Unlocking Africa

Episode 145 with Parminder Vir OBE, a commercially focused executive with a distinguished career spanning entrepreneurship, media, and business development.

Awarded the Order of the British Empire by Queen Elizabeth for her contributions to broadcasting and film, Parminder has made a significant impact on the global stage.

As the former CEO of the Tony Elumelu Foundation, she spearheaded a groundbreaking pan-African entrepreneurship program that has empowered over 10,000 African entrepreneurs across 54 countries. We explore her work in shaping the narrative of African entrepreneurship and her ongoing advocacy for economic growth through entrepreneurial ventures.

What We Discuss With Parminder

• The vision behind the Tony Elumelu Foundation's $100 million investment in African entrepreneurship and its long-term goals.
• What were some of the most surprising outcomes of the Tony Elumelu Foundation Entrepreneurship Programme during your tenure?
• Insights from Parminder’s recently published paper, "African Entrepreneurship in the New Scramble for Africa".
• How African entrepreneurs can strategically position themselves to benefit from new alliances with countries like Turkey, China, and India.
• The specific reforms needed in global financial institutions like the IMF and World Bank to better support African entrepreneurs.

Did you miss my previous episode where I discuss How the Global Startup Awards Africa Is Promoting and Enabling Innovation Across Startup Nations with Jo Griffiths? Make sure to check it out!

Like this show? Please leave us a review here -- even one sentence helps!

Connect with Terser on LinkedIn at Terser Adamu, and Twitter (X) @TerserAdamu

Connect with Parminder on LinkedIn at Parminder Vir, and Twitter (X) @ParminderVir

Many of the businesses unlocking opportunities in Africa don’t do it alone. If you’d like strategic support on entering or expanding across African markets, reach out to our partners ETK Group:

www.etkgroup.co.uk
[email protected]

Episode 144 with Jo Griffiths, a visionary global strategist and entrepreneur who works at the crossroads of tech startups, major corporations, government, academia, and investors. 

As the Co-Founder and CEO of The Global Startup Awards Africa, the largest independent international startup awards platform, Jo has successfully launched groundbreaking innovation initiatives across the African continent, driving private-public sector collaboration to stimulate market-creating innovation and ensure sustainable economic growth.

Jo is also CEO and Co-Founder of the Global Innovation Initiative Group (GIIG), which aims to FIND, FUND, and GROW globally relevant innovation in Africa. Through the Global Startup Awards Africa, GIIG scouts the best solutions across all 55 African countries and invests in the top 1%, supporting startups like Kubik, Biobuu, and Treepz, which are solving global challenges. Learn how GIIG is enabling a new generation of African entrepreneurs and driving sustainable growth on the continent.

What We Discuss With Jo

• The inspiration and vision behind the founding of The Global Startup Awards Africa.
• African countries beyond the big four (Nigeria, Kenya, South Africa, and Egypt) that are emerging as hubs of innovation and increasing their participation in the startup ecosystem.
• Sectors experiencing the most significant growth and innovation across the African continent based on first-hand experience.
• Grassroots initiatives led by the Global Startup Awards and their role in promoting innovation across local communities in Africa.
• The critical role of cross-border collaboration in driving innovation across Africa and the challenges faced in fostering these partnerships.

Did you miss my previous episode where I discuss Innovating Healthcare in Africa: The Journey to Building Smart Clinics Across Africa With Isidore Kpotufe? Make sure to check it out!

Like this show? Please leave us a review here -- even one sentence helps!

Connect with Terser on LinkedIn at Terser Adamu, and Twitter (X) @TerserAdamu

Connect with Jo on LinkedIn at Jo Griffiths, and Twitter (X) @AfricanGSAwards

Many of the businesses unlocking opportunities in Africa don’t do it alone. If you’d like strategic support on entering or expanding across African markets, reach out to our partners ETK Group:

www.etkgroup.co.uk
[email protected]

Episode 143 with Isidore Kpotufe, founder of Rivia, a network of smart clinics redefining the healthcare experience across Africa. Rivia offers a "WOW" experience for both in-person and virtual care by leveraging cutting-edge technology to deliver personalised healthcare, convenience, and broaden access to primary care services on the continent.

Isidore is an accomplished tech entrepreneur with a diverse background in building and investing in African ventures across finance, transportation, and healthcare. As the Founder and CEO of RiviaCo, he’s spearheading a network of tech-enabled primary care clinics dedicated to improving healthcare delivery. Previously, Isidore held leadership roles at Treepz, a Canadian mobility startup, and founded Westacpe, a financial services comparison platform.

