Financial Inclusion, Entrepreneurship, and How to Build Markets That Work in Africa with Carl Manlan

Episode 208 with Carl Manlan, a development practitioner and global thought leader working at the intersection of financial inclusion, policy, entrepreneurship, and social impact across Africa and emerging markets. Carl brings deep experience from senior leadership roles at Visa, where he served as Vice President of Social Impact and Sustainability for the CEMEA region, and at Ecobank Foundation, where he was Chief Operating Officer leading programmes across 33 African markets, earning a Euromoney Award for Excellence. His career also spans influential roles across the United Nations system and AUDA NEPAD, bridging global economic policy with real world impact.In this episode, Carl explains why financial inclusion and digital payments are not social initiatives, but core economic infrastructure essential for Africa’s long term growth, productivity, and resilience. Drawing on his concept of Polytunity, he reframes Africa’s current economic disruptions as opportunities to redesign markets, institutions, and business models that work for entrepreneurs and small businesses at scale.The conversation challenges outdated narratives around informality, positioning Africa’s popular economy and MSMEs as the continent’s most adaptive and underestimated growth engine. Carl shares practical insights on how lowering transaction costs through smarter regulation, adaptive governance, and purpose driven business models can unlock inclusive economic growth.What We Discuss With CarlWhy financial inclusion and digital payments are foundational economic infrastructure for African marketsReframing crisis as opportunity through Polytunity and adaptive economic thinkingChallenging the myth of informality and unlocking growth in Africa’s popular economy and MSMEsDesigning markets that work for entrepreneurs by lowering transaction costs through smart policy and regulationIntergenerational leadership, succession planning, and building lasting economic legacies in AfricaDid you miss my previous episode where I discuss Africa’s $2 Trillion Instant Payment Boom and What It Means for Trade and Economic Growth? Make sure to check it out!Connect with Terser:LinkedIn - Terser AdamuInstagram - unlockingafricaTwitter (X) - @TerserAdamuConnect with Carl:LinkedIn - Carl Manlan and Inside The Blueprint PodcastMany of the businesses unlocking opportunities in Africa don’t do it alone. If you’d like strategic support on entering or expanding across African markets, reach out to our partners ETK Group: [email protected]

Episode 207 with Sabine Mensah, Deputy CEO of AfricaNenda Foundation and co author of the State of Inclusive Instant Payment Systems in Africa 2025 report, one of the most comprehensive studies on Africa’s digital payments infrastructure.The SIIPS 2025 report reveals the extraordinary scale of Africa’s instant payments transformation, with 64 billion real time payment transactions worth nearly 2 trillion dollars processed in 2024 alone. Sabine shares what this rapid growth means for Africa’s digital economy and why instant payments are no longer a fintech niche, but a core driver of trade, productivity, and financial inclusion across the continent.Drawing on insights from 31 countries, we explore why Nigeria has emerged as Africa’s first fully mature instant payment system, the governance and interoperability decisions behind NIBSS’s success, and the critical lessons other African markets must learn to scale inclusive payment infrastructure.The conversation dives into how instant payments are reshaping cross border trade, remittances, and SME cash flow, why payment systems are foundational to AfCFTA success, and how real time payments unlock faster settlement, liquidity, and growth for African businesses. Sabine also explains why scale alone does not guarantee inclusion, highlighting the importance of trust, consumer protection, and system design in driving sustained adoption.What We Discuss With SabineWhy instant payments have become the backbone of Africa’s digital economy and a prerequisite for trade, growth, and financial inclusionHow Nigeria became the first African country to achieve a fully mature instant payment system and what other markets can learn from its governance and interoperability modelThe role of real time payments in transforming cross border trade, remittances, and SME cash flow under AfCFTAWhy scale alone does not equal inclusion and how trust, consumer protection, and system design shape who benefits from digital paymentsInstant payments as digital public infrastructure and what policymakers, investors, and founders must do now to unlock Africa’s next decade of economic growthDid you miss my previous episode where I discuss Unlocking Diaspora Wealth: How Housing Investment Is Driving African Development? Make sure to check it out!Connect with Terser:LinkedIn - Terser AdamuInstagram - unlockingafricaTwitter (X) - @TerserAdamuConnect with Sabine:LinkedIn - Sabine Mensah and AfricaNenda FoundationMany of the businesses unlocking opportunities in Africa don’t do it alone. If you’d like strategic support on entering or expanding across African markets, reach out to our partners ETK Group: [email protected]

