AfricaNXT 2022
Masterclass Suite
2nd Floor, Innovation Pavilion
Monday, February 28, 2022
SOCIAL COMMERCE: HOW AFRICANS ARE CONVERTING SOCIAL INTERACTIONS TO PROFIT.
Micro and small businesses are springing up phenomenally, with 55% engaged in wholesale/retail trade, and of which make up 84% of employed Nigerians and 48% of Nigeria’s GDP. Much of these businesses use social media platforms as a major sales channel, to capitalize on [social] network effects - a trend that rose exponentially during covid-19.
More specifically, we have seen how social media has connected the world through the internet - and this interconnectedness between people regardless of their geographical location has created an opportunity for a form of commerce that can most effectively digitize the likes of unstructured marketplaces like “Balogun market”. This form of Commerce is what we refer to as Social Commerce.
This masterclass will identify and highlight the different ways that social commerce is creating a new era of prosperity, in spite of a pandemic that does not seem to have an end in sight. Facilitators will share insights on how to take advantage of this new trend, driven by social media and an emerging digital economy. An overview will be provided on potential solutions to the digital infrastructure deficit that could directly exclude millions of Africans.
This session is hosted by Credo
NFT TRAINING OF TRAINERS WORKSHOP FOR ARTISTS
Let's build a network of expertly trained NFT Artists!
This 2-day workshop was designed for artists, musicians, photographers and other creatives. The goal being through hands on training to help creatives understand NFTs better and how to leverage the medium to bring their works to a global marketplace and secure their intellectual property. This workshop is also for Art Associations, Museums, and academic institutions to train their leaders who can then train other artists in their organizations and communities.
The ultimate goal of the workshop, hence its name Training of Trainers, is to give participants the capacity to train more artists.
The 2-day hands on workshop will be immersive to allow participants to grasp the concept of NFTs and go through the process of minting their first piece of digital art right on site. Artists will learn the fundamentals of Blockchain technology and why NFTs are opening opportunities for artists and collectors.
Participants after completion of the 2-day workshop will have the opportunity to join the Network of NFT African Artists, a collective of digital artists across the continent. that regularly share ideas, success stories, and experiences. The network will facilitate continuous education by inviting experienced NFT artists to share their experiences and best practices. It is a strategic means of bringing more African artists under one umbrella to engage each other around NFT, current trends, and investment opportunities in the space.
WORKSHOP OUTLINE
This session is hosted by Nandi Cowry NFT Marketplace, as part of the NFT Afrika Initiative, Africa Blockchain University (ABU) series of NFT Training of Trainers (ToT) Workshops for African artists.
REDEFINING OUR VALUE PROPOSITION: A NEW PATH TO THRIVE AS A PR PROFESSIONAL IN NIGERIA
Over five decades after the establishment of a regulatory body for the practice of public relations in Nigeria, there remains an alarming level of opacity about the practice and ignorance of its value to businesses and society. Across the entire marketing function, public relations remains the desperately poor sibling, struggling in futility to show up and take its rightful place on the table where critical decisions are being made.
Our Masterclass will address this challenge, and also articulate public relations’ value in Africa’s digital-first economy with Nigeria as a case study. We will discuss public relations’ perception issues in Nigeria viz a viz the significant work being done by contemporary professionals in other countries to maintain and elevate the value of the profession.
Our facilitators, experienced public relations professionals, will guide participants in understanding how to assess clients’ briefs, craft compelling strategies beyond media engagement, determine best rates and continuously deliver value to clients to secure long term retainers.
This session is hosted by Nigerian Women in Public Relations
Tuesday, March 1, 2022
NFT TRAINING OF TRAINERS WORKSHOP FOR ARTISTS
Let's build a network of expertly trained NFT Artists!
This 2-day workshop was designed for artists, musicians, photographers and other creatives. The goal being through hands on training to help creatives understand NFTs better and how to leverage the medium to bring their works to a global marketplace and secure their intellectual property. This workshop is also for Art Associations, Museums, and academic institutions to train their leaders who can then train other artists in their organizations and communities.
The ultimate goal of the workshop, hence its name Training of Trainers, is to give participants the capacity to train more artists.
The 2-day hands on workshop will be immersive to allow participants to grasp the concept of NFTs and go through the process of minting their first piece of digital art right on site. Artists will learn the fundamentals of Blockchain technology and why NFTs are opening opportunities for artists and collectors.
Participants after completion of the 2-day workshop will have the opportunity to join the Network of NFT African Artists, a collective of digital artists across the continent. that regularly share ideas, success stories, and experiences. The network will facilitate continuous education by inviting experienced NFT artists to share their experiences and best practices. It is a strategic means of bringing more African artists under one umbrella to engage each other around NFT, current trends, and investment opportunities in the space.
