providing solutions to challenges of the 21st century
The food crisis in the Chad basin of Africa can be solved by concerted international donor effort and by establishing security in the wider Sahel region. Watch as Adebayo Alonge proffers solutions to this international crisis alongside Emira Woods of the Institute of Policy Studies on CGTN’s (CCTV Africa) Show- The Heat
Share your thoughts on solutions to this crisis in the comments section of this post.
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In this post, adebayoalonge shares Bloomberg’s findings on how Chinese hardware is used to hack data
In my most recent Op-Ed- China in Africa: An African Millennial’s Perspective on Engaging China , I posit on Chinese data acquisition strategy in Africa.
I also stated that the US is aware of how Chinese made hardware is set up for back doors to enable unauthorized data mining.
Well, Bloomberg’s published today on how China installed a microchip- the size of a rice grain into servers sold by Super Micro Computers
This chip helped provide a backdoor access to Chinese operatives for data mining of data centers that affected 30 major companies including Apple Inc.
Continue reading “China wants your data and she is not playing”
In this essay, adebayoalonge argues that Africa’s engagement with China should be on a rational self-interest and mercantile basis.
China in Africa is now a hot and contentious topic especially given the recent $60B in pledges that the Chinese Premier- Xi Jinping made during the triennial forum on China-Africa cooperation in September 2018. The Chinese have presented these pledges as aid to the ‘poor’ Africans and it is important for Africans to understand how this augurs for their image globally.
However in reality, the pledge is actually a combination of grants, loans, investment and trade finance. Chinese aid to the continent has actually declined and in its stead its concessional loans to Africa has risen and is now at $5 billion per year- its highest level ever.
Concessional loans represent fixed-low interest finance that China gives Africa in exchange for concessions for Chinese companies to access local African markets, natural resources and infrastructure construction. They are often secured against future revenue streams from export of local commodities e.g. cocoa, cobalt, oil etc.
These loans are not necessarily a bad thing if they are put to good use and the communications about what they are and associated terms are transparent.
Unfortunately, this is not the current situation and in the end Africa’s image as a beggar continent worsens and its young people will have to work their lives out to pay back these loans. In addition, the optics and access these loans give, allow the Chinese an unprecedented level of influence for their culture and companies across Africa.
Continue reading “China in Africa: An African Millennial’s perspective on engaging China”
In this Letter to AA, Keith Jackson argues that Africans will gain respect when they embrace intelligence to create self-sufficiency through science and tech.
We receive a number of direct messages usually in the tens weekly. Given our focus on Africa, some of our readers contact us in a flurry when there is huge Africa related controversy.
As you may know a Chinese man was deported from Kenya for racial slurs. Also recently African Presidents were in China to discuss some Chinese ‘horsetrading’ on the continent. Both issues have generated some controversy and some of our followers have written us to hear our thoughts about this issue.
On this blog, we focus primarily on public policy and impact investing that can improve the livelihoods of Africa’s masses. We are however happy to publish some recommendations from some of our readers from time to time.
We acknowledge the pervasiveness of racism and discrimination globally especially against black people and we respect your opinions on this subject. However we believe that Africans in particular will win respect when they become self sufficient. It is why we are passionate about public policy and impact investing as levers to unleash the potential of the African. And it is why we have chosen to publish the recommendation below out of tens we receive weekly because it aligns with our central theme of self sufficiency.
Continue reading “Letters to AA: Africans need intelligence to end discrimination”
Our country produces enough to feed us all. Alas, for lack of organization, we are forced to beg for food aid. It’s this aid that instills in our spirits the attitude of beggars.
In this article, adebayoalonge distills his learning from studying successful impact entrepreneurs into 11 principles that enable any aspiring social entrepreneur to succeed in transforming the world
I was recently awarded the Moonshot Fellowship by the Kravis Lab for Social Impact of the Mckenna Claremont University. The fellowship recognizes impact entrepreneurs and activists who are working on socially impactful ideas that have a potential to be a force for global good. The Moonshot fellows were mentored by Echoing Green Fellows who helped us address critical challenges we currently face in our impact enterprises.
As part of the fellowship we were hosted on the shores of the Indian ocean at the Machangulo Peninsula in Mozambique for a few days full of networking, mentoring, physical activity and deceleration.
Continue reading “11 Principles for success in Impact Entrepreneurship”
Africa needs more Impact Entrepreneurship to solve its many social problems. Conventional capitalism has failed to stop the spread of poverty on the continent. It needs a new type of entrepreneurship- one that has heart.
What is impact entrepreneurship?
Impact entrepreneurship refers to the organisation of factors of economic production- ideas, effort, networks, labour, capital, land, machinery- towards solving a social and/or environmental problem for a neglected population of people, animals or nature in a manner that generates measurable financial returns, social and/or environmental impact.
Examples of impact entrepreneurs include:
5 key features common across these examples and which is important in assessing if a venture is impact entrepreneurship include- Continue reading “Why Africa needs more Impact Entrepreneurship”
As part of enabling the next generation of Africa’s social impact entrepreneurs, a $150K (USD) cash for equity investment opportunity through the Katapult Accelerator exists for an African based startup using exponential technologies i.e. AI, Block chain, Quantum computing etc. to solve a social issue on the African continent.
I am especially interested in nominating startups
Please send a 2pager to lusoy3@yahoo.com by May 19, 2018 and include your WhatsApp number. Title your Email as God’s Plan.
The first page should detail the problem statement, the size of the market opportunity in Africa, your solution, how you came about your solution, your traction i.e. revenues and paying customers, your competition and what you need to scale your solution across Africa, include other relevant info e.g. patents, country of incorporation etc.
The second page should be a Team slide with photos and bios/roles of the team members.
Note: I will only contact those I am interested in nominating by May 20, 2018
Share widely across Africa!
#Gods Plan- Lets make it happen. This is a religious notation for letting God do his work through people and opportunities
Note: This investment opportunity does not come from me. I am only helping to find the best startups in my network for the Katapult Accelerator.
