The 2024 Inspire Africa Conference recently wrapped up a powerful four-day event at Lagos’ esteemed Eko Convention Centre, marking another milestone in advancing Africa’s burgeoning tech product landscape. Held from October 15th to 18th, this year’s event spotlighted the unique challenges and opportunities of building tech products in Africa under the apt theme, “Product Is Hard.”
As Africa’s largest tech product gathering, the Inspire Africa Conference attracted almost 1,000 attendees, uniting over 100 African tech founders and product leaders with 30+ global speakers and coaches. Through immersive sessions, hands-on training, and invaluable networking, attendees explored how Africa can best leverage its talent and technology to address complex challenges and create scalable impact.
The Vision Behind Inspire Africa: Equipping a Growing Workforce for the Future
Christian Idiodi, Founder of the Innovate Africa Foundation, emphasized the strategic purpose behind Inspire Africa. “By 2030, Africa is expected to have the world’s largest working population. This presents a tremendous opportunity to harness this human capital for technology-driven progress,” Idiodi remarked. For him, the conference is about providing Africa’s workforce with both the skills and the financial support needed to thrive in a globalized world, positioning African tech leaders to contribute actively to the continent’s development.
Championing Africa’s Tech Ecosystem
Mitchell Elegbe, CEO of headline sponsor Interswitch Group, underscored the importance of conferences like Inspire Africa in his keynote. “Developing the technology value chain and upskilling our workforce is central to driving Africa’s growth. Interswitch is deeply committed to partnerships that enable individuals and communities to prosper across Africa,” he said. Elegbe highlighted that nurturing African-led innovation—by creating avenues for tech talent to grow—remains a core part of Interswitch’s mission.
Four Days of Transformative Learning and Networking
The event’s agenda featured an intensive exploration of tech product principles, divided into four distinct days that provided insights for product professionals at every level.
- Day 1: Set the stage with keynote addresses and panel discussions on tech leadership, talent cultivation, ecosystem building, and funding access. One standout keynote was delivered by Ebi Atawodi, Director of Product Management at YouTube, who spoke on the power of collaboration in building exceptional products.
- Days 2-4: The remaining days centered around the Silicon Valley Product Group’s expertise. Workshops and masterclasses, led by industry veterans including Marty Cagan—often referred to as the “Godfather of Product”—focused on advanced product strategies that have powered top Silicon Valley companies. Through these sessions, attendees gained practical techniques in product management and team optimization to propel African businesses forward. Notable facilitators like Christian Idiodi, Chidi Afulezi, and Gabrielle Bufrem brought global insights tailored to the African context.
A Community-Driven Approach to Supporting African Startups
This year’s conference also introduced the Innovate Africa Fund, which launched with $2.5 million in early 2024 and aims to back 20 African startups in its inaugural year. Through fireside chats and panel discussions, fund representatives Kristin H. Wilson and Christian Idiodi discussed the fund’s mission to bridge the funding gap for African startups and foster a supportive ecosystem for African entrepreneurs.
Looking Ahead: Inspire Africa 2025 in Kigali, Rwanda
With the resounding success of the 2024 conference, plans are already underway for the 2025 Inspire Africa Conference, which will be held in Kigali, Rwanda, from October 13th to 16th. By broadening its reach, Inspire Africa seeks to impact even more tech leaders, building Africa’s reputation as a hub for innovative, tech-driven solutions.
For more details, conference highlights, or to learn about the companies behind Inspire Africa—including Silicon Valley Product Group, Product Leadership Accelerator, Innovate Africa Foundation, Innovate Africa Fund, and Work Nigeria—visit
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