By Babajide Komolafe
Tosin Eniolorunda, founder and Group Chief Executive Officer of Moniepoint, has been appointed honorary chairman of the inaugural cohort of the Askya AI Growth Platform, a pan-African initiative targeting investment of up to $200,000 in selected African artificial intelligence, AI, startups.
The programme, launched by Askya Investment Partners, will support 10 AI-native, Africa-focused startups with capital, execution support and market access to enable them achieve product-market fit and scale across the continent.
According to Askya, the initiative comes at a time when Africa’s AI ecosystem is gaining momentum, with the African Development Bank estimating that inclusive deployment of AI could add up to $1 trillion to the continent’s Gross Domestic Product, GDP, by 2035.
The investment firm said the programme was designed to ensure that Africans become not only users of AI technology but also builders of solutions capable of competing globally.
Commenting on his appointment, Eniolorunda said: “Africans can build solutions for people all over the world, and AI may be the clearest opportunity yet to prove it.”
He added: “Our young founders are ready; what they need is execution support and access to real customers.”
Eniolorunda said helping talented African technology entrepreneurs build sustainable businesses remained a priority for him.
“Helping talented builders go further is the work I care about most, and it is why I am glad to chair this first cohort,” he stated.
Founder and Managing Partner of Askya Investment Partners, Babacar Seck, said Eniolorunda’s experience made him suitable to guide the initiative.
He said: “Tosin has shown how to build a generational technology company that addresses real African needs, with ambition, relentless commitment, superior execution and authenticity.”
Seck added that Eniolorunda would help “show the way to the next generation of builders” as they pursue product-market fit and continental expansion.
Applications remain open to African AI-native startups, with shortlisted candidates expected to be announced in October.
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