Bosun Tijani, convener and Board Chair for the Africa Technology and Creative Group (ATCG), after two + years in the role, has stepped down and handed over the baton to fellow Board member, Ojoma Ochai. Ochai is Managing Partner, The Creative Economy Practice at CcHUB. Other Board Members present at the meeting where Ochai was appointed included Iyinoluwa Aboyeji, Founder and General Partner, Future Africa, Vuyisa Qabaka, Partner at HYBR Group, Leticia Browne, Director of Intelligent Capital, Ghana, Lesley Donna Williams, CEO Tshimologong Precinct, Yandile Nuku, GIQ Media and Norbert Haguma, Tech & Mobilisation, AfricaGen.com

The ATCG is a grassroots effort to ensure that the AfCFTA works for African businesses in the creative and tech sector.  It is a coalition of tech and creative professionals whose mission is to support the creation of frameworks for the successful implementation of the AfCFTA in relation to their areas of influence and the wider economy for the benefit of all Africans. 

ATCG was set up following a meet-up which was held at the Co-Creation Hub Design Lab in Kigali, Rwanda on August 15-16, 2019, based on a tweet by Tijani in the same year. More than 80 participants from 30 African countries, working in start-ups, innovation hubs, media, film, and music, attended the meet-up. Following the meet up, a community continued in a WhatsApp group and is now comprising over 200 individual and institutional members that regularly share updates and opportunities in the community. 

Since inception, ATCG has launched a range of initiatives including a COVID relief fund for African creatives, participated in various events related to the development of the AfCFTA and held a number of events including a UNESCO Resiliart event and another in partnership with UNDP. 

Bosun Tijani, speaking about the motivation for convening the ATCG said ‘ I have always believed that the AfCFTA gives us the chance to be more integrated and intentional about our relationship as Africans – with ourselves and with the rest of the world. I am confident that the network we are creating with ATCG gives us a solid platform to shape this’. 

Ochai, in accepting the appointment, outlined her delight at the opportunity and pledged to build on the achievements by the outgoing chair and work to ensure that in line with the original mission ‘the AfCFTA works for African entrepreneurs in the tech and creative economy.

ATCG is always open for new members working in the tech and creative economy in Africa. Please join the ATCG network by clicking on this link to receive information about opportunities across Africa and to build your knowledge and preparedness to benefit from the AfCFTA when it goes into force. For more info about ATCG, please go to https://atcg.community/