Afrinection's network is growing from strength to strength, with hundreds of entrepreneurs, innovators and tech hubs across the continent having signed up for a free profile. One of our most recent and impressive members is AfriLabs. This entity was founded in 2011, with the objective of building a community around  Africa's rapidly emerging tech hubs. AfriLabs' network currently comprises 80 innovation centers across 27 African countries, accounting for about 120,000 entrepreneurs, innovators, and other stakeholders. We recently spoke with Barbara Onyejose, AfriLabs' Corporate Communications & Events Manager about the entity's dreams, goals and aspirations - and its promise for the African continent. 

1. In short, tell our readers what AfriLabs is all about?

Our aim is to raise successful entrepreneurs, enabling them to create jobs and develop innovative solutions to African problems. We want to support the growth of technology hubs and their communities to pave the way for high potential entrepreneurs, thereby stimulating economic growth and social development in Africa. We do this by providing capacity building resources, financing, mentoring and networking opportunities to our network.

2. What has been AfriLabs' biggest achievement thus? 

One of our greatest achievements is our ever-increasing network. AfriLabs started with 5 hubs in 2011, whilst in March 2018 we had 81 hubs. Our hubs comprise 120,000 entrepreneurs, developers, and startup founders. By the end of 2018, we should have over 100 hub members.

Another great achievement is the AfriLabs Annual Gathering, which will be hosted for the 3rd time running this year. This event brings together key stakeholders to network to share knowledge on the challenges we face in the African technology and entrepreneurial ecosystem - and how we can solve these and create more enabling environments.

From Accra, Ghana in 2016 with over 200 attendeesg, Cairo, Egypt in 2017 with over 300 attendees and Dar es Salaam, Tanzania in 2018 with over 600 expected attendees: every year the conversations get better and every year the feedback from attendees is fantastic. This is a source of pride to AfriLabs.

3. How does AfriLabs contribute to the development of Africa?

AfriLabs supports technology and innovation centers across Africa through various capacity building programs like the AfriLabs Hubs Learning week. Then there are the workshops organized in partnership with corporate organizations. These include the AfriLabs-Microsoft free training on BizSpark and Azure platforms and networking events.

These entrepreneurs will be able to create more African made technologies across different sectors, build sustainable businesses, create jobs and ultimately boost Africa's GDP.

AfriLabs supports policy advocacy for better enabling policies that will support entrepreneurship and innovation across Africa. One of AfriLabs hub members in Rwanda, The Office, has an initiative called i4Policy that actively advocates for policies to boost digital transformation. So far their communique has over 90 signatures supporting the movement.

4. What has been one of AfriLabs' challenges and how did you overcome these?

Setting up the organization was not the most challenging part. Fortunately, we got seed funding from various donor organizations. The challenging part has been running this NPO sustainably. That is why we set up an AfriLabs consulting arm to offer services executed by the team and our hub members to corporate and developmental organizations.

We also leverage on the AfriLabs Annual Gathering as a platform to get raise funds through Corporate Sponsorships in exchange for awareness, showcasing their products and services and engaging the African Innovation Ecosystem. Fees gotten from such services have been able to take care of operations and some of our core programmes. 

5. What is Africa's greatest promise (in terms of entrepreneurship, investment, etc) and why?

Africa’s greatest promise is its people. If the infrastructure gap can be closed, inter-country collaboration and the flow of the movement of ideas between countries improved, then there will be sustainable development across the continent.  We must take advantage of the African ‘Youth Bulge’ and equip young people with the resources they need such as educational, vocational, technical skills, networks and funding resources.

6. This year, AfriLabs wants to... 

This year AfriLabs will be holding its Annual Gathering in Tanzania (11-13 October). We will also hold a series of capacity building webinars for hub managers and other ecosystem stakeholders as part of the AfriLabs Learning Week program. There are other programs being developed that will be announced once they are finalized. Highly engaging and impactful.

7. The biggest value Afrinection adds to Africa's future is ...

Afrinection, like AfriLabs, creates a platform for African businesses to thrive and connect. There is no better time for Africans to work together to develop our communities like the present. Afrinection is doing a fantastic job of connecting Africans through the platform and promoting African businesses. The platform promotes community, and this is essential to our growth. If we work together, empower each other and build together, we will see the change we want in Africa.