He is also a founding member of the Alliance for the Future of Healthcare in Africa, where he continues to champion initiatives aimed at transforming the healthcare landscape across the region.

What We Discuss With Isidore

• The personal journey and inspiration behind the creation of Rivia.
• Exploring the ground breaking ecosystem Rivia is building and its significance in the industry.
• The impact of technology on enhancing patient experiences and improving healthcare outcomes within the Rivia ecosystem.
• Addressing the key challenges in primary healthcare across Africa.
• The importance of person-to-person care in an increasingly digital healthcare landscape.

Did you miss my previous episode where I discuss Challenges, Solutions, and Innovations to Increasing Internet Connectivity in Africa with Diseye Isoun? Make sure to check it out!

Like this show? Please leave us a review here -- even one sentence helps!

Connect with Terser on LinkedIn at Terser Adamu, and Twitter (X) @TerserAdamu

Connect with Isidore on LinkedIn at Isidore Kpotufe, and RiviaCo

Many of the businesses unlocking opportunities in Africa don’t do it alone. If you’d like strategic support on entering or expanding across African markets, reach out to our partners ETK Group:

www.etkgroup.co.uk
[email protected]

Episode 142 with Diseye Isoun who is a recognised authority in African broadband development, focusing on expanding internet access, connectivity, and stakeholder engagement across the continent. With extensive experience in the sector, he has a deep understanding of how broadband access drives technological innovation, economic development, education, and business growth.

Diseye has been instrumental in shaping the digital landscape in Nigeria, playing a key role in the establishment of Galaxy Backbone, NITDA, and Nigcomsat—foundational entities within the Ministry of Communications, Innovation, and Digital Economy. He was responsible for drafting Galaxy Backbone’s mandate, introducing satellite connectivity to the government, and leading the marketing efforts for NigComSat-1.

Currently, through his company Content Oasis, Diseye focuses on extending connectivity solutions to underserved areas, bridging the digital divide and empowering communities.

What We Discuss With Diseye

• The evolution of the broadband landscape in Africa over the past five years and the impact of major projects such as Google's Equiano.
• Strategies to bridge the broadband access gap between urban cities and rural areas.
• Actionable steps Africa can take to close the digital divide, particularly in rural and underserved communities.
• Government policies that can promote better broadband penetration in underserved areas.
• The role of local Internet Service Providers in bridging the digital divide.

Did you miss my previous episode where I discuss Investing in Our Own: Why Angel Investing Is the Key to Africans Funding Africa? Make sure to check it out!

Like this show? Please leave us a review here -- even one sentence helps!

Connect with Terser on LinkedIn at Terser Adamu, and Twitter (X) @TerserAdamu

Connect with Diseye on LinkedIn at Diseye Isoun, and Twitter (X) @diseye

Many of the businesses unlocking opportunities in Africa don’t do it alone. If you’d like strategic support on entering or expanding across African markets, reach out to our partners ETK Group:

www.etkgroup.co.uk
[email protected]

Episode 141 with Sola Osinoiki, who is an author, advisory board member, speaker, founder, growth strategist, and most importantly, angel investor in African startups.

Sola Osinoiki is a business executive with over 25 years of working experience in the tech industry. Sola has spent numerous years working on global HR systems implementation and consulting with major international organisations and fast-growing small and medium-sized businesses. Sola's mission is to help businesses understand HR IT solutions, including bespoke developments and off-the-shelf technologies. He has gained extensive experience in the HR technology and data arena as a client, implementer of services, and seasoned advisor.

Outside of his profession, Sola has a passion for empowering nations and people. This passion led him to create the Josh Leadership Academy and a recently published book titled Managing Up for Career Progression. Additionally, Sola frequently travels across the globe to provide guidance and support to churches and their leaders.

What We Discuss With Sola

• The unconventional route to becoming an angel investor in Africa.
• Why taking on investors’ money isn’t always the best route for growth.
• The common mistakes that startup founders make when seeking investment, and how they can avoid them
• How to add value to startups through your skills, experience, and network—beyond just financial backing.
• Balancing the need for financial returns with the goal of creating a positive social impact through your investments.

Did you miss my previous episode where I discuss Seeds of Change: How Access to High-Quality Seeds Can Revolutionise Potato Farming in Africa? Make sure to check it out!

