TechCabal Daily – African tech companies are funding solutions to tackle coronavirus

On Wednesday, five more people tested positive for the virus, bringing the total number of infected persons to eight. These new cases will ensure that conversations about safety at offices and public spaces will be on the front burner again. 

Earlier in the month, Alexander Onukwue talked to some of Nigeria’s tech companies about how they’re responding to coronavirus and one of the strategies they’re using is to ask employees to work from home. Working from home means that remote work is now on trial globally, and Africa is not left out. 

It will come as good news that Africa’s private sector is stepping up, with CCHub offering “funding and design support for teams working on projects to address problems/needs related to the coronavirus outbreak.” Ventures Platform’s Kola Aina also called on “all Nigerian Hackers, developers, enthusiasts & founders” to help the Nigeria Center for Disease Control (NCDC) to respond to the pandemic.

Away from the private sector, the Nigerian and Ugandan governments have announced travel restrictions while in Lagos state, government is restricting religious gathering with more than 50 people in attendance and closing schools.

Remember to stay safe, wash your hands regularly with soap and to only pass on verified information.

Starting March 23, Kenyan students who will be home as a safety measure to stop the spread of the Coronavirus will spend their time learning online. 

Instead of a holiday filled with no activity, the Kenyan ministry says that students will learn through alternative means. According to Techweez, “The ministry has partnered with the state broadcaster, the Kenya Broadcasting Services, to broadcast radio programs daily from Monday to Friday through their Radio Taifa and English Service.

Radio Taifa lessons will run from 10 am to 11 am and the English Service lessons will run from 9:15 am to 12 pm and from 2 pm to 4 pm.”

Educational content will also be uploaded to Youtube as well as the Kenya Education Cloud website.

Billed to start in June, the accelerator announced that it had received 25 million Rands ($1,455,562) from the South African SME Fund. New funding means it will increase its intake numbers, adding six cohorts of 10 scale-up companies each over the next three years.

While there have been questions about timing, Ventureburn reports that Grindstone accelerator will go on as planned while “they take a view on how to approach implementation adjustments before June if required,” 

This week, Kay’s “My Life in tech” column has Anu Adasolum, the COO of Rensource as its focus. Having experienced power outages while watching her favorite cartoons as a child, it’s no wonder she’s trying to now solve that problem.

She touches on Nigeria’s power problems, what Rensource hopes to do as well as the joy of seeing women doing the work they want. 

Catch up here. 

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