Written by Pamela (June 2011) - I heard Herman Chinery-Hesse speak at 21st Century Challenges: Digital technology in Africa Afterwards I had an opportunity to mention John's work and the Kafanchan Peace Market to him. Ike Anya of Nigeria Health watch was also there. Ike plans to arrange a TED-X event later this year with Hemman Chinery-Hesse as the speaker.
Information from other sources
Herman Chinery-Hesse is a software engineer by profession. 19 years ago he co-founded theSOFTtribe, one of the leading software houses in West Africa. theSOFTtribe has won a number of awards, including the prestigious Millennium Excellence Awards for IT in 2005 (also nominated in 2000). The company has been featured on BBC, CNN and the IEEE Magazine (of the United States) amongst others.
The trick we have discovered is we meet Africa where it is. We do not try and invent anything. What exisits is enough, we have SMS into the bush, internet in the cities. We can innovation around that.
— Herman Chinery-Hesse, May 2011
The BBC has described Herman as Africa's "Bill Gates". Herman believes that: "If Africa misses the current global IT boat, there may never again be an opportunity for rapid wealth creation on the continent."