Episode 206 with Robert Hornsby and Franck Tcheukado, Co Founder and Chief Executive Officer, and Chief Operating Officer of Jobomax Homes, a West African real estate developer focused on delivering secure, high quality housing for Africans in the diaspora and on the continent.Robert brings a unique perspective as a former US Air Force veteran turned entrepreneur, while Franck brings deep operational leadership from managing construction and project delivery across multiple West African countries. Together, they explore why housing is one of Africa’s most underappreciated economic challenges and one of its most powerful opportunities.In this episode, they explain how Jobomax Homes was created to address the trust barriers that have historically prevented diaspora capital from flowing into African real estate. The conversation explores why issues such as land title insecurity, fragmented project management, and limited access to housing finance have held the sector back, and what it takes to build a reliable alternative.Robert and Franck share how Jobomax delivers an end to end homebuilding model that brings structure, transparency, and accountability to the process of buying and building homes from abroad. They discuss maintaining international construction standards while working with local labour, and how this approach supports skills development and strengthens local construction ecosystems.What We Discuss With Robert Hornsby and Franck Tcheukado Why Africa’s housing deficit is as much a trust and finance challenge as it is a construction problem.How structured real estate development can unlock diaspora investment into West African housing markets.Delivering quality housing at scale while building local talent and strengthening construction value chains.The role of housing in long term wealth creation, women’s economic participation, and formalising property ownership.What the next decade could look like for African real estate, including technology adoption and the evolution of housing as an investable asset.Did you miss my previous episode where I discuss How Carnegie Mellon University Africa Is Building the Next Generation of African Tech and Engineering Leaders? Make sure to check it out!Connect with Terser:LinkedIn - Terser AdamuInstagram - unlockingafricaTwitter (X) - @TerserAdamuConnect with Robert:LinkedIn - Robert Hornsby and Jobomax HomesConnect with Franck:LinkedIn - Franck TcheukadoMany of the businesses unlocking opportunities in Africa don’t do it alone. If you’d like strategic support on entering or expanding across African markets, reach out to our partners ETK Group: [email protected]

Episode 205 with Conrad Tucker, Director of Carnegie Mellon University Africa, the only United States research university with a full time teaching and research presence on the African continent.Based in Kigali Innovation City, CMU Africa was established to address the shortage of high quality engineering and technology talent required to drive Africa’s digital economy. Conrad brings deep experience at the intersection of engineering, artificial intelligence and education to a wide ranging conversation on how world class skills, applied research and innovation can unlock Africa’s long term economic potential.In this episode, Conrad explains how CMU Africa is developing globally competitive African engineers and artificial intelligence specialists who are choosing to build their careers on the continent. We explore how research in artificial intelligence, cyber security, energy and mobility, and information and communications technology is being applied to solve real African challenges across government, industry and entrepreneurship.The conversation also examines CMU Africa’s growing role in entrepreneurship and startup development through its Innovation Hub, including partnerships such as the collaboration with NBA Africa to support early stage African startups. Conrad reflects on the importance of inclusive excellence, pan African university collaboration and long term investment in education and skills as critical foundations for Africa’s digital transformation.What We Discuss With ConradHow Carnegie Mellon University Africa was established to build Africa’s world class engineering and technology talentDeveloping African artificial intelligence and engineering graduates who stay and build careers on the continentUsing research in artificial intelligence, cyber security, energy and mobility to solve Africa’s most pressing challengesSupporting African startups and entrepreneurship through the CMU Africa Innovation Hub and the partnership with NBA AfricaWhy inclusive excellence, collaboration and long term investment in education are essential to Africa’s digital futureDid you miss my previous episode where I discuss The Economic Importance of the African Diaspora Reclaiming Native Language and Identity? Make sure to check it out!Connect with Terser:LinkedIn - Terser AdamuInstagram - unlockingafricaTwitter (X) - @TerserAdamuConnect with Conrad:LinkedIn - Conrad Tucker and Carnegie Mellon UniversityMany of the businesses unlocking opportunities in Africa don’t do it alone. If you’d like strategic support on entering or expanding across African markets, reach out to our partners ETK Group: [email protected]

