
When users engage with the OCIR app to express themselves, it is linked to the same platform as parents, teachers, guardians and carers, which allows communication in real time. Any issues can be observed and addressed immediately. Anyone responsible for users’ welfare can view any triggers and respond accordingly.
Shared experience
The real time interaction is one of OCIR’s best features because it can minimise the worry when children are outside the home and takes the pressure away from users having to remember the incident at a later time. The OCIR app also provides and maintains a bonded experience between users, educators and the responsible adult as required.
Features
The OCIR app has many features and links to pre-recorded therapy sessions, weather forecasts, sleep and activities for children/users and parents.
To find out more, can you please contact me at info@ocir.co.uk
Female Techpreneur today announced the second edition of the Female Founders’ Lounge – Lagos, an evening of in-depth discussions and networking taking place on Thursday 30th May 2024 at the GAIA House, V.I Lagos. Nigeria. Designed specifically for female Tech founders, experts, and ecosystem partners, this event is a unique opportunity to connect, learn, and grow together. Whether you’re an experienced entrepreneur, a seasoned professional, or a rising star in the tech industry, you’ll find valuable insights and inspiration at this event.
Since its inception in 2018, Female Techpreneur has been building a community of women with the goal to funnel more women into the tech ecosystem by creating opportunities for mentorship and networking. The all female evening event on the entrepreneurial scene is set to be the cornerstone of inspiration, empowerment, and connection for over 100 women-led business owners. Hosted by Tech entrepreneur and founder of Female Techpreneur Bukky Babajide, this one-day event will focus on the theme: “Navigating the evolving ecosystem to thrive”.
The event will feature an engaging keynote address from Mope Abudu, Managing Partner at AfriGloCal VC with over two decades of experience at the intersection of law, governance, and corporate leadership. The panel session and fireside chat will feature leading female founders and investors like Olatowun Candide-Johnson, Lexi Novitske, Bisi Akintayo, Chizor Malize, Oz-Omazino Eguh, Kemi Oyesola who will share their own entrepreneurial journeys. You will be motivated by how their hard work and resilience have helped them to push through the barriers and challenges of running a successful business.
Commenting Bukky Babajide Founder of Female Techpreneur said: “I am delighted that the Female Founders’ Lounge – Lagos is back and that we will be hosting another incredible lineup of speakers and entrepreneurs in the room. Female Techpreneur want to encourage female tech entrepreneurs to launch and scale their businesses, to challenge themselves and connect with others and are looking forward to welcoming female founders, and innovators to the lounge this May.”
The full event agenda promises a diverse range of topics catered to the evolving needs of female entrepreneurs. From innovative strategies to sustainable growth practices, attendees can expect a comprehensive programme aimed at enhancing their business acumen and personal growth.
To find out more about the event and to book your tickets visit Female Founders’ Lounge – Lagos.
Afripreneur
Africa’s Business Heroes takes 40 Entrepreneurs to China, extends 2024 Application Deadline
Africa’s Business Heroes (Image: Supplied).
Between April 20-27, the Africa’s Business Heroes (ABH) Prize Competition, a philanthropic initiative sponsored by the Jack Ma Foundation and Alibaba Philanthropy, hosted 40 participants consisting of top 10 Heroes, other finalists and partners from across Africa in Hangzhou, China. Participants engaged in an immersive experience at Alibaba’s headquarters in Hangzhou and have returned to their home countries enriched with valuable insights to further enhance their entrepreneurial endeavors on the continent.
During their visit, the ABH Heroes (spanning cohorts from 2019 to 2023) participated in a wide range of activities. These included deep dives that explored various facets of the digital economy from cloud computing, AI-driven logistics to e-commerce villages. They participated in a series of workshops and site visits all designed to elevate entrepreneurs to a higher level of success. The Heroes also exchanged knowledge and explored opportunities for collaboration with business leaders from Alibaba and with each other. These activities provided the participants with new knowledge and perspectives that they can potentially apply to overcome challenges, seize opportunities and scale their businesses.
Diarra BOUSSO, Founder & Creative Director of Diarrablu and ABH 2020 top 10 Hero, who was among the participants in the trip to China, expresses her gratitude for the experience, stating: “This trip was so inspiring in so many ways. First, meeting all these entrepreneurs who are the top entrepreneurs on the African continent and spending a week together was an incredible experience. And second: being immersed in the world of Alibaba and all the companies Jack Ma and his team built over time and understanding the vision behind it was like a dream come true.”
In another exciting development, ABH is extending its deadline for 2024 entries from May 19 to June 9 to accommodate more entrepreneurs eager to participate in the competition. Candidates selected for the top 50 will gain access to a host of resources, including training, mentorship and networking opportunities, as well as a supportive network of fellow African business leaders. US$1.5 million in grant funding will be distributed among the top 10 finalists; the first prize winner will receive an award of US$300,000.
This year, ABH has also hosted information sessions and community events across the continent to facilitate the application process and nurture a vibrant entrepreneurial community. These events have taken place in South Africa, Kenya, Zambia, Cameroon, Ghana, Nigeria and Côte d’Ivoire, with upcoming sessions scheduled for Egypt, Ethiopia, Rwanda and Senegal. These events are conducted in partnership with local entrepreneur organizations and key ABH stakeholders including judges, Heroes and partners.
To date, ABH has received applications from entrepreneurs spanning all 54 African countries. Entrepreneurs from across the continent – regardless of sector, age or gender – are invited to participate. Applications can be submitted in English or French HERE.
Individuals are also encouraged to nominate eligible entrepreneurs who they believe are creating impactful and sustainable solutions to challenging issues HERE.
