Tosin Eniolorunda, founder and Group Chief Executive Officer of Moniepoint, has been appointed honorary chairman of the inaugural Askya AI Growth Platform cohort.
The pan-African AI programme, launched by Askya Investment Partners, will provide up to $200,000 in investment to selected African artificial intelligence startups.
The initiative will support 10 AI-native, Africa-focused startups with capital, execution support and market access.
Askya Investment Partners said the programme was created to help participating startups achieve product-market fit and expand across the continent.
The investment firm said Africa’s artificial intelligence ecosystem was gaining momentum, citing estimates from the African Development Bank.
According to the bank, inclusive deployment of AI could contribute up to $1 trillion to Africa’s Gross Domestic Product by 2035.
Askya said the initiative seeks to position Africans not only as users of AI technology but also as developers of solutions capable of competing globally.
Eniolorunda said African founders had the capacity to develop technology for markets beyond the continent.
“Africans can build solutions for people all over the world, and AI may be the clearest opportunity yet to prove it,” he said.
He added: “Our young founders are ready; what they need is execution support and access to real customers.”
The Moniepoint founder said supporting talented African technology entrepreneurs remained an important 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.
His appointment places his experience in building a major African technology company at the centre of the new initiative.
Askya Investment Partners said this experience would be valuable to startups participating in the programme.
Babacar Seck, Founder and Managing Partner of Askya Investment Partners, said Eniolorunda’s track record made him suited to guide the inaugural cohort.
“Tosin has shown how to build a generational technology company that addresses real African needs, with ambition, relentless commitment, superior execution and authenticity,” Seck said.
The programme is expected to combine funding with practical support as participating startups work towards product-market fit and broader market expansion.
Through the initiative, Askya Investment Partners is seeking to strengthen the capacity of African founders to build AI solutions for both continental and global markets.