Episode 204 with Andrew Osayemi, Founder of YapTime and co creator of Meet the Adebanjos, the hit British Nigerian sitcom now streaming on Netflix.Andrew Osayemi is a diaspora entrepreneur whose career spans FX derivatives trading in London and New York, African diaspora television production, and now language learning and education technology. In this episode of the Unlocking Africa Podcast, Andrew shares how a deeply personal challenge losing connection to his parents’ native Yoruba language inspired the creation of YapTime, a language learning platform helping busy adults reconnect with African heritage languages through short daily WhatsApp conversations.The conversation explores how YapTime is redefining language education for professionals with limited time, why consistency matters more than intensity when learning a language, and how African languages like Yoruba play a critical role in strengthening cultural identity across the global African diaspora. Andrew also explains how YapTime is creating new economic opportunities for native language tutors in Nigeria while building stronger cultural and economic bridges between Africa and its diaspora.Drawing on his experience as co creator of Meet the Adebanjos, Andrew reflects on the power of authentic African diaspora storytelling, the business of creating culturally resonant content, and what it takes to build African led ventures that scale globally.What We Discuss With AndrewAndrew Osayemi’s journey from finance to African diaspora media and founding YapTime, driven by a personal mission to reconnect with his Yoruba heritage How YapTime is transforming African language learning through short daily WhatsApp lessons designed for busy professionalsCreating economic opportunities for native language tutors in Nigeria while strengthening diaspora engagement with AfricaLessons from building and licensing Meet the Adebanjos and the role of authentic African storytelling in reaching global audiencesThe role of language culture and diaspora led entrepreneurship in unlocking Africa’s economic and creative potential in the 21st centuryDid you miss my previous episode where I discuss Building Africa’s Global Cultural Influence and Creative Economy Through Film? Make sure to check it out!Connect with Terser:LinkedIn - Terser AdamuInstagram - unlockingafricaTwitter (X) - @TerserAdamuConnect with Andrew:LinkedIn - Andrew OsayemiMany of the businesses unlocking opportunities in Africa don’t do it alone. If you’d like strategic support on entering or expanding across African markets, reach out to our partners ETK Group: [email protected]

Episode 203 with Stella Nse Okuzu who is the Director and CEO of the Royal African Society, one of the UK’s oldest and most influential Africa focused institutions, dedicated to promoting a deeper understanding of Africa and strengthening relationships between Africa and the rest of the world. She also brings extensive experience from her work leading East Africa partnerships at Radio Workshop, where she supported youth led storytelling and media initiatives across the region.In this episode of the Unlocking Africa Podcast, we explore how culture, storytelling, and the creative economy are becoming powerful drivers of Africa’s economic growth, global influence, and soft power. Stella shares how the Royal African Society is strengthening its role as a bridge between Africa and international partners through cultural programming, policy engagement, and global dialogue.A central focus of the conversation is Film Africa 2025, London’s leading African film festival. Stella explains how Film Africa goes beyond cinema to support Africa’s creative economy, amplify African voices, and create new opportunities for collaboration, trade, and investment. We discuss the growing global influence of African cinema and why the Democratic Republic of Congo has been selected as the country spotlight for this year’s festival, highlighting underrepresented stories and expanding Africa’s cultural footprint.What We Discuss With StellaStella Okuzu’s journey from youth led media partnerships in East Africa to leading the Royal African Society as a global bridge between Africa and the world.How Film Africa 2025 is strengthening Africa’s creative economy and positioning African cinema as a driver of trade, investment, and soft power.Using cultural programming and storytelling to reshape global perceptions of Africa and unlock new international partnerships.The strategic importance of spotlighting the Democratic Republic of Congo and amplifying underrepresented African voices on the global stage.The future of African cinema, creative industries, and the role of institutions in unlocking Africa’s long term economic potential.Did you miss my previous episode where I discuss How Radio and Storytelling Are Empowering African Youth and Driving Change? Make sure to check it out!Connect with Terser:LinkedIn - Terser AdamuInstagram - unlockingafricaTwitter (X) - @TerserAdamuConnect with Stella:LinkedIn - Stella Nse Okuzu and Royal African SocietyMany of the businesses unlocking opportunities in Africa don’t do it alone. If you’d like strategic support on entering or expanding across African markets, reach out to our partners ETK Group: [email protected]