WORKSHOP OUTLINE
Workshop modules cover essential areas to empower artists to understand NFTs and the Blockchain, and every presentation comes with a guide booklet. Modules outlined below.
[1] Blockchain 101
[2] Introduction To Crypto
[3] Beginners Guide To NFTs
[4] How To Create NFTs
[5] Minting NFTs - Live at the workshop
[6] Successful NFT Artists
[7] Cashing Out Your Earnings Into Fiat
[8] Investing Your Earnings In DeFi
[9] Understanding Crypto Wallets & Which One To Use
This session is hosted by Nandi Cowry NFT Marketplace, as part of the NFT Afrika Initiative, Africa Blockchain University (ABU) series of NFT Training of Trainers (ToT) Workshops for African artists.
ADOPTING INNOVATIVE MEDIUMS LIKE NFTS TO FURTHER CONNECT WITH AUDIENCES IN THE CREATIVE INDUSTRY.
NFTs have opened up new ways of brand storytelling and consumer interaction; the two main pillars of an effective marketing strategy.
With NFTs, you can create unique brand experiences, increase brand awareness, encourage interaction, and create interest in your brand and product. In Web 3 brands will be built from the ground up with community ownership as a focus not an afterthought.
In this session, attendees will learn about Non Fungible Tokens (NFTs) as they apply to driving innovation in small to large projects from an individual or corporate perspective. Attendees will be presented with some practical examples of the successful use of NFTs in starting up businesses i.e Bored Apes Yacht Club (BAYC), growing business i.e Christie's Auction House, Nike and Adidas as well as driving value back to consumers (a core ethos of Web 3.0). Attendees will also learn how to differentiate between low-effort and high-quality NFT projects as we all navigate this new paradigm.
The Bored Ape is called Metaphrase BAYC #8754
This session is hosted by Freeme Digital
THE NEXT 10 YEARS: DEVELOPING AFRICAN TECH-SCAPE THROUGH INDIGENOUS LANGUAGES
THE NEXT 10 YEARS: DEVELOPING AFRICAN TECH-SCAPE THROUGH INDIGENOUS LANGUAGES The inadequacy of available content in African indigenous languages and lack of participation of youth in linguistic diversity and multilingualism of the internet is the root cause of the marginalization of African languages on the web.
Our session will motivate participants to take up language digital activism, to give African languages visibility on the internet, and drive profound change in the African digital world, for instance, the native language in Artificial Intelligence.
The facilitators will present tested tactics and strategies that can be employed by digital rights activists, content creators, linguists, and young Africans to bridge the digital divide and marginalization of non-English content on the digital space.
Participants will go home with the open Language Digital Activism Toolkit, learn how to contribute to the International Decade of Indigenous Languages, and the opportunities for indigenous language content creators
This session is hosted by Yobamoodua Cultural Heritage
#TRAVEL4IMPACT: MERGING TOURISM WITH PROFESSIONAL & COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT FOR AFRICA'S PROSPERITY
Travel contributes immensely to the continent's GDP, and while travelling to take in the sights in countries across Africa is great, one can also travel with the purpose of professional development and making an impact locally. Working on community development projects in the African countries travelled to fosters collaboration, positively impacts local communities, and contributes to achieving the SDGs. In this masterclass session, facilitators will take participants through an exploratory discussion on tourism as a pathway to employment and an opportunity for skills enhancement and professional development at the entry-level stage.
This session will be both instructive and interactive outlining several ways tourism can move beyond sightseeing and leisure, and fosters a win-win situation for young people/entry-level professionals and the local community. Specific opportunities and topics of discussion will include:
[1] Getting to work on a community development project
[2] Securing a professional internship in another country
[3] Leveraging the benefits of travelling like learning a new language, immersing oneself in diverse cultures and expanding one's worldview.
This session is hosted by AIESEC in Nigeria
Wednesday, March 2, 2022
HOW TO USE MOVIES TO TELL THE NIGERIAN STORY TO AN INTERNATIONAL AUDIENCE
The Nigerian film industry has grown and stands strong as the third-largest industry in the world. With the entry of international streaming giants like Netflix, Nigerian films have grown to be loved and seen by many.
Our masterclass will proffer various ways Nigerian films can be used to communicate the Nigerian culture and heritage.
We’ll explore the transition from old school Nollywood to New school Nollywood, focusing on the increase in viewers, fusion between Nollywood and international film industries as well as the role of technology and social media in this growth.
Our speakers will also proffer new ways through which we can continue to tell our stories using film.
This session is hosted by The Guardian Nigeria
PR AND COMMUNICATIONS FOR AFRICAN TECH STARTUPS
This masterclass will teach early-stage African tech founders the fundamentals of public relations and communications, including how to create a communications plan, business storytelling, and media relations.
