The pan-African telecommunications giant, Orange has launched its latest Orange Digital Centre (ODC) in Guinea-Bissau. This new facility is part of Orange’s expansive initiative to enhance digital skills, drive innovation, and support local entrepreneurship throughout Africa.
The ODC in Guinea-Bissau is designed as a comprehensive digital ecosystem, offering a variety of free programs aimed at developing digital competencies among young people. The centre’s primary goals are to improve employability and cultivate local entrepreneurial talent.
The ODC includes several key facilities within a single location:
- A coding school for hands-on digital training.
- A ‘FabLab Solidaire’ for digital production and prototyping.
- An ‘Orange Fab’ startup accelerator.
- Additionally, the centre is supported by Orange Ventures Africa, Orange Group’s investment fund dedicated to nurturing promising startups.
Brelotte Ba, Deputy CEO of Orange Middle East and Africa, emphasized the transformative potential of the centre. He described it not just as a technology hub, but as a catalyst for Guinea-Bissau’s digital future, expressing hope that by providing free access to advanced resources, the ODC would inspire a new generation of innovators and leaders.
Sekou Dramé, CEO of Sonatel and chairman of Orange Bissau’s board, highlighted the significance of the ODC’s inauguration as a pivotal step in the Sonatel Group’s commitment to fostering innovation and digital inclusion in Guinea-Bissau. Orange Bissau operates as a subsidiary of the Sonatel Group, which is part of the larger Orange Group.
Thérèse Nogoye Tounkara, CEO of Orange Guinea Bissau, emphasized the role of digital transformation in achieving sustainable development goals, noting the substantial impact such initiatives can have.
The Guinea-Bissau ODC is part of a growing network of 26 similar centres across Africa, the Middle East, and Europe. These centres are designed to support startups throughout their lifecycle, aiming to stimulate regional entrepreneurship and innovation.
Orange’s commitment to expanding its digital footprint in Africa goes beyond the ODC network. In May 2024, Orange Ventures partnered with Digital Africa to boost investments in tech startups across Africa and the Middle East through the Fuzé program. This collaboration followed an earlier joint initiative in April, where Orange, the European Union, and the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) launched the “DigiGreen & Agri” project in Côte d’Ivoire, aimed at promoting digital transformation in the agricultural sector.
These initiatives reflect Orange’s strategic focus on leveraging digital technology to drive economic growth and social development across Africa. By providing resources, training, and investment opportunities, Orange is positioning itself as a key player in the continent’s digital transformation journey.
The establishment of the ODC in Guinea-Bissau represents another step in Orange’s ongoing efforts to bridge the digital divide in Africa. It demonstrates the company’s commitment to fostering local talent and supporting the growth of a vibrant digital ecosystem across the continent.
Main Image: Innovation Village