Episode 202 with Melissa Mbugua, East Africa Partnerships Lead at Radio Workshop. Melissa Mbugua leads partnerships across East Africa at Radio Workshop, an award winning organisation that trains young people across the continent to create powerful radio programmes and podcasts. Through storytelling, Radio Workshop equips youth with the skills, tools and confidence to inform their communities, influence public dialogue and shape Africa’s future from the ground up.In this episode, Melissa shares how Radio Workshop is building a new generation of African journalists, storytellers and community leaders by supporting youth led audio storytelling. She reflects on the organisation’s work training over 5,000 youth reporters across 100+ radio stations and reaching millions of listeners across Africa through local broadcasts and a globally recognised podcast.Drawing on her experience across East Africa, Melissa explores how radio remains Africa’s most trusted and accessible medium, particularly in reaching underserved and rural communities. She discusses how youth led storytelling is being used to address critical social and economic issues such as mental health, education inequality, climate change and civic participation, while creating pathways for young people to develop leadership, communication and critical thinking skills.What We Discuss With MelissaMelissa Mbugua’s journey into youth empowerment and partnerships at Radio Workshop and her role in expanding its impact across East Africa.How Radio Workshop trains youth to produce radio programmes and podcasts across Africa.Why radio continues to play a vital role in informing communities and strengthening civic participation.How youth led storytelling addresses major social and development challenges in Africa.The future of youth driven media and storytelling in East Africa and across the continent.Did you miss my previous episode where I discuss Fighting Misinformation and Advancing Health Literacy and Journalism in Africa? Make sure to check it out!Connect with Terser:LinkedIn - Terser AdamuInstagram - unlockingafricaTwitter (X) - @TerserAdamuConnect with Melissa:LinkedIn - Melissa Mbugua and Radio WorkshopMany of the businesses unlocking opportunities in Africa don’t do it alone. If you’d like strategic support on entering or expanding across African markets, reach out to our partners ETK Group: [email protected]

Episode 201 with Dr Mercy Korir, CEO and Editor in Chief of Willow Health Media. Dr Mercy Korir is a medical doctor, award winning journalist, and business executive who is redefining health journalism in Africa. As CEO and Editor in Chief of Willow Health Media, she leads the first dedicated Health and Science Newsroom in Kenya and the region, with a mission to empower communities through credible, multimedia health and science content.Before founding Willow Health Media, Dr Korir established Kenya’s first ever Multimedia Health and Science Desk at the Standard Group, conceptualising high quality content for TV, radio, and digital platforms, and driving revenue growth through strategic partnerships. During the COVID 19 pandemic, she was recognised with the Presidential Order of Service – Uzalendo Award for her impactful and versatile health reporting.In this episode, Dr Korir shares how she is bridging the gap between health knowledge and action by leveraging digital platforms, data, and innovation to make trustworthy health information accessible to millions. From tackling misinformation to creating sustainable business models for health journalism, she discusses how Willow Health Media is shaping the future of health communication in Africa.What We Discuss With Dr MercyMercy’s journey from medical doctor to award winning journalist and CEO of Willow Health Media.Building Africa’s first Health and Science Newsroom and redefining health communication through digital innovation.Developing sustainable business models for investigative and multimedia health journalism in Africa.Combating misinformation while making trusted health knowledge accessible to a young and rapidly urbanising population.The future of health journalism including the role of artificial intelligence, data, and leadership in shaping healthier and more informed African societies.Did you miss my previous episode where I discuss How Traverze Travel Became Zimbabwe’s Leading Travel Management Company and Expanded Across Africa? Make sure to check it out!Connect with Terser:LinkedIn - Terser AdamuInstagram - unlockingafricaTwitter (X) - @TerserAdamuConnect with Dr Mercy:LinkedIn - Dr Mercy Korir and Willow Health MediaMany of the businesses unlocking opportunities in Africa don’t do it alone. If you’d like strategic support on entering or expanding across African markets, reach out to our partners ETK Group: [email protected]

