The sub-Saharan region is home to millions of people, this was proven by the National Institute of Health (NIH) which also predicted that the number of people in this region Is expected to reach 1.4 billion by 2025. This is a fact and an advantage to Africa because "Continued growth of population correlates to an increase in entrepreneur activities and innovations". With that in mind, it means that the region is on the verge of witnessing advanced innovations and better entrepreneurial ideas in the near future
Relatively speaking, entrepreneurship goes hand in hand with innovation. In the business world, they are both significant and critical towards prosperity. Their conceptual relationship is traced to how entrepreneurs rely on different innovative tools to help them provide an enterprise with fruitful returns.
A deep analysis of it also clearly agrees that entrepreneurship and innovation assess new business opportunities and transform ideas into viable ventures. Talking about viable entrepreneur ventures in this region, we can all agree on how the South African film industry has survived for decades. Ranging from Innovative financing ideas, production, and distribution to exhibition of its content. Entrepreneurs like Constance Ferguson Who now owns a production company called Ferguson Films have created a creative and cultural base that produces quality content for different brands. As well as platforms like Worldbox.TV, Egospeak and South films Have had an impeccable and outstanding share Of the South African entertainment industry
In turn, we can’t talk of innovations without lamenting about Botswana, its rise into one of the developing countries has recently been manifested in many ways, not to talk of its political stability which has so far created room for innovations. Botswana’s innovation system was ranked 106th In the Global Innovation Index in 2021 due to that Botswana’s innovation hub Which is a subsidiary of Global Expo Botswana (GEB) business-to-business expositions, attracts foreign direct investments, expands and promotes Botswana’s innovative ideas to just mention a few and all this has positively impacted Botswana in modernization of education plus Creation of societies with zero digital gap.
Innovators have not left any part untouched in this region. For the mere reason that high productivity in agriculture has the potential to contribute positively in terms of economic growth and the creation of job opportunities. They are now running technological advancements to end substance-oriented farming, which has seen the introduction of agricultural drones, automated irrigation systems, and the usage of genetically modified crops while creating a window for entrepreneurs. Countries like Mozambique, Tanzania and Angola have been part of this trend without forgetting Nigeria with its finest entrepreneurs like Aliko Dangote, Femi Otedula and Foluransho Alakija who have been a greater influence on agricultural innovations.
Furthermore, Innovators and entrepreneurs across this region have an ecosystem that helps them share ideas and resources through different programs and directories. For instance, MHUB, the first technology and innovation hub in Malawi, connects different entrepreneurs through training, mentorship and financing. It champions the development of different technological solutions as well as nurtures innovators with the purpose of creating sustainable social and business solutions while bringing innovators together
Importantly, introducing policies to bring this region together has led to unlocking barriers to technology and innovations because right after the COVID-19 pandemic, African governments came up with policies specifically to boost technological innovation uptake.
Ever much there is a lot to be done for smooth and advanced innovations, the future of entrepreneurship and innovation in the sub-Saharan region is deep-rooted. With modernized education, increased capacity of research institutions and an expansion of intra-region investments, which is underway. The sub-Saharan region will exceptionally reap its returns in no time.
