Fast Hearth 🔥 with Solomon Kershima

Solomon Kershima is a Digital Innovation Chief, Mandela Washington Fellow (2025), and Founding father of Skyhub Nigeria, a grassroots digital hub that has skilled over 10,000 youths, supported greater than 1,500 companies, and incubated 12 startups by way of programmes in software program improvement, digital advertising, and entrepreneurship. With over seven years on the intersection of expertise, schooling, and entrepreneurship, he’s dedicated to constructing domestically related digital options and empowering the subsequent era of African innovators.

Solomon additionally serves as Group Head of Startup Help, Progressive Options, and Digital Expertise on the Benue Digital Infrastructure Firm (BDIC), the place he leads e-governance initiatives and statewide digital transformation initiatives. His work focuses on digital transformation, inclusive tech schooling (together with indigenous language pathways), and ecosystem constructing to bridge stakeholders, coverage, and innovation in underserved areas. He’s captivated with decreasing Africa’s dependence on imported options and fostering a future the place expertise and innovation are rooted in native context.

• Clarify your job to a 5-year-old.

I assist folks use computer systems and telephones to study new abilities, begin companies, and clear up issues. It’s like educating somebody learn how to use Lego blocks to construct something they will think about.

• What impressed you to start out Skyhub Nigeria?

I wished younger folks, particularly in Benue and throughout Nigeria, to have the identical entry to digital abilities and alternatives as these in greater cities and overseas. Skyhub began as a dream to indicate that even from Makurdi or Jos, we are able to create world-class tech expertise and startups.

• How did your early experiences form your method to digital innovation and tech schooling?

In 2019, I used to be a part of a group that skilled over 2,000 younger folks throughout 20 northern states in simply 3 months. That have taught me the facility of scale and community-driven studying. It formed my perception that digital innovation is not only about instruments, however about folks, empowering them to create options that matter.

• In the event you might repair one factor about Africa’s tech ecosystem with a magic wand, what wouldn’t it be?

Entry. Too many younger Africans have the expertise and concepts however lack units, web, or mentorship. If I had a wand, I might make laptops, web, and digital schooling accessible to each keen youth on the continent.

• What’s the largest problem when designing digital options for native contexts?

The largest problem is bridging the hole between international expertise and native realities. Many options don’t match as a result of they ignore infrastructure gaps, tradition, or affordability. Constructing for Africa means designing with empathy and ease.

• Are you able to share a narrative of a startup or youth whose journey at Skyhub left a long-lasting influence on you?

One among our incubated startups started as a teenager with simply curiosity and no laptop computer. With coaching and mentorship at Skyhub, he constructed a digital service platform now utilized by tons of. Watching that transformation jogged my memory why we began, to show that expertise exists in all places, it simply wants nurturing.

• How do you steadiness your work in authorities digital transformation with operating a grassroots innovation hub?

It’s about synergy. At BDIC, I work on systemic digital infrastructure for the state, whereas at Skyhub, I keep near the grassroots, coaching youths and startups. Each roles complement one another, making certain innovation is pushed from each top-down and bottom-up.

• Which device, behavior, or mindset retains you best?

My greatest device is ‘readability’ day by day, I write down my prime 3 priorities. My behavior is deep work within the mornings earlier than distractions. And my mindset is easy: progress over perfection.

• Outdoors of labor, what retains you grounded?

Household. They remind me that life is greater than emails and initiatives. Spending time with them recharges me greater than anything.

• What’s one factor you’re not an skilled at however get pleasure from doing?

Music. I’m not knowledgeable, however I get pleasure from listening to totally different sounds and typically taking part in round with beats. It helps me chill out and sparks creativity.

Mark your calendars! Moonshot by TechCabal is again in Lagos on October 15–16! Meet and study from Africa’s prime founders, creatives & tech leaders for two days of keynotes, mixers & future-forward concepts. Get your tickets now: moonshot.techcabal.com