Africa is growing at a rate never seen before, and everyone wants a piece of the action, but not everyone is sure how to do it. One of the biggest obstacles to investment is access to data on innovation hot spots. A lack of knowledge and guesswork makes it difficult for investors to understand where to put their money, for entrepreneurs to connect with investors, and for governments to sensibly adjust policy to facilitate growth.

In Nigeria the Tony Ermulelu Foundation has collected, curated and mapped the data on four key growth clusters – namely craft technology, engineering/science, healthcare/medical, and IT and communications technology. Information on areas such as shoe, leather or metal making is gathered through interviews, focus groups and visits. Using this valuable data they have created the Nigerian Innovation Cluster Map. The map makes it quick and easy to see where activity is happening and in what sectors, allowing policy makers and investors to quickly understand the landscape and respond accordingly.

In the next phase they hope to capture data for the rest of West Africa, and ultimately the rest of the continent, unlocking its true potential.

Claire is an international producer/director based in London. South African born she spends most of her time making content in sub-Saharan Africa about things such as tech, healthcare, and gender.