i-SPARK is a project developed by Numeris Media, a pan-African storytelling platform dedicated to spotlighting the people, policies, and projects shaping Africa’s economic future.
The i-SPARK team will travel across all of Africa’s 54 countries, uncovering and documenting grassroots innovation, startup success stories, and the unsung entrepreneurs fueling local economies. The objective is to spark interest in Africa’s products, goods and services, and trade opportunities.
We will let each country showcase its strengths by sector – featuring 05 startups and SMEs that make up the nation’s entrepreneurial ecosystem.
We want to work with countries to attract investment, tourism, and showcase development – while objectively highlighting both challenges and opportunities.
i-SPARK will be the first cohesive, continent-wide chronicle of Africa’s startup and entrepreneur scene, breaking the current narrative silos, and breaking away from the single
story of Africa as a continent of problems (as opposed to massive potential).
As we travel along, we will pin country video clips to a virtual map of Africa, watchable by the whole world.
The i-SPARK expedition will seek to align with Africa’s goals of fostering intra-continental trade, private-sector growth, attracting global interest in local innovation, and making “Proudly Made-in-Africa” the universal slogan to beat.
A LITTLE TRIVIA + SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY
On the i-SPARK traveling team will be Oluwafisayo James, a teacher from Badagry (Nigeria) who we have trained to become a Mobile Journalist (MoJo).
MoJos tell important stories, using just their humble mobile phone as equipment.
At the end of the expedition, a large percentage of any sponsorship proceeds we receive will go towards fortifying the Numeris Media MoJo Academy, which trains females from disadvantaged communities to become MoJos – just like Fisayo.
OUR PEDIGREE
Numeris Media founder, Anne N. Agbakoba, has embarked on a similar tour, tagged Solar4TheMasses – a 37-state road trip across every state in Nigeria to introduce basic (but functional) solar lighting to Primary Healthcare Centres (PHCs) operating in electricity-poor rural areas. The project was executed in 17 consecutive days of driving. In each state, PHCs were presented with a sturdy, combined solar lamp & phone charging unit. The portable units enabled staff perform crucial medical procedures in rooms previously lit by candles, small kerosene contraptions, and mobile phone torches. Solar4TheMasses was captured by CNN as an exemplary project for widely spreading the benefits of Renewable Energy, and encouraging its adoption. Anne will lead the i-SPARk Africa expedition.
ADVISOR
We are delighted to count Meryanne Loum-Martin, visionary founder of Jnane Tamsna, among our ranks as Cultural Advisor and Global Ambassador to i-SPARK Africa.
PROJECT CONSULTANTS
Dr. Elizabeth Shaw (Founder, 1000 Black Voices) is i-Spark’s Expert-Entrepreneur-in-Residence.
She plays a key role at i-Spark by designing and applying the Strategic Ecosystem Insights Framework, a proprietary model that analyses and interprets data from the expedition to uncover trends, opportunities, and challenges across Africa’s entrepreneurial landscapes.
Through network synthesis, Elizabeth will translate key findings into actionable connections, eventually she amplifying the project’s impact through thought leadership, publishing and co-authoring analytical pieces that provide expert commentary and spark global conversations on Africa’s innovation potential.
With Dr. Shaw’s contributions, i-Spark ensures that its work goes beyond storytelling to deliver actionable intelligence that strengthens Africa’s innovation fabric.
Currently Editor of Africa Briefing magazine in London, Desmond Davies will work with Project i-Spark as Consultant, Pan-African Media.
Originally from Freetown (Sierra Leone), Desmond has been a professional journalist since 1972, and has lived in the UK since 1978 where he has worked for a number of Africa-oriented magazines – including as Editor of the renown, 86- year-old West Africa magazine (published from 1917 to 2003).
Given his distinguished career in journalism and 50+ years of building relationships across Africa, Desmond will shape and refine i-Spark’s media narrative for diverse African markets.
This includes building and managing relationships with leading media houses (TV, radio, print, and digital) across all 54 African countries, securing coverage opportunities, interviews, op-eds, and features for i-Spark, while also creating a continent-wide database of credible media contacts.
Meekam K. Mgbenwelu is founder of Nzuko Labs.
In his role with i-Spark Africa (Consultant, Grassroots Innovation & Inclusion), Meekam will lead the effort to surface, document, and analyse how national STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics)/education pipelines feed into entrepreneurial activity, drawing on real-world examples and case studies. His work will also focus on:
Identifying grassroots innovators: By shortlisting standout pitches from entrepreneurs in diverse African countries, he will capture the pulse of local ingenuity.
Championing equity and inclusion: Meekam will highlight gender balance and equity in the innovation landscape, backed by practical examples and stories of inclusive entrepreneurship.
The insights gathered through this process will be synthesized into a knowledge resource, useful to entrepreneurs, governments, investors, educational institutions, and communities across Africa.
Carol Amicky Akiwumi MBE is the founder of the AVOCADO Foundation, where she meticulously leads an inspiring #WorldChangers movement.
As Coordinator for Grassroots and Startup Innovation at i-Spark, Carol will play a pivotal role in shaping the entrepreneur and startup submission process. She will refine the i-Spark submission form to help founders clearly share the impact of their work, while her sharp questioning ensures that the true essence of each business is brought to light.
Beyond sorting submissions, Carol will oversee the post-submission and judging stages—guaranteeing transparency, inclusivity, and credibility throughout.
She will also be part of the i-Spark traveling team, bringing her passion and expertise directly to innovators across Africa.
Any questions for team i-Spark? Email: iSpark-Africa@numeris-media.com