Where humanity, economics, technology and knowledge meet.
Marieme is currently the President of SpotOne Global Solutions Group a successful company that helps companies set a foothold in Europe, Middle East, Africa and Asia. She also recently Founded iConscience, an organization that enables business experts and like-minded individuals to share their expertise and experience in the name of sustainability, development, ethics and morals.
Find out more on my About Me page by clicking on the link above.
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Where are the African speakers?
Posted on April 17th, 2010 9 commentsThis blog has been triggered by the numerous emails I get every day about the apparent lack of African speakers prepared to come forward to talk about certain industries at Africa-focused events.
I attend many events in Africa and around the world and my exasperation is growing because I struggle to find African speakers capable of representing the continent effectively, apart from the usual faces we see at every event, and they are few and usually from the USA or part of the International Development world. As for African women in ICT, they are very hard to find.So I am wondering, why is it that African people are not stepping forward? What is the problem? Is it a lack of confidence? A lack of visibility? Is it their fault? Do they not know how to speak? Or are they overshadowed by what we might call ‘friends of Africa’ or by Afro-Americans who left Africa 20 years ago and now have little direct contact with Africa. This is not to be critical of Afro-Americans — they are part of the Diaspora, have links in Africa and could have much to say if they engage more regularly with the grassroots — or other ‘outsiders’ with a passion for the continent, but I believe that we should also be able to find some Made-in-Africa speakers. Surely there are eloquent Africans capable of telling their stories. Storytelling is in their blood. From a young age, Africans are surrounded by amazing stories that can be shared with a wide audience to vibrant and inspiring effect, even changing people’s lives.
I am sure if we look hard enough within the continent we will find that we have vibrant young Africans who are dying to have their voices heard. If empowered, supported and trained to take the stage, Africans can tell their stories better than anyone else, whether it be about mobile technologies, ICT development, international development or other areas of the economy and business. It’s time they emerged from behind the scenes and stopped being overshadowed by Corporate Americans, or the ‘lovers of Africa’ who take all the credit for their hard work. African People need to get more visibility as a matter of urgency. Some are already making a name for themselves — Jessica Colaco Mobile Technology Evangelist from Kenya and London-based Nkeiru Joe to name but two. And I have been following others on social networking platforms like Twitter and Facebook. I have also identified a few speakers on my Best of Africa list on Twitter. But I am sure we can find more. So, I’m appealing to any Africans out there who have an exciting story to tell, who want to learn how to stand up with confidence or who already know how to speak in front of an audience, to step forward and share their experience with us.
You can always email me you know! I will do my best to help!
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Investing in an Africa girl through Education
Posted on June 20th, 2009 2 commentsMillions of young girls in Africa are not educated. If you are familiar with African villages or have been to Africa you will know what I am talking about.
My Foundation is supporting the 10000 girls project in Senegal- Kaolack. We aim to put 10000 girls in school by 2013. We have more than 2000 girls in scholarship today and 7 centres where more than 50 teachers are teaching to our girls.Let me tell you that a young girl life in Africa is extremely uncertain, she has a little choice if not educated she will be forced to marry an older man; she will die with HIV aids or cervical cancer. If not educated, she will be raped or force to prostitution, if not educated she will leave her country hoping for a better life outside her country, If not educated she will end up in the hands of bad people that will take full advantage of her, if not educated she will be lost and her life will be over. Her life will become increasingly difficult and she basically has no Future.
As an Franco-African woman, I know how education is important and have a firm believe that if girls in Africa are given an opportunity to get basic education, not only they will become self reliant, independent, but they will become self sufficient. Education will improve their lives big time.
A sustainable education program will keep them in Africa and with out a doubt you will increase their confidence.
Teaching a young African girl the basic of Education is rewarding.
Ubuntu Partners