Participants will learn how to raise their startup's visibility with various stakeholders, which will lead to more potential investment, at the end of the masterclass.
The sessions will provide attendees with in-depth learning experiences in a practical format, as well as a Q&A session.
WHO SHOULD PARTICIPATE
Startup founders or marketing and communications executives from a diverse range of organizations and sectors, including health, education, finance, agriculture, and sustainability.
This session is hosted by C. Moore Media International PR
BUSINESS FINANCING FOR YOUNG ENTREPRENEURS
The focus of this discussion will be to enlighten attendees on how to access grants, loans, and other channels of funding, that will enable the growth of their small and medium businesses and also help in fulfilling their goals. The session is suitable for Entrepreneurs, Startups, Students, Youth and anyone interested in starting a business.
This Session is hosted by STANBIC IBTC
THE 'KULA' WAY TO GET THE JOB DONE : THE 'KULA' WAY TO SUCCEED AS A FREELANCER
This is a carefully curated masterclass that will feature a two-part session focused on the gig economy for gig providers and freelancers.
This Session is Hosted by Union Bank of Nigeria
Thursday, March 3, 2022
IT'S MORE THAN CODING AND TECH!
What makes a great product? What drives the success of a product? How do tech entreprenuers access the funds to launch a great product? How do they get these products to those who need them? These are the questions we want to answer during this session. Creating a product that works is just the beginning of the journey, getting it to the market is a different ball game entirely. We have prepared a session showcasing:
1. Real life case studies.
2. Data driven solutions.
3. Marketing strategies that work.
This is a practical session teaching entrepreneurs how to make their market entry all taught in a fun and creative manner.
This session is hosted by Brandable Sketches
AFRICA: BENEATH THE SKIN. HOW BUSINESSES CAN TAP IN THE MAXIMUM POTENTIAL AFRICA OFFERS
Africa is not just the next big market, it is the NOW market. The eyes of the globe have now focused on the continent as it will remain the youngest continent for the next 3-5 decades. However, most of the world, including Africans themselves, see Africa with a Western lens. But in order to unleash the potential of the continent, and for Africans to benefit in the long run, we must see Africa the way it is, not the way the West has trained us to see this.
In this masterclass, Feyi Olubodun the author of the seminal book, The Villager: How Africans Consume Brands, will help participants acquire a new lens to see the continent as it is and to tap into the maximum potential it offers. With case studies across the continent, participants will be equipped to develop programs and interventions that are Africa-specific within their businesses and for their products and services.
This session is hosted by Open Squares Consulting
CRISIS MITIGATION. A BLUEPRINT TO ANTICIPATE AND ADDRESS CRISIS COLLECTIVELY
Over the last decade, sub-Saharan Africa has experienced the highest proportion of violent demonstrations globally, with civil unrest growing by almost ten times. Our traditional governance models are not adapted to contemporary challenges. However, the pandemic gave us a new sense of urgency in reflecting global strategies to tackle structural vulnerabilities and create a blueprint to anticipate and address crises collectively.
Sharing insights from the field, this session will take a deep dive in to practical ways to mitigate crisis. In addition, contemporary and historical examples will be used as case studies to help understand the influence of media coverage in risk and crisis management.
The main takeaways of the session would be a better understanding of system-thinking approaches in risk assessments and preventative frameworks to help anticipate future crisis. The interrelations between risk drivers and the growing influence of various actor groups, including media, private and public sectors, international communities, citizens and marginalized groups, would also be explained to help shift narratives from a continent permanently at war with itself to one that can pioneer innovative approaches to governance.
This session is hosted by Axle International
LEVERAGING TECH TO SUPPORT DYSLEXICS & OTHERS WHO ARE NEURO-DIVERSE IN THEIR EDUCATIONAL JOURNEY
Dyslexia is a neurological condition, that according to the Yale Dyslexia and Creativity Center, puts 1 in every 5 children at risk of becoming illiterate. Furthermore, research from the Amina Dyslexia Center found that 98% of teachers in Northern Nigeria are unaware of this condition and its impact on learning. Statistics such as these make apparent the importance of developing new approaches to ensure children with dyslexia in Nigeria and across Africa are engaged and provided the necessary support systems to ensure the success of their educational journey. Technology has an important role to play in this regard.
Our panel will offer insights on how to identify dyslexia and ways parents and teachers can bridge the learning gap for their children who have the condition, in order for them to conquer this
difficulty and gain access to quality education. We will explore the role of parents, teachers, civil society organizations, and government agencies in creating awareness about dyslexia and other neurodiverse conditions. With a focus on technology, our panelists will also outline opportunities for collaboration, where stakeholders can work together to create an enabling environment, where children who have dyslexia can thrive and use their unique creativity to solve personal and community challenges.
