“Connectivity is a bridge over culture. That’s the innovation that Giga has brought to us.” – Kimanzi Muthengi, EdD, Acting UNICEF Representative in Botswana.
With support from Giga, the UNICEF-ITU initiative, more than 700 schools across Botswana are now connected to the internet. This transformation is reshaping how education is delivered:
📚 Students and teachers can access a wealth of digital resources.
🖥️ Classrooms are becoming more interactive, hands-on, and engaging.
🌍 New opportunities are opening to reimagine learning in the digital age.
Through Giga, Botswana is setting the pace for digital education in Africa, ensuring every child has the tools to learn, grow, and thrive.
👉 Watch the full interview here: l https://lnkd.in/d5gjV9v6]
Thomas Davinchristopher fabianGiga#DigitalInclusion#EducationForAll#UNICEFBotswana
I've been a teacher myself and looking at what I've seen in the Giga classrooms, traditionally I was only equipped with that, with the textbooks and my knowledge. But here you are, You are equipped with connectivity, which puts you into a global library of knowledge. I only foresee greater revolutions. I only see more innovation, schools becoming centers of innovation. And so Internet becomes. Almost like a sea connected dots of of knowledge and activity is a breach of a cultures. That's the innovation that Gaga has brought in.
Excellent news! When we started SIAPAC in Botswana in 1987, one of our first projects was to track the impacts of the rapid expansion of junior secondary schooling, as well as improvements to primary schooling. Things were quite different back then, with school access, school infrastructure quality, and education quality all profound challenges. This was reflected in the 1988 Botswana Situation Analysis of Women and Children where these challenges were noted, but the trajectory was clear even then. And look at all the progress since then! Well done to a remarkable nation and those who are assisting.
Giga
amidst the depressing news about waning support to the UN, I visited a project today where there is support, optimism and impact for the world’s most disadvantaged.
Some five years ago UNICEF and ITU joined forces with one goal: To ensure universal access to the internet for all schools everywhere by 2030.
Connectivity improves school attendance and learning outcomes. It provides access to improved education and remote learning opportunities. It thus reduces the massive global inequalities in the provision of education.
GIGA as the initiative is known (https://lnkd.in/d4qUehvg) is mapping schools across the world and facilitating connectivity.
In five years they have managed to connect 18,000 schools and are well on the way to supporting the connection of 100,000 more benefitting tens of millions of kids.
GIGA with Swiss support have also just opened a connectivity center in Geneva as a hub to bring together all those involved in promoting affordable, safe public access to the internet.
The programme benefits from the charismatic and indefatigable leadership of Chris Fabian, pictured below.
🔥 PamojaNet. Community-Driven Internet in DRC 🇨🇩🌐✨
In the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), where internet access is scarce and expensive in rural areas, local innovators launched PamojaNet, a community-built and community-owned internet network on the island of Idjwi (Lake Kivu).
Instead of waiting for big telecom companies, the community set up their own Wi-Fi hotspots powered by solar energy, giving residents access to education, health information, and digital opportunities.
🌟 Why PamojaNet is groundbreaking:
✅ Community Ownership. Run and managed by locals, ensuring sustainability 🤝
✅ Bridging the Digital Divide. Brings affordable internet to previously unconnected areas 📲
✅ Solar-Powered. Uses clean energy to keep the network running ☀️
✅ Replicable Model
Can be adapted for other rural African communities 🌍
At the CWEI Festival 2026, PamojaNet is a powerful story of digital inclusion, showing how innovation doesn’t always need to come from Silicon Valley or big corporations. Sometimes, it’s born out of necessity by communities determined to connect to the world.
🔗 Learn more: PamojaNet DRC
#CWEIFestival2026#DRCInnovation#DigitalInclusion#CommunityInternet#AfricaRising
Africa’s future is being shaped in classrooms, labs, and community tech hubs. As we mark the International Day of Science, Technology, and Innovation for the South, we spotlight the urgent need to invest in STEM across the continent. With youth making up 1.2 billion of the global population and over 50% of many African countries’ populations under the age of 25, the talent exists. What’s missing is bold, sustained investment in engineering, healthcare, and digital innovation. By 2030, young Africans will make up 42% of the world’s youth and 75% of those under 35 within Africa itself. Inclusive, locally rooted innovation isn’t just a goal—it’s a necessity.