Episode 200 with Zodwa Mkandla, Founder and Managing Director of Traverze Travel, one of Zimbabwe’s most successful travel management companies and a leading player in Africa’s tourism and aviation industries. Since 2003, Traverze Travel has redefined corporate and leisure travel in Zimbabwe through exceptional service, innovative travel solutions and strong regional expansion into South Africa and Zambia.In this episode, Zodwa shares the remarkable journey behind building Traverze Travel into a trusted brand that serves multinational companies, government institutions and leisure travellers across Africa. She explains how strategic airline partnerships, customer experience innovation and rigorous operational standards helped Traverze stand out in a highly competitive and rapidly evolving sector. From establishing The Lounge at Robert Gabriel Mugabe International Airport to steering the business through economic volatility, Zodwa offers powerful insights into what it takes to build a resilient travel and tourism enterprise in Zimbabwe and beyond.We discuss the economic importance of Africa’s travel sector, the opportunities emerging from increased intra African mobility, and the leadership mindsets required to scale service based businesses across the continent. Zodwa also reflects on empowering women entrepreneurs, adopting technology in travel management and shaping the future of Africa’s aviation and tourism ecosystem.What We Discuss With ZodwaHow Zodwa built Traverze Travel into one of Zimbabwe’s leading travel management companies with regional operations in Southern Africa.Strategies for navigating economic volatility, currency challenges and market disruption in the African travel and tourism sector.Innovating travel services through airport lounges, technology adoption and strategic airline partnerships that enhance the customer journey.Strengthening Africa’s travel ecosystem through operational excellence, regional integration and high quality client service.Unlocking economic opportunities through intra African travel, cross border connectivity and the empowerment of women in business.Did you miss my previous episode where I discuss Building a Fintech for Africa’s Street Vendors, Informal Traders and Low Income Workers? Make sure to check it out!Connect with Terser:LinkedIn - Terser AdamuInstagram - unlockingafricaTwitter (X) - @TerserAdamuConnect with Zodwa:LinkedIn - Zodwa Mkandla and traverzetravelMany of the businesses unlocking opportunities in Africa don’t do it alone. If you’d like strategic support on entering or expanding across African markets, reach out to our partners ETK Group: [email protected]

Episode 199 with Kosta Scholiadis, Founder and CEO of Street Wallet, a South African fintech company empowering informal traders and street vendors to access the digital economy.Kosta brings a wealth of entrepreneurial insight and purpose driven innovation to this conversation about financial inclusion and the digital transformation of Africa’s informal economy. Founded in Cape Town, Street Wallet emerged from the recognition that South Africa’s one million street vendors have been largely excluded from the rapidly expanding cashless ecosystem.Kosta shares how Street Wallet’s simple yet powerful technology allows vendors to accept digital payments without needing a bank account or smartphone. He explains how the company’s interoperable platform, QR based payment system, and strategic partnerships with leading NGOs are improving financial access, increasing incomes, and building economic resilience among underserved communities.Fresh from securing R6.2 million in funding and acquiring Digitip, a platform that enables informal workers to receive digital tips, Kosta discusses how these developments are accelerating Street Wallet’s mission to create an inclusive and accessible digital economy.What We Discuss With KostaKosta’s journey to founding Street Wallet and the inspiration behind creating a fintech platform for South Africa’s one million informal traders.How Street Wallet’s low tech, high trust digital payment system is helping unbanked street vendors join the digital economy.The impact of Street Wallet’s R6.2 million funding round, the acquisition of Digitip.How partnerships with NGOs, retailers, and service providers like Plush Car Wash are scaling financial access and resilience for informal workers.Street Wallet’s vision for expanding across Africa and shaping the future of cashless payments and financial inclusion in the informal economy.Did you miss my previous episode where I discuss How Climate-Resilient Greenhouses and Digital Tools Are Transforming African Farming? Make sure to check it out!Connect with Terser:LinkedIn - Terser AdamuInstagram - unlockingafricaTwitter (X) - @TerserAdamuConnect with Kosta:LinkedIn - Kosta Scholiadis and Street WalletMany of the businesses unlocking opportunities in Africa don’t do it alone. If you’d like strategic support on entering or expanding across African markets, reach out to our partners ETK Group: [email protected]