We will close out our discussion by sharing best practices and providing a tech toolkit to help struggling readers. Outlining ways to leverage key technology solutions; specifically audiobooks, speech-to-text and text-to-speech apps, extensions that customize user’s web browsing experience, and study skills apps.
Attendees will leave informed, empowered and better positioned to work collectively to ensure the success of all children with dyslexia.
HUMAN RIGHTS IN MENTAL HEALTH POLICY, LAW & PRACTICE
Hauwa Ojeifo
She Writes Woman Mental Health Initiative, Executive Director / Human Rights Watch Marca Bristo Fellow
This session wishes to address the challenges of abuse, violence and stigma of people with mental health conditions and the broader stereotypes faced in accessing mental healthcare in Nigeria. Looking at Nigeria's current laws and policies affecting mental health, we look at the opportunity of "Nothing About Us Without Us" - the mantra of the global disabilities movement.
How can we begin to ensure that people with lived experience lead, champion, consult and reclaim their space on issues that affect them? How can we leverage the psychosocial model of disability to advocate for systemic changes in mental health in Nigeria?
We will learn the human rights approach to mental health, what Nigeria is lacking and how we can bridge the gap to ensure the fundamental freedoms of all people including people with mental health conditions.
This session is hosted by She Writes Woman Mental Health Initiative
Friday, March 4, 2022
PRACTICAL AI SYSTEMS & DATA INTEGRATION FOR BUSINESSES - NEW APPROACHES TO SCALING
For a decade, businesses in Nigeria have struggled with a pragmatic approach towards implementing cutting edge technologies such as; Artificial Intelligence & Analytics in their daily operations.
This masterclass will offer bankable insights on how businesses in the region can scale their day to day operations using simplified analytics and swift deployment of AI.
To balance innovation with basic human values, we will propose some recommendations for moving Africa forward with AI which include; improving data access, open-source data systems, increasing government investment in AI, among others. We'll also touch upon taking bias seriously as an AI issue, human control and oversight maintenance mechanisms, penalizing fraudulent acts and promoting cybersecurity.
This session is hosted by Reispar Technologies
REBRANDING TO BECOME THE NEXT GLOBAL BRANDS FROM THE AFRICAN TECH ECOSYSTEM
Rebranding: From Start To Becoming The Next Global Brand
The startup world anywhere across the globe has always focused laser-like on the solutions themselves. Whether you are trying to remove the barriers of transactions or simplifying public transport, founders have always cared solely to directly solve these problems while trusting that sustains the "brand". As startups become scale-ups, they eventually see the need to be intentional about how they present their imaging and storytelling, while building on the layer of great service.
in this masterclass, we will discuss the importance of branding and how to successfully rebrand. We will take a deep dive into storytelling and also look at successful rebranding efforts as case studies.
AFRICA'S NEXT TECH FRONTIER: THE INFORMAL ECONOMY & THE ROLE OF DATE
Gathering data is very important, and more so data, drawn from the informal economy in Africa. Data properly obtained and if put to proper use can unravel groundbreaking insights, simplify problem solving, business development, nation building and planning.
This session hopes to model people into becoming dedicated ambassadors to the call for the need to capture data in the informal sector, consolidate data in order to mitigate occurrences like pandemics as well as solidify their understanding of the role of technology in data collection for better planning.
To really understand the power of data, and insights, let’s use this simple analogy. In Kano, a basket of tomatoes goes for N5,000 but in Lagos, the price multiples itself by 10. Imagine if data was collected and tracked to know where the margin lies and how best to approach it, this brings new variables to the conversation. It is paramount that data-driven decisions and not just any kind of data but quality data are put into effect to build for efficiency, feasibility and sustainability. There are professionals and master insight obtainers skilled to do this but first, that mental shift is needed.
This Session is Hosted by The CANs
THE FEMALE ENTREPRENEUR'S GUIDE TO CREATING BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES THROUGH EFFECTIVE BRANDING
Did you know that for every 5 thriving startups, more than double have failed due to lack of branding? More specifically to women, research has shown that 40% of female owned businesses say that marketing skills are absent from their businesses and this in turn limits their visibility to customers as well as investors.
With these stats, it is clear that access to wealth, business opportunities and funding is heavily dependent on effectively building a profitable brand - not just a business.
The goal of this masterclass is to share practical ways in which female entrepreneurs can start creating more wealth by harnessing the power of branding because with effective branding, more female-led startups will further become visible to the investors and other stakeholders and become valued firms.
This session is hosted by Disruptiv by Design (DBD AFRICA)