#ZellaTechLaw#AccessEngageInfrom#STIForTheSouth#STEMAfrica#AfricanInnovation#ScienceForDevelopment#YouthInTech#WomenInSTEM#DigitalFutures
East Africa’s education system is at a digital crossroads.
Key highlights:
• Less than 20% of youth access vocational training
• 70% of inquiries vanish before admission
• 4M+ unskilled entrants join the workforce annually
• Institutions risk missed enrollments, brand credibility, and weak industry alignment
The solution isn’t more capacity — it’s digitization.
Centralized systems, faster conversions, seamless communication, and real-time data can turn leaks into lasting growth.
That’s where OttoScholar comes in helping institutions move from chaos to clarity.
DM us to explore how OttoScholar can help your institution lead this transformation.
#EastAfricaEducation#DigitalTransformation#EdTechInnovation#WorkforceDevelopment#VocationalTraining#FutureOfSkills#InstitutionalGrowth#AdmissionsStrategy#GrowthJockey#VentureArchitect#OttoScholar
airtel Africa is investing in the continent’s digital future.
Through a partnership with UNICEF, the company is rolling out scholarships, smart classrooms and digital hubs across 14 African countries aiming to reach 10 million people by 2030.
Initiatives include connecting schools to the internet and devices, offering full tech scholarships, training over 17,000 teachers and piloting community tech hubs in Nigeria and the DRC.
This is a strong example of how private sector collaboration can advance education, digital inclusion, and innovation across Africa.
Read more: https://lnkd.in/d-DXYpYw#AirtelAfrica#EdTech#DigitalEducation#TechForGood#AfricaRising#Innovation
So here we go! After a long journey to the DRC, and despite the challenges of conflict in the region, I had the great opportunity to visit Kinshasa, Lubumbashi, Kolwezi, and Kalemie.
These cities are not only known for their mineral wealth, but also hold tremendous potential for young people—they represent emerging hubs of future technology. Tanganyika Province, with Kalemie at its heart, has all the potential to become a hub for lithium, green energy, and battery fabrication—an engine for the green transition in Africa.
As Founder & Director of Collège international Lepieux , it was a proud moment for me to see the exciting progress of our school’s construction. Covering up to 10,800 square meters land , this is just the beginning of a much bigger vision. (If you have never built something from the ground up, you cannot imagine the pain, effort, and sacrifice behind it!) But every step is worth it.
During my journey, I also had the privilege of engaging in meaningful discussions with Governors, University Rectors, Ministers, and leaders from schools and universities across the country. These conversations confirm that Congo’s future lies not only in its natural resources, but also in its people and their ideas.
Collège international Lepieux as established with a clear mission: to nurture emerging engineers from high school in this region and DR Congo in general , preparing the next generation to lead in technology, science, and innovation. Step by step, Tanganyika Province is positioning itself as a hub of knowledge, innovation, and technology for the future.
A heartfelt thanks to everyone contributing to the success of this vision. Special appreciation to Samuele Leanza , Roberto Ferulano PhD for their generous sponsorship—already donating 106 computers, with 50 more still to come. Many thanks as well to those who donated advanced electronics lab equipment (digital multimeters, power supplies, oscilloscopes, etc.), giving our students hands-on access to essential tools for learning and innovation.
I am also deeply grateful to Professor Dr Salvatore Pennisi , not only for building vital connections with European companies—opening new doors of collaboration and opportunity—but also for his personal encouragement and constant push that helped me make this vision a reality.
Finally, my sincere gratitude goes to His Excellency Dr Paul-Emile Tshinga Ahuka , Ambassador of the DRC in Italy , whose support and facilitation made these important appointments possible.
