A new partnership between the United Nations and mobile giant Africell is set to provide high-speed digital connectivity to student entrepreneurs in two of West Africa’s most promising innovation markets.
The deal will see Africell provide 4G internet, hardware, and “Internet of Things” (IoT) devices to the United Nations Development Programme’s (UNDP) “UniPods”—specialised innovation hubs located within public universities in Sierra Leone and The Gambia.
The initiative is part of the broader “timbuktoo” project, a massive UN-led effort to transform Africa’s “raw talent” into a competitive global startup ecosystem.
‘Turning ideas into enterprise’
For many young innovators in West Africa, the cost and reliability of internet access remain the biggest barriers to scaling their businesses.
Under the new agreement, Africell—which operates in Angola, DR Congo, The Gambia, and Sierra Leone—will bridge this gap by equipping these “maker spaces” with the tools needed to develop and test new technologies.
“We are investing in young Africans and helping to turn raw talent into successful enterprise,” said Ziad Dalloul, CEO of Africell Group.
What is a UniPod?
The University Innovation Pods, or UniPods, are high-tech laboratories designed to help students move beyond theory. They offer:
- Prototyping Tools: 3D printers and engineering equipment.
- Digital Training: Courses in robotics and entrepreneurship.
- Market Access: Help in turning a classroom project into a product that can be sold.
The partnership will also integrate Africell’s existing digital learning centres, which already teach coding and digital skills across the region.
Investing in the ‘Startup Generation’
The “timbuktoo” initiative is the UN’s most ambitious attempt yet to move Africa away from a “commodity-based” economy toward a digital one. By focusing on public universities, the UNDP aims to reach a wider demographic of students who might not otherwise have access to expensive private tech hubs.
“Digital inclusion is key to Africa’s innovation future,” explained Ahunna Eziakonwa, Director of the UNDP Regional Bureau for Africa. “When we remove barriers to opportunity, we accelerate Africa’s path to competitiveness.”
Analysis: Can West Africa become a tech hub?
By Segun Ojumu, Africa Eye News
In cities like Freetown and Banjul, the enthusiasm for tech is high, but the infrastructure often lags behind. This partnership is significant because it brings a private-sector heavyweight like Africell into the UN’s diplomatic space.
By providing 4G MiFi and IoT devices directly to university campuses, the project targets the exact moment when a student’s idea often dies: the transition from a university project to a working prototype. However, the real test will be whether these startups can find local investors once they leave the safety of the UniPod.
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