Shows
The TechAfrica News PodcastEP.03 | S2 | 25 Years, 22 Million Lives: Vodacom Tanzania CEO Philip Besiimire on Transforming ConnectivityIn this episode of the TechAfrica News Podcast, host, Chief Editor and Founder, Akim Benamara speaks with Philip Besiimire, CEO of Vodacom Tanzania, about the company’s 25-year journey, digital transformation, financial inclusion, technology innovation, and future opportunities in AI, cloud, fiber, and 5G.About Our Guest:Philip Besiimire is Managing Director of Vodacom Tanzania and a member of its Executive Committee. He joined Vodacom in 2022 after holding senior leadership roles at MTN across Africa. With over 15 years of experience in leadership, commercial execution, and mobile financial services, he brings deep expertise in dr...
2025-11-301h 07
The TechAfrica News PodcastEP.02 | S2 | World Bank IFC’s Aliou Maiga on AgTech: Jobs, Data, and Connecting 5M African Farmers by 2030What does it take to turn farming from subsistence into a growth engine for Africa?In this episode of the TechAfrica News Podcast, Chief Editor and Founder Akim Benamara sits down with Aliou Maïga, IFC’s Regional Director for the Financial Institutions Group (FIG) in Africa, to discuss how AgTech is reshaping agriculture. From boosting yields and incomes for smallholder farmers to de-risking lending and using AI for crop management, the conversation explores how technology, finance, and data can drive food security and jobs across the continent.About Our...
2025-09-2938 min
The TechAfrica News PodcastEP.01 | S2 | Safaricom's CEO Dr. Peter Ndegwa on 25 Years, $800M Daily on M-Pesa, and What’s NextWhat does it take to move from being a telecom operator to a purpose-led technology company?In this episode of the TechAfrica News Podcast, Chief Editor and Founder Akim Benamara sits down with Dr. Peter Ndegwa (CBS), CEO of Safaricom Group PLC, to explore the company’s 25-year journey, the evolution of M-Pesa, and its bold expansion into Ethiopia. From tackling Africa’s device gap to harnessing AI and satellite, the conversation reflects on how innovation, inclusion, and investment are shaping the continent’s digital future.About Our GuestDr. Peter...
2025-09-2933 min
The TechAfrica News PodcastEP.09 | PortaOne on Africa’s Telecom Shift: MVNO Models, Market Gaps, and IoT OpportunitiesWhat if Africa’s telecom future isn’t about bigger networks—but smarter, sharper services that actually understand their users? In this episode of the TechAfrica News Podcast, Chief Editor and Founder Akim Benamara sits down with Roman Khalenkov, Chief Commercial Officer at PortaOne, for a wide-ranging look at Africa’s evolving telecom space. With over two decades of experience across product strategy, sales, and consulting, Khalenkov brings grounded insight into where the industry is headed—and what’s still holding it back. About Our Guest Roman Khalenkov is a seasoned executive with...
2025-07-1433 min
The TechAfrica News PodcastEP.08 | Reinventing Africa: Accenture on AI, Access, and the Urgency to TransformIn this episode of the TechAfrica News Podcast, Chief Editor and Founder, Akim Benamara, sits down with Nitesh Marcel Singh, Managing Director for Communications, Media, and Technology at Accenture, for a wide-ranging discussion on the future of digital transformation across the continent. With over 20 years in telecom and technology, Singh brings sharp insights into AI adoption, data readiness, and enterprise reinvention in Africa.From falling telco margins to the cost of devices, Singh explores the barriers holding Africa back—and what it will take to move forward. Can Africa build the infrastructure, skills, and policy environment to le...
2025-06-2744 min
The TechAfrica News PodcastEP.07 | Africa CDC’s Continental Vision — Health Tech for 1.4 Billion PeopleIn this episode of the TechAfrica News Podcast, Chief Editor and Founder, Akim Benamara sits down with Jean Philbert Nsengimana, Chief Digital Advisor at Africa CDC, for an eye-opening conversation on health tech’s role in shaping Africa’s digital future. With deep roots in both medicine and technology, Nsengimana offers a timely perspective on how innovation can—and must—scale to meet the needs of the continent’s 1.4 billion people.Africa’s youth are building, startups are emerging, and digital health is no longer a nice-to-have. But how do we turn local innovation into large-scale impact? And what wil...
