Dear Diaspora

For today's episode, I had the pleasure of chatting with Emmanuel Gamor, host of Unpacking Africa - a podcast sharing resources while exploring ecosystems in our communities and figuring out issues pertaining to the African continent.

With over a decade of experience in youth engagement, digital & managerial innovation, entrepreneurship and leadership education on the continent—Emmanuel is a true ecosystem builder.

During the episode, we discuss:

• His experience studying in the US and returning to Ghana after college
• How he created his own opportunities back home and landed roles at Google, YouTube and Impact Hub
• Ghana's entrepreneurship ecosystem – what's working and what isn't
• Decreasing Africa's youth unemployment rate
• Bridging the gap between the diaspora and the African continent
• What excites him about Africa's future

Resources:

Listen to Unpacking Africa: https://anchor.fm/4irafrica

Become a Patreon & support the show: https://www.patreon.com/deardiaspora

Join me and Certified Africa in Ghana now: https://deardiasporashow.com/ghana2020/

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"Folks of other races have found so much solace in home that they've come here and tried to own parts of Africa that are not even theirs. There's no other place in the world that's allowed it happen so blatantly than the African continent." - Emmanuel Gamor

For today's episode, we catch up with Iveoma Okparaeke, founder of It's Iveoma, a platform created for anyone interested in moving to a country in Africa. She officially moved to Lagos, Nigeria in December 2019 and has not looked back!

During the episode, Iveoma speaks pretty candidly about her experiences so far in Lagos. Tune in to hear:

• Why she decided to move back to Nigeria and what she realized when she made the move
• How she prepared and saved for her move
• Why you NEED an SUV to survive in Nigeria
• How she's navigating dating as a returnee
• How much you need to make monthly live comfortably in Lagos
• Her advice to millennials in the Diaspora thinking about returning to their home countries

Resources:

Learn more about Iveoma: https://www.youtube.com/c/ItsIveoma/videos

Become a Patreon & support the show: https://www.patreon.com/deardiaspora

Join me and Certified Africa in Ghana now: https://deardiasporashow.com/ghana2020/

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For today's episode, I reshare an episode that provides a comprehensive overview of 5 key growth trends shaping Africa's growth and development. These trends are outlined in the book Africa's Business Revolution: How to Succeed in the World's Next Big Growth Market by authors Acha Leke, Mutsa Chironga and Georges Desvaux.

Tune in for a refresher on these trends and how they will impact business in Africa for decades to come:

1. Young, fast growing urban population with a lot of unmet demands.
2. Africa's coming industrial revolution.
3. Africa's Infrastructure Gap and the big push to close it
4. Africa's Untapped Resource wealth and new innovations to unleash it.
5. The rapid adoption of digital and mobile – and the leapfrog opportunity.

Resources:

Get the book here: https://amzn.to/37r4rLK

Become a Patreon & support the show: https://www.patreon.com/deardiaspora

Join me and Certified Africa in Ghana now: https://deardiasporashow.com/ghana2020/

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For today's episode, I had the pleasure of interviewing Iyinoluwa Aboyeji, co-founder of Andela, Flutterwave, and The Future Africa Fund.

Iyinoluwa "E" Aboyeji is regarded as one of the most successful African entrepreneurs of our time. He's helped launch two of Africa's best known and best funded startups, Flutterwave and Andela. While at Andela, a company training African developers and hiring them out to global tech companies, he and his team secured a $24 million investment Facebook founder Mark Zuckerburg.

Today, E is building an African future where tech and innovation will enable so much abundance that prosperity and purpose is within everyone's reach via the Future Africa Fund

During the episode, we discuss:

• His upbringing in Nigeria, studying abroad in Canada and how his mom's entrepreneurial endeavors inspired his
• Some of the biggest lessons he learned building Andela and how he overcame fundraising challenges often faced by African-led startups
• His thoughts on what some of the most urgent challenges Africa is facing are—and how we can transform them into global business opportunities
• Why Africa continues to be a "hidden gem" that the world overlooks
• How you can invest in African-led startups via the Future Collective

Resources:

Learn more about Future Collective: https://www.future.africa

Become a Patreon & support the show: https://www.patreon.com/deardiaspora

Join me and Certified Africa in Ghana now: https://deardiasporashow.com/ghana2020/

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For today's episode, I had the pleasure of interviewing Edith Njage, CEO and co-founder of Arielle for Africa. Edith is a serial social entrepreneur aiming to create 100,000 jobs by 2030 through Arielle for Africa's programming.

She's providing entrepreneurs in Kenya, South Africa, Nigeria, Ghana and Uganda with the education, resources and tools they need to start and sustain their businesses.

During the episode, we discuss:

• Edith's educational background and how it informs the work she does to support African entrepreneurs
• Her program's goal to ensure each entrepreneur can create at least 5 jobs
• Her thoughts on only why only 6% of venture capital investments in Kenya go to Black Kenyan founders
• How Africans in the Diaspora can participate and play a more active role in supporting entrepreneurs

Resources:

Learn more about Arielle for Africa: https://www.arielleforafrica.com

Become a Patreon & support the show: https://www.patreon.com/deardiaspora

Join me and Certified Africa in Ghana now: https://deardiasporashow.com/ghana2020/

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For today's episode, I had the pleasure of interview Lukonga Lindunda, co-founder and Executive Director of Bongo Hive, an award-winning innovation hub in my hometown Lusaka, Zambia.