Like this show? Please leave us a review here -- even one sentence helps!

Connect with Terser on LinkedIn at Terser Adamu, and Twitter (X) @TerserAdamu

Connect with Sola on LinkedIn at Olusola Osinoiki, and Twitter (X) @Joshpub

Many of the businesses unlocking opportunities in Africa don’t do it alone. If you’d like strategic support on entering or expanding across African markets, reach out to our partners ETK Group:

www.etkgroup.co.uk
[email protected]

Episode 140 with Charles Miller, who is Director of Strategic Alliances and Development at Solynta. Charles also serves as a board member of the African Seed Trade Association and on the American Seed Trade Associations International Committee. In addition, Charles is a member of the International Seed Federations Value Chain Expert Group.

Solynta uses hybrid potato breeding to grow a more sustainable future. Their mission is to create global solutions for food and nutritional insecurity by offering farmers better, stronger, and more cost-efficient ways to grow crops.

What We Discuss With Charles

• Challenges faced in promoting hybrid breeding as a solution for more climate-resilient crops in Africa.
• Given that climate change is impacting global agriculture, how will the seed industry, especially in Africa, evolve in response?
• How is Solynta ensuring that African farmers have access to potato varieties that can thrive in increasingly unpredictable climates?
• What are some of the biggest barriers African farmers face in accessing climate-resilient seeds?
• The major regulatory challenges encountered when scaling seed innovations across different African countries.

Did you miss my previous episode where I discuss Leveraging Cloud Technologies to Accelerate AI Innovation and Economic Development in Africa? Make sure to check it out!

Like this show? Please leave us a review here -- even one sentence helps!

Connect with Terser on LinkedIn at Terser Adamu, and Twitter (X) @TerserAdamu

Connect with Charles on LinkedIn at Charles Miller, and Twitter (X) @solynta

Many of the businesses unlocking opportunities in Africa don’t do it alone. If you’d like strategic support on entering or expanding across African markets, reach out to our partners ETK Group:

www.etkgroup.co.uk
[email protected]

Episode 139 with Andrew Mori, the CEO and co-founder of Deimos, Africa’s leading cloud technology and professional services company based in South Africa.

Deimos was born from the desire to place Software Engineering best practices and first principles at the heart of decision making and strategic direction at technology startups and enterprises, the Deimos story started in Lagos, Nigeria and Cape Town, South Africa.

Deimo's mission is to be the leading Cloud Native technology company in Africa. They are achieving this through helping African companies leverage cutting edge technology solutions as well as nurturing and growing technology talent on the continent. Since its inception in 2018, Deimos has been at the forefront of Africa's digital revolution, and the Financial Times recently recognised it as Africa’s fastest-growing IT and Software company.

What We Discuss With Andrew

• What is the current state of the cloud technology space in Africa?
• How has the cloud technology space evolved in places such as Nigeria and South Africa since Deimos was founded in 2018?
• Why are additional cloud regions across Africa crucial for achieving the continent's digital transformation goals? 
• Why Africa's AI capabilities hinge on widespread cloud access and adoption.
• How African governments and private investors can collaborate to accelerate the development of cloud infrastructure.

Did you miss my previous episode where I discuss From Local Grain to Global Brand: Launching and Scaling a Successful Ethiopian Superfood Business? Make sure to check it out!

Like this show? Please leave us a review here -- even one sentence helps!

Connect with Terser on LinkedIn at Terser Adamu, and Twitter (X) @TerserAdamu

Connect with Andrew on LinkedIn at Andrew Mori, and Twitter (X) @marsInternet

Many of the businesses unlocking opportunities in Africa don’t do it alone. If you’d like strategic support on entering or expanding across African markets, reach out to our partners ETK Group:

www.etkgroup.co.uk
[email protected]

Episode 138 with Yonas Ademassu Alemu, an investment banker turned entrepreneur who founded Lovegrass Ethiopia. As the Managing Director of this innovative health food company, Yonas has been instrumental in bringing the rich heritage of Ethiopian grains to the global stage. Lovegrass Ethiopia specialises in creating a diverse range of products, including pasta, breakfast cereals, pancake mixes, powdered beverages, and snacks, all crafted from teff and other traditional Ethiopian grains.

