As we had a Zoom call with our CEO and Founder at Impact Africa Network; Mark Karake, we paid attention as he laid down the vision for the organization. It was a lot to process, for the vision is bold and the goal is noble. My colleagues were so silent that I genuinely thought I was disconnected. Eventually, one of us had the courage to acknowledge the weight of the words uttered by Mark. It wasn’t disconnection, we were utterly stunned!
When I first learned about Impact Africa Network from social media, I was inspired by the slogan, ‘Changing the African Narrative’. I agree with this, as Africa needs to realize its full potential. The truth is that the continent is rich in natural resources, diverse beauty, and a young growing population of 1.2 billion people. It seems to have everything in its favor but we have a problem — We just don’t leverage these advantages.
“Africa’s biggest challenge and opportunity is deploying its abundant young talent against the problems and opportunities facing the continent”
- Mark Karake
It is easy to blame ourselves, as we label our young people as lazy, our experienced adults as tolerant, and our leaders as corrupt and materialistic. These brutal accusations are valid but I believe that they barely scratch the surface of the problem at hand.
It’s not that we are lazy, tolerant, or corrupt, we simply have limited opportunities to make things better. Young people are less equipped to do great things in our continent. This can be due to a variety of reasons such as lack of capital, lack of trust in our institutions and leaders, poverty, the scarcity mentality, poor mentorship, and inadequate education systems.
Genius is evenly distributed, but opportunity is not.
Picture this, you are a graduating student in Africa and you’re excited to join the workforce. Your reasons for getting a job are simply to get money to get by. Getting a job is great but you have always wanted to start a business and build great things that will change the world- but it takes time. You could be a software developer, an artist, or a community supporter. You have a passion and it would be fulfilling even if you did it for free.
However, you need to make a living, your parents want you to get a job and start providing for yourself. ‘Just get a job’, they say.
Photo by Ketut Subiyanto from Pexels
If there was a space that allowed you to work on your passions, while getting cushioned financially, that weight would be off your shoulders; and that’s exactly the goal of Impact Africa Network (IAN), to empower you financially so that you can focus on building products that make a difference. In this space, you get mentors, a trustful environment, and a growth mindset among all fellows in the programme. To give metrics to this, we are always reminded of the Vision 2030 , best referred as the 10–10–10. We are on the audacious journey of building 10 companies, that will provide 10,000 jobs, with a valuation of $10 billion.
I don’t know about you but that’s the bold and exciting goal that I work towards every day.
Our first active enterprise, JENGA School, has admitted students into its lucrative 12 month Data Science and AI curriculum offering. It receives massive support from Jeff Dean, a Senior Google Fellow in the Research Group, working on AI for research and health. Not to mention the fantastic PhD level instructors that are teaching students about this emerging field. This is just a sample of what’s to come!
JENGA School is the first active enterprise at IAN. They equip their students with Data Science skills that are much needed in our market today.
I know you have a question, “What did Mark say?”. Thank you for asking. You are such a great student.
Once we achieve the Vision 2030 goal, the fellows will be well-equipped with skills, networks, capital, and a new mindset to tackle the world in their own capacities. Like disciples, they will go out and change the face of Africa. Not through violence or state action but through great products and storytelling. They will go to various sectors such as agriculture, mining, and arts. They will see opportunities and start businesses that challenge the status quo. Sure, it’s how things have always been but those ways have not been working. Africa is starving for change, it needs leaders that can make stand and show us a better way. We need more visionaries, who can build products and tell stories.
“Show me the heroes that the youth of your country look up to, and I will tell you the future of your country.”
― Idowu Koyenikan
I sat there, facing my screen as Mark spoke. I would constantly look at the faces of my colleagues and I knew they felt the same thing. It was an electric, exciting and exhilarating feeling. A feeling that I was part of something bigger. It felt like a conspiracy against the status quo. A rebellion against doing just enough to make a living. An insult to mediocrity and the pursuit of a better future. I sat and thought to myself, “This is cool!”