Bongo Hive is changing the landscape of innovation in the region and it was so wonderful getting to know Lukonga better, learning more about the tech/innovation economy in Zambia and what Zambia is doing right in regard to supporting entrepreneurship.

During our conversation, we discussed:

• What's sparked his interest in tech
• Navigating Zambia's tech ecosystem in the early 2000s
• How he co-founded Bongo Hive, Zambia's first innovation hub
• What does Zambia do really well regarding entrepreneurship support
• What role the diaspora play in supporting entrepreneurs in Zambia
• What excites him about Africa's future

"We are unlocking opportunities and we're doing more not just for Africa, but for the world.

Resources:

Become a Patreon & support the show: https://www.patreon.com/deardiaspora

Join me and Certified Africa in Ghana now: https://deardiasporashow.com/ghana2020/

Learn more about BongoHive: https://bongohive.co.zm

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For today's episode, tune in to hear from the founders of the new home to the most innovative, melanin-focused, independent brands of the African Diaspora. Yard and Parish features a collective of affordable luxury online providing access to items that champion a natural, conscious, and colorful lifestyle.

Co-founders Alesha and Samantha's time studying and working in the UK inspired them to have a go at solving a global cultural issue. Until now, it really hasn't been simple or straightforward to find or buy from ethnic designers, or even to buy chemical-free products for afro hair and skin unless we live in specific neighbourhoods. They recognized that this is an issue everywhere women of color are considered a minority and so they aspire to be the most accessible one-stop shop for our generation.

During the episode, they share:

• Their experience living in Ontario/starting their businesses in the UK
• What inspired them to get started with Yard and Parish
• How they build relationships with vendors they work with
• How they're connecting with customers during this pandemic
• The power of community
• The biggest lessons they've learned so far as entrepreneurs + more!

Shop Yard and Parish: https://www.yardandparish.com

Follow Yard and Parish on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/yardandparish/

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Today's solo episode is dedicated to supporting the work of activists mobilizing for Black lives. Later in the episode, I also share my thoughts on Black Lives Matter and why this is our (African immigrants) fight, too.

Please support these incredible organizations:

George Floyd Memorial Fund: https://www.gofundme.com/f/georgefloyd

Minnesota Freedom Fund: https://minnesotafreedomfund.org/

Black Visions Collective: https://www.blackvisionsmn.org/

Campaign Zero: https://www.joincampaignzero.org/

Black Lives Matter: https://www.Blacklivesmatter.com

Minneapolis NAACP Branch: https://www.paypal.me/mplsnaacp4050B

Other resources mentioned in the episode:

15 Percent Pledge: https://www.15percentpledge.org

More on #JusticeForUwa: https://punchng.com/from-blacklivesmatter-to-justiceforuwa-what-to-learn/

The Plug's tracking of statements: https://tpinsights.com/2020/05/31/twilio-box-spotify-and-other-tech-ceos-speak-out-against-racism-and-police-brutality-others-stay-silent/

Pull Up or Shut Up campaign: https://www.instagram.com/pullupforchange/?hl=en

For today's episode, I had the pleasure of interviewing Shola Salako, Founder and CEO of BomaLink, a global business community and professional networking platform and service that connects members with African opportunities in Africa.

Shola was born in the US and spent his formative years in Nigeria. After returning to the US for college, he developed an interest in technology and began his career in tech.

Today, Shola is the CEO of Optimal Business Systems, an Information Technology solutions provider firm based in Michigan, USA. Shola is a serial entrepreneur and president/CEO of The Sholes Group, where he manages a number of technology-based ventures.

During the episode, he shares:

• His upbringing and what going to boarding school in Nigeria was like
• How his experience at the African Champions Boma motivated him to develop BomaLink
• His work with the African Union and African leadership to identify opportunities for the BomaLink platform
• The biggest lessons he's learned as an entrepreneur
• His grand vision for BomaLink to become the central marketplace for opportunities, resources, cross-continental partnerships and beyond!

"Africa is not seen the way I see it. Africa is one of the most beautiful places I've ever been." – Shola Salako

Sign up for BomaLink: www.bomalink.com

Connect with me on BomaLink: https://www.bomalink.com/member/nduulwa-kowa

Learn more about the Afrochampions Initiative: http://www.afrochampions.com

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Thanks for tuning in to episode 37 of the show! I had the pleasure of chatting with Amaka Uchegbu.

Amaka was born in Enugu, Nigeria and grew up in Sheffield, England. After earning her bachelor's degree at Yale, she landed her first full-time role at McKinsey & Company as a Business Analyst. While at McKinsey, Amaka co-wrote a compelling report on the "Future of Work in Black America."

Research shows that automation trends may be widening the racial wealth gap and disproportionately displacing occupations where African Americans are overrepresented. The report reveals possible interventions that may help African American workers prepare for the future.

During the episode, Amaka shares:

• Her upbringing in Sheffield, England
• Her experience in studying and working in the US and embracing her British-Nigerian identity
• How she landed her management consulting gig at McKinsey and Company
• Insights on how automation will impact Black America
• The types of jobs most likely to be displaced by automation
• What's next for her and her new role at a financial inclusion startup

"What excites me about Africa's future is where we may exist in terms of popular culture more globally. I love that there's Afrobeats. I love that I can see my culture popping and being cool and existing in the world and not being presented in a lens of perpetual poverty or terror." Amaka Uchegbu

Read the report: https://www.mckinsey.com/featured-insights/future-of-work/the-future-of-work-in-black-america

Connect with Amaka: https://www.linkedin.com/in/amakauchegbu/

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