Vérone Mankou, often hailed as the “Steve Jobs of Africa,” is a visionary Congolese entrepreneur who made history by founding VMK and launching the Way-C—Africa’s first locally designed tablet (2011)—followed by the Elikia, the continent’s first African-made smartphone (2012), both symbolizing digital sovereignty and industrial ambition. Beyond hardware, he founded the BantuHub Foundation and Bantulab, a social innovation platform and tech incubator dedicated to nurturing Africa’s “brainware”: providing startup incubation, coding marathons, graphic design workshops, and programs like “Tech 25” to empower women in tech and solve local challenges. Through VMK, Verone Mankou challenged the global tech divide, proving that world-class innovation could thrive in Brazzaville. His mission is clear: to transform Africa from a tech consumer into a creator, inspiring a new generation to build locally, think globally, and redefine the continent’s role in the digital economy. The journey of Verone Mankou is a masterclass in resilience and “technological patriotism,” serving as a powerful reminder to the next generation of creators that the tools to build the future are already in their hands.
Author : MALiCK FALL
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