Teff, a tiny ancient grain native to Ethiopia, has been cultivated for over 4,000 years and is best known as the key ingredient in ‘injera’, a flat, spongy sourdough bread that is a staple in Ethiopian diets. This nutrient-packed superfood is not only gluten-free but also a rich source of iron, magnesium, calcium, and essential vitamins. Yonas is on a mission to share the incredible benefits of teff with the world and how Lovegrass Ethiopia is making a mark both locally and internationally.

What We Discuss With Yonas

• Returning to Ethiopia despite scepticism from his friends
• Forming relationships with farmers and investing in farms to guarantee a consistent, good-quality supply of Teff.
• How Yonas has managed to successfully export his products to the UK and other European markets.
• The challenges of building the factory in terms of financing, finding the right machinery, quality standards, and control.
• What key tips and advice would Yonas give to aspiring agriculture entrepreneurs in Africa?

Did you miss my previous episode where I discuss Rethinking Economics and Impact for Music Festivals in Africa? Make sure to check it out!

Like this show? Please leave us a review here -- even one sentence helps!

Connect with Terser on LinkedIn at Terser Adamu, and Twitter (X) @TerserAdamu

Connect with Yonas  on LinkedIn at Yonas Ademassu Alemu, and Twitter (X) @thelovegrass

Many of the businesses unlocking opportunities in Africa don’t do it alone. If you’d like strategic support on entering or expanding across African markets, reach out to our partners ETK Group:

www.etkgroup.co.uk
[email protected]

Episode 137 is with Walter Wanyanya, a Zimbabwean creative and tech entrepreneur. He's the founder of Apple gadget retail company TechTools Technology as well as the founder of Ngoma Nehosho, a music promotion and marketing company. In the music industry, he is commonly known for his work as the manager of the late popular musician, Oliver Mtukudzi.
 
He is also the Founder and Artistic Director of the Jacaranda Music Festival, the Jabulani Jazz Festival, and the Flame Lily Rock Music Festival in Harare. Walter is also a board member of African Cultural Connections.

What We Discuss With Walter

• The transition from being a musician to becoming an event organiser and music promoter.
• What is the crossover between the Tech and the event management work that Walter does?
• How has the success he has had in the tech business influenced the way that he operates in the music industry?
• What are some of the challenges you face when organising such a large-scale music event in Africa?
• How does the festival impact the local community in Harare, both economically and culturally?

Did you miss my previous episode where I discuss Locally Led Development: The Importance of Local Leadership in International Development? Make sure to check it out!

Like this show? Please leave us a review here -- even one sentence helps!

Connect with Terser on LinkedIn at Terser Adamu, and Twitter (X) @TerserAdamu

Connect with Walter  on LinkedIn at Walter Wanyanya, and Twitter (X) @wanyanyawalter

Many of the businesses unlocking opportunities in Africa don’t do it alone. If you’d like strategic support on entering or expanding across African markets, reach out to our partners ETK Group:

www.etkgroup.co.uk
[email protected]

Episode 136 is with Gretchen Villegas, a global development executive with a passion for transformation—disrupting poverty and empowering vulnerable populations.

Gretchen began her career as a Peace Corps volunteer, where she experienced firsthand the challenges of living in poverty without access to basic resources or education. This experience inspired her to work with global development organisations, partnering with local communities to identify innovative and creative programming that can break generational cycles of poverty. 

Gretchen has an impressive track record as a collaborative leader, skilled facilitator, and team builder, bringing together a variety of stakeholders, including the private sector, to achieve common goals.

What We Discuss With Gretchen

• The key challenges you encounter in implementing development initiatives in African countries.
• Effective strategies for ending the cycle of poverty and building wealth.
• What is the Triple Win Strategy and how does it ensure long-term social impact?
• Main challenges faced when bringing together for-profits, non-profits, and government entities.
• What is the importance of having local organisations and people fully involved and integrated into social development initiatives in Africa?

Did you miss my previous episode where I discuss How High-Quality Branding Enables African Businesses to Compete on the Global Stage? Make sure to check it out!

Like this show? Please leave us a review here -- even one sentence helps!

Connect with Terser on LinkedIn at Terser Adamu, and Twitter (X) @TerserAdamu

Connect with Gretchen  on LinkedIn at Gretchen Villegas

Many of the businesses unlocking opportunities in Africa don’t do it alone. If you’d like strategic support on entering or expanding across African markets, reach out to our partners ETK Group:

www.etkgroup.co.uk
[email protected]