LONDON — Nyota Media aims to support the entrepreneurial tech scene within Africa and is the first self-proclaimed ‘PR and communication agency’ that helps to improve the lives of Africans through the innovative use of technology. Their official tagline is that, “Without imagination, there is no innovation and without knowledge there is no progress.” Basically, they are saying that imaginative technology is necessary for progress within countries, especially developing countries within Africa. Nyota means ‘star’ in Swahili, as the organization wants a star to be the symbol of their grand ambition.
Nyota Media supports entrepreneurial business as a way to help African countries rise above poverty and hunger, and they see technology a the launching pad that can get them there. Through Nyota Media, these businesses can become empowered and successful, which will eventually benefit the country and continent’s economies as a whole, which will improve many of the negative conditions plaguing much of Africa.
The main base of Nyota Media in London was launched at the end of 2012, later adding locations in Nairobi and Accra. Their company consists of journalists, analysts, investors, advisors, technology players, and more, all of whom work together to help struggling African companies. On their website, the list of clients includes Millicom (Tigo). Millicom is an organization that has a brand called “Tigo,” which they took from the work “contigo” in Spanish, meaning “with you.” They wish to connect people in Latin America and Africa through mobile devices. The company wishes to allow all consumers have access to products that enable a digital lifestyle.
Nyota Media was founded by Shaheera Asante and Rudy De Waele. Shaheera Asante used to be a BBC Journalist, Editor, and Producer, and has helped produce programmes for BBC, for instead BBC Africa. She is also a TV presenter in Canada. Rudy De Waele is a public speaker, mobile strategist, and businessman. He has co-founded events including dotopen, Mobile Premier Awards, and AppCircus. He has also been a consultant for various technological companies. Together, Asante and De Waele came together in order to create an innovative company that would support African entrepreneurs – Nyota Media. The founders say that their company will meet a demand within Africa – the tech scene. They say that their company will help support Africa as its tech scene reaches a tipping point and transforms, to become a continent where mobile plays an incredibly important role.
Nyota Media will do great things by working with various organizations within Africa and helping spread the mobile revolution in order to connect African citizens with one another, boost business, stabilize various economies, and help to improve Africa through technology. Part of their focus will be on the unreliable electric supplies throughout Africa, because this electricity allows mobile phones and their apps – indeed, many companies in Africa are working on phone apps to improve education, commerce, agriculture, and more, along with the more fun apps for games and entertainment. Hopefully, Nyota Media will prove to be the catalyst that launches Africa smoothly into the next generation.
– Corina Balsamo
Sources: The Next Web, Nyota Media, M-Trends, Millicom
Photo: Facebook