Lamudi Nigeria’s Managing Director, Obi Ejimofo, is not new to helping foreign brands enter the African market. Before he became the Managing Director of the largest real estate website in Nigeria, Lamudi.com.ng, Obi was a consultant developing and executing entry strategies for non-African brands coming into Sub-Sahara African markets.
In this interview with IQ4News, Obi discusses the opportunities emerging in African markets, and mistakes foreign brands are making in their market entry strategies.

Soundtrack credits: Kevin MacLeod

“Get in now” Obi Ejimofo advises foreign investors looking at Africa

The African Innovation Foundation (AIF) is calling on all African innovators to submit their entries for the fourth edition of the Innovation Prize for Africa (IPA) competition. The IPA is presented annually, enabling and encouraging African pioneers to develop creative ideas and techniques to overcome some of the challenges faced by the continent and support sustainable development. 
In this interview, Pauline Mujawamariya, the Director of the Innovation Prize for Africa, describes the aim of the Prize as “identifying innovation that have potential in the market”, and showcasing innovation coming out of Africa.
“If you create of an innovation, you have to start thinking about who is able to use it, and whether someone is going to pay for it,” she advises.
The Prize’s biggest achievement is in its ability to demonstrate that “Africans are producing solutions that can be utilised in Africa and also beyond Africa”, a far cry from the usual portrayal of Africans as the consumers rather than the makers.
“Our goal is to promote what we call innovation for Africa by Africans”, an increasingly popular saying in this age of technology and social media.
Pauline highlights that the problem preventing the growth of innovation on the continent is the lack of access to adequate funding and support via networks of other innovators.
“It’s about empowering capable Africans,” she adds.
Pauline advises applicants to submit their applications as early as possible before the October 31st deadline. 


“Our goal is to promote what we call innovation for Africa by Africans”

Wura Ogunrotimi questions the Nigerian High Commissioner to the UK

Achuama Maduakonam

Badero Olusola

Bankole Cardoso is the Managing Director of Easy Taxi Nigeria. He speaks with IQ4News about his experience in moving back to Nigeria from the USA, and what it was like recruiting for his company.

Bankole Cardoso on the reality of moving back to Nigeria

Jean-Claude Mbvoumin, founder of Paris-based charity, Foot Solidaire, speaks to us about the trafficking of young football players from West Africa to Europe. He says FIFA, national football associations, and clubs need to do more to stamp out the problem. The fight needs to start in the countries of origin, he says, and this will cut player trafficking from West Africa by 70%.
This interview is part of the 'Follow the Money' series by IQ4News, and funded by journalismfund.eu.

Jean Claude Mbvoumin on Player Trafficking from West Africa

Listen to the mother of Ebuka Martins, a young footballer duped by a football agent from Cameroon. She describes the trauma caused by the experience and the financial lose to the family.

Ebuka's mum speaks of her experience after her son was duped by a football agent

Ebuka Ogbuehi was one of over 30 young players trafficked to Cameroon by a football agent claiming links to clubs in Europe. What greeted them in Cameroon was far from what they were promised.

Ebuka Ogbuehi was duped by a football agent

By Yemisi Akinbobola

The music industry in Nigeria has been experiencing a renaissance in the last decade or so, with many artists gaining international attention.

Digital platforms have become a key part in exporting music coming out of Nigeria; however, this has also contributed to music piracy.

In my interview with Michael Ugwu, the CEO of the online digital music platform, iRoking, he talks to me about how the company is combating music piracy in Nigeria through collaborations with iTunes, YouTube and other digital platforms.

“I guess one thing we don’t have in Nigeria is we don’t have a strong record label culture,” says Michael. “So with digital platforms like iRoking it has now empowered artists to get their content to their audience”.

iRoking recently launched its mobile site which allows users to download tracks on the go. Since its launch, iRoking boasts over 400 recording artists and 35,000 tracks in its catalogue, with its biggest stars including the likes of Bez, 2face, Bracket, Flavour, Omawumi, Timaya, Iyanya, and Duncan Mighty.

iRoking is owned by iRoko Partners, founded by Jason Njoku and Bastian Gotter, which is also home to iRokoTV, Nigeria’s version of the likes of Netflix and LoveFilms.

iRoking Battles Music Piracy in Nigeria with its Digital Platforms

By Yemisi Akinbobola

As attention on innovation coming out of Africa increases, DEMO Africa holds its inaugural conference in Nairobi in an effort to raise $60M to help launch 40 start-up companies.

In my interview with the Director of DEMO Africa, Harry Hare, he speaks to me about support available to innovative start-ups in Africa, and why there is an increasing focus on technology in the continent.

Throughout its 21 years of existence, DEMO has earned a reputation for consistently identifying new innovations that are most likely to disrupt the markets they serve and/or change the way we use technology overall, now DEMO Africa will invite companies from throughout the continent to launch on the DEMO stage.

The two and a half day conference to be held on October 24th – 26th in Nairobi, Kenya, will provide a platform for start-ups from across Africa to pitch for growth capital and strategic partnerships, with the aim of developing the companies' capacity to compete with tech start-ups across the globe.

“Cumulatively, the nominees are looking to raise over $66,280,000. This event firmly demonstrates that Africa is the next frontier on all economic facets. We are seeing a renewed energy even in the invention of technological infrastructure, initiatives that we are keen to nurture,” Harry said.

According to 2009 DEMO demonstrator research study conducted by BluePoint Ventures, in the past 20 years, 22% of past demonstrators received funding within 60 days as a direct result of a DEMO launch. 92% who secured funding, did so within 9 months of DEMO, whereas 62% received over $1 million in funding - mostly from venture capital funds and angel investors.

“We have seen unprecedented acquisition with the global chapter where more than 50 demonstrating companies were acquired in the last four years alone. Cisco, Google, Microsoft, Motorola, Symantec, HP, SAP and Yahoo! have all been to DEMO more than once, acquiring multiple DEMO companies,” Harry noted.

He added that in just the past five years, DEMO companies have raised over $4.5 billion dollars in the months/years following their debut at DEMO.

AUDIO INTERVIEW: DEMO Africa Director on Innovation and Investment in Africa

IQ4News offers in-depth analysis and news on Africa, with a collaborative feel combining reports from professional journalists with citizen journalists, journalism students, bloggers and field experts.

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