The journey has just begun—but one thing is clear:
We are not just building a school, we are building the future.
Zambia & Czech Republic Team Up to Drive Tech Innovation.
On September 28, 2025, the Ministry of Technology and Science hosted Czech Ambassador Jiří Kyrian to explore deeper cooperation in tech, innovation, and knowledge sharing.
Their discussions looked ahead to the Tech4Zambia Forum happening on October 27 in Lusaka, where government, business, academia, and civil society will meet to shape Zambia’s digital journey.
They also spoke about the SLIM Project, which is already upgrading Zambia’s National Remote Sensing Center with new tools, training, and partnerships in GIS and remote sensing with a visit to Prague and the European Space Agency planned for 2026.
Ambassador Kyrian also noted the growing interest of Czech companies in Zambia, especially in space technology and cybersecurity, building on earlier collaborations with ZICTA.
This visit is another step toward stronger bilateral ties, new opportunities for youth and entrepreneurs, and positioning Zambia as a player in Africa’s innovation and digital transformation story.
Do you believe international partnerships like this are the key to unlocking Africa’s digital future?
#ZambiaTech#DigitalTransformation#InnovationAfrica#TechPartnerships#SmartAfrica#FutureofWork
Paratus EduLINK is bringing Starlink-enabled high-speed internet to schools across Botswana, Eswatini, Kenya, Mozambique, Rwanda and Zambia. With 2 TB of priority data per month and local support, schools are moving from isolation to innovation.
Explore Paratus EduLINK and how we’re empowering education: https://lnkd.in/dwW9jh-R#ParatusEduLINK#EmpoweringEducation#DigitalClassrooms
𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗔𝗳𝗿𝗶𝗰𝗮 𝗖𝗮𝗻 𝗧𝗲𝗮𝗰𝗵 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗪𝗼𝗿𝗹𝗱 𝗔𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝗥𝗲𝘀𝗶𝗹𝗶𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗜𝗻𝗻𝗼𝘃𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻
When people talk about innovation, they often picture billion-dollar labs, endless venture capital, and Silicon Valley buzz. But in Africa, innovation looks different. 𝗜𝘁 𝗹𝗼𝗼𝗸𝘀 𝗹𝗶𝗸𝗲 𝗱𝗼𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗹𝗲𝘀𝘀 — 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝗰𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗶𝗺𝗽𝗮𝗰𝘁.
I’ve seen young students build robots from scrap metal, communities design energy solutions with car batteries, and developers train AI models using limited internet and resources. 𝗧𝗵𝗮𝘁’𝘀 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝗷𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝗰𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗶𝘁𝘆 — 𝗶𝘁’𝘀 𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗶𝗹𝗶𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗶𝗻𝗻𝗼𝘃𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻.
Why does this matter globally? Because resilience is the DNA of the future.
✅When resources are scarce, innovation is tested.
✅When systems are unstable, creativity finds a way.
✅When barriers seem high, collaboration becomes the breakthrough.
At STEM Professionals, our students have shown us this repeatedly. One memorable moment was during the STEM Festival 2025: a team created a crop-monitoring robot with basic sensors, solving a problem farmers in rural areas faced daily. No big funding. No perfect lab. Just grit, ingenuity, and a desire to make life better.
Africa’s lesson to the world is simple: true innovation is not about abundance — it’s about resilience, adaptability, and relevance.
👉 Do you agree? Can global innovation systems learn from Africa’s way of solving problems under constraint?
#ResilientInnovation#AfricaInTech#STEMLeadership#FutureOfWork
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3wExcellent news! When we started SIAPAC in Botswana in 1987, one of our first projects was to track the impacts of the rapid expansion of junior secondary schooling, as well as improvements to primary schooling. Things were quite different back then, with school access, school infrastructure quality, and education quality all profound challenges. This was reflected in the 1988 Botswana Situation Analysis of Women and Children where these challenges were noted, but the trajectory was clear even then. And look at all the progress since then! Well done to a remarkable nation and those who are assisting.