WINKER

When the world was busy developing technology some decades ago, Africa slumbered and was left into the analogue world. Fast forward, the continent is forming its own revolution in technological development as it tries to catch up with the rest of the region. In Kenya for example, M-Pesa, Kenya's mobile payment system, has revolutionized mobile technology solution for millions and thereby providing many people with access to banking services wherever they are. The local innovations have since propelled Kenya to be ranked third in Sub-Saharan Africa in the Global Innovation Index (GII) 2018 coming after South Africa and Mauritius and 80 globally. Catherine Kimani, a software engineer at Andela is in agreement that young developers have the potential to create solutions for Africans if encouraged to use their skills and intelligence. Catherine is a beneficiary of the Andela programme that identifies and nurture talent in software development. A first class BA graduate in computer...

After completing his Strategic Management Masters Degree course at the Kenya Methodist University (Kemu) in 2011, Mr. Abdul Aziz Omar applied for a government job and made it to the 30 shortlisted to attend the interview. He waited for interview dates and three months down the line, he received no communication. It is only through his trip to the local post office that he realized his appointment letter had been sent through the postal address. Abdul, now Chief Executive Officer (CEO) at M-Post sadly lost the job as the letter had indicated that if they didn’t hear from him in a week’s time; it would be assumed he was not interested. “It is through this disappointment that led us to co-found M-Post,” Says Mr. Twahir Mohammed, a Bachelors of Science degree in information Technology holder, a Co-founder and Chief Technology Officer (CTO), with whom they schooled together at Sheikh Khalifa Secondary School in Mombasa. M-Post is a service that turns mobile phones into formal pos...