2025-06-1841 min
The TechAfrica News PodcastEP.06 | G20 TechSprint 2025 & The South African Reserve Bank on Regulation and InnovationIn this episode of the TechAfrica News Podcast, Chief Editor and Founder, Akim Benamara sits down with Lyle Horsley, Head of Fintech at the South African Reserve Bank (SARB), to unpack South Africa’s leadership in the G20 TechSprint 2025—and what it means for digital finance across the continent.As co-host with the Bank for International Settlements, SARB is spotlighting trust and integrity in scalable, open finance. Horsley discusses the evolving role of central banks, the urgency of regulation-innovation collaboration, and Africa’s opportunity to leap forward. About Our GuestLyle Ho...
2025-06-0544 min
The TechAfrica News PodcastEP.05 | GSMA’s Angela Wamola on Africa’s Path to Inclusive ConnectivityIn this episode of the TechAfrica News Podcast, Chief Editor and Founder, Akim Benamara, sits down with Angela Wamola, Head of Sub-Saharan Africa at the GSMA, for an insightful conversation on where Africa is, where it's headed, and what it will take to unlock its full digital potential.Africa stands at a pivotal point in its digital journey. With a young population, a growing tech scene, and widespread mobile access, the potential is huge. Yet, 710 million Africans remain offline despite signal coverage. Why did mobile money soar while internet adoption lags...
2025-06-0337 min
The TechAfrica News PodcastEP.04 | Ralph Mupita on MTN’s Playbook: AI, Fintech, and the Race to Connect AfricaIn this episode, Ralph Mupita, President and CEO of MTN Group, joins TechAfrica News’ Chief Editor and Founder, Akim Benamara for a candid conversation on the evolving role of telecoms in shaping Africa’s digital economy.Africa’s digital growth goes beyond connectivity—it's a complex journey marked by economic challenges, fragmented regulations, and limitless innovation. Telecoms are no longer just infrastructure providers, but key drivers of digital economies, financial inclusion, and how the next billion Africans live and work online.From weathering macroeconomic storms in Nigeria to building fintech platforms, driving regulatory reform, and explorin...
2025-05-1931 min
The TechAfrica News PodcastEP.03 | Jorge Mendes on Cell C’s Strategy for a Sustainable, Customer-Centric FutureIn this episode, Jorge Mendes, CEO of Cell C, speaks with Akim Benamara, Chief Editor and Founder of TechAfrica News, about the company’s ambitious turnaround plan.In an industry marked by rapid technological change and fierce competition, South Africa’s telecom sector faces complex challenges—from constrained cash flows to the persistent digital divide across the continent. For Cell C, a key player in this market, overcoming these challenges requires more than quick fixes. So, how does Cell C navigate these hurdles while staying true to its customers and long-term vision?About our Guest...
2025-05-0134 min
The TechAfrica News PodcastEP.02 | Lacina Koné on AI, Connectivity and why Africa must lead itselfIn this episode, Lacina Koné, CEO of Smart Africa, joins Akim Benamara, Chief Editor and Founder of TechAfrica News, for a candid conversation exploring bold strategies, mindset shifts, and the collaborative efforts driving Africa’s digital transformation.Africa’s digital future holds immense promise but faces challenges. Fragmented policies, outdated mindsets, and uneven access threaten to stall progress just as emerging technologies like AI offer unprecedented opportunities. The critical question is no longer if Africa will transform digitally, but how it can harness AI, build a unified digital identity, and leapfrog legacy constraints to secure its place in th...
2025-05-0150 min
The TechAfrica News PodcastEP.01 | Minister Solly Malatsi: Is South Africa Ready for a Digitally Inclusive Future?In this episode Solly Malatsi, South Africa’s Minister of Communications and Digital Technologies, joins Akim Benamara, our Chief Editor and Founder, to unpack the country’s digital strategy, recent policy shifts, and his vision for a truly connected South Africa. Recorded early in Malatsi’s tenure, the conversation reveals the clarity of his vision and the commitment to action that has since followed. South Africa has no shortage of tech innovation, talent, or potential. But what if the real roadblocks to digital transformation aren’t technical—but systemic? Outdated policies and misplaced priorities may be slowing down the nat...
2025-05-0134 min