Africanian News: From Africa, by Africans, for Africans and friends of Africa
In a series of exclusive interviews featuring the prominent members of the AfriLabs Board, we had the privilege of engaging with Berry Numbi. As the newly elected representative for Central Africa on the AfriLabs Board and the Co-founder and Managing Director of the Center for Innovation in Lubumbashi (Cinolu), Berry Numbi brings a wealth of experience and insight into the dynamic landscape of innovation and technology in the Central African region. Join us in this insightful conversation as Berry shares his vision, achievements, and the transformative initiatives taking place at Cinolu under his leadership.
View also:
Congratulations on being elected as the representative for Central Africa on the Afrilabs board! Tell us about your role and goals in this new position.
Berry Numbi: Thank you Dreams Talks! It’s an honor to represent Central Africa at Afrilabs. My role involves advocating for the specific needs and challenges of our region in the field of innovation. We want to strengthen collaboration between innovation centers and other stakeholders to drive community growth and development.
As the CEO and co-founder of the Lubumbashi Innovation Center (Cinolu), can you share how the innovation scene in the region has evolved since its inception?
View also:
Berry Numbi: Since we founded Cinolu, we have witnessed a significant increase in interest and participation in innovation. We have implemented programs like RevUp Women, supporting women entrepreneurs. The community is growing, and we see more local startups flourishing, which is very encouraging.
Read more: Uganda Embarks on Circular Economy Journey with African Development Bank Backing
Afrilabs focuses on building communities around innovation hubs. How do you plan to enhance collaboration and community in Central Africa during your tenure?
Berry Numbi: The key is collaboration. I plan to work closely with other innovation centers, local governments, and businesses to foster joint programs and share resources. We also want to highlight success stories from the region to inspire more entrepreneurs to join the innovation community.
View also:
Cinolu has implemented the RevUp Women program. Can you provide specific examples of how this program has positively impacted women entrepreneurs in Lubumbashi?
Berry Numbi: Absolutely. We’ve seen women entrepreneurs who have received training and support through RevUp Women expand and strengthen their businesses. From access to financial resources to building strong networks, the program has been a catalyst for the entrepreneurial growth of women in Lubumbashi.
View also:
What are your aspirations for Cinolu and the innovation community in Central Africa in the coming years?
Berry Numbi: For Cinolu, we plan to expand our support programs, reaching more entrepreneurs and segments of society. At the regional level, we hope to see an increase in collaboration between Central African countries to address common challenges and build a more robust innovation ecosystem.
We appreciate Berry Numbi for sharing his insights, and we look forward to closely following his impact on advancing innovation in Central Africa and the whole African ecosystem. Best of luck!