The African tech landscape is changing rapidly, bringing both opportunities and challenges. As new innovations emerge, professionals must continuously learn, adapt, and grow to stay relevant. While self-learning and formal education play essential roles, there’s another powerful force that often goes unnoticed: mentorship. Tech mentorship in Africa has become indispensable. Indeed, we cannot ignore the need for direction and professional guidance.
Why Tech Mentorship in Africa Matters
Technology is more than just coding, algorithms, or software—it’s about people. The individuals who create, use, and benefit from technology shape the sector and digital developments. People are undoubtedly central to digital transformation. We cannot overemphasize the importance of people working in the technology field. Developers, designers, architects, innovators, creators, managers, engineers, analysts, consultants and many others. However, without proper guidance, many talented professionals struggle to find their path, confidence, and purpose in tech. In my case, I found this most daunting when I started out even though I had the required technical background. What worsened matters was the noticeable absence of knowledge sharing. In some settings, hoarding of tech knowledge was seen as power. You can imagine such a scarcity mindset in a field that is centred on innovation—a field that is constantly changing.
A strong mentorship culture therefore helps to bridge this gap by:
- Accelerating learning – Instead of trial and error, mentees gain direct insights from experienced professionals. A lot of guesswork is avoided.
- Boosting confidence – Having a mentor provides reassurance and direction, especially in a field as competitive as tech. I always find it to be such a thrill and boost when someone I look up to in the field encourages me and tells me I’m doing well.
- Expanding career opportunities – Mentors introduce mentees to new ideas, tools, and technology trends. As a result, mentees can now have eyes that see beyond their everyday technical jobs and assignments.
- Fostering innovation – By sharing knowledge, we create a culture where new solutions thrive.
However, it is important to acknowledge that mentors are not perfect; they, too, have weaknesses and vulnerabilities. In fact, genuine mentorship is a learning experience for both mentees and mentors.
Breaking Barriers to Tech Mentorship in Africa
Despite its benefits, mentorship is not always easy to access. There are several obstacles to tech mentorship in Africa. Many professionals, aspiring and working, struggle with:
- Limited access to experienced mentors – Not everyone has direct connections to experienced professionals or technology leaders – in academia, industry, government and civil society.
- Resource constraints – Many tech enthusiasts, especially newcomers, lack the tools needed to build their skills. These include laptops, internet access, and the financial means to invest in modern training programs—all of which are necessary to fully benefit from mentoring advice. For instance, in one mentoring session, the mentor recommended that the mentee invest in additional training, yet the course fee was too expensive for the mentee to afford.
- The “Japa” Effect – In Nigeria, just like in other African countries, many professionals seek opportunities abroad. Consequently, local mentorship pools shrink. Some of those who can mentor have left the continent.
So, how do we overcome these barriers?
Tech Mentorship in Africa – for the Future
To truly build a strong tech sector in Africa, mentorship must be:
- Inclusive & Scalable – Online mentoring platforms, virtual meetups, and tech communities can connect mentors and mentees across regions. Tech mentorship in Africa can close the access gap by creatively and effectively leveraging technology infrastructure. Already I know a Lagos based colleague who mentors aspiring professionals based in other parts of country, via Zoom meetings.
- Collaborative – Companies, universities, government agencies, civil society organizations and tech hubs should work together to develop structured mentorship programs. For instance, during period when Jidaw held free IT career seminars, I found them most impactful when they were hosted in educational institutions, in collaboration with those institutions or their students computing bodies. Moreover, as these organizations collaborate, they should make deliberate efforts to encourage the culture of mentoring, knowledge sharing and giving back in tech.
- Focused on Relevant and Future-Ready Skills – Beyond technical expertise, mentors must help mentees focus on practical local and global needs rather than merely following trends or being blinded by hype. Additionally, given the rapid pace of technological developments, tech mentorship in Africa entails providing guidance on innovative career development. This means adapting to and driving the disruption of AI and emerging technologies, and critically analyzing global job trends to distinguish between hype and meaningful developments. We achieve this by understanding the implications, overcoming challenges, and seizing opportunities. Again this serves as a reminder that both the mentee and mentor should be lifelong learners. Learning never stops.
The Bigger Picture
Mentorship isn’t just about career growth; it’s about shaping a sector that is resilient, innovative, and self-sustaining. The essence of tech mentorship in Africa should be to ensure technology is used and developed to unlock Africa’s huge potential and drive development on the continent. From one generation to another. It’s a never ending journey. How can I forget the professional who gave me tips on how to prepare for my first technical interview? It was an old schoolmate. We accidentally bumped into each other on Broad Street in Lagos, just after I’d been notified of the interview date. I often remind him when we meet, although he surprisingly has no recollection of that encounter. To me, it remains unforgettable. When professionals actively guide and uplift others, they pass the torch, equipping future generations to contribute meaningfully and lead with vision.
A mindset shift is however undoubtedly crucial. The most successful tech communities and sectors prioritize mentorship, collaboration, knowledge sharing and lifelong learning . Africa’s tech future will be defined not just by innovation but by how well we support and empower each other, most especially those coming after us.
Are you ready to be part of this change?
Interested in the challenge and opportunity of tech mentorship in Africa? Whether you’re an experienced tech leader or just starting out, find a way to mentor, learn, and contribute to the growth of Africa’s tech sector.
Author: Jide Awe
Science, Technology and Innovation policy advisor.
Nigeria’s Inaugural Tech Mentor of the Year
Find him on Threads @iamjidaw on threads
Find him on Twitter @jidaw
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