For far too long, a black chism has followed Africa — the belief that little good emerges from the planet. This perspective was borne out of personal experiences and a widespread stereotype that African youths were mostly involved in fraudulent activities, a trend that became normalized in some societies.

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Africa and particularly Nigeria, have gained a reputation for being the global hub of internet fraud, a perception that have painted many African youths in a negative light. Yet, this stereotypes over look the ever-growing number of African youths channeling their talents into tech and innovation, proving that the narrative is changing.

Today, we see young Africans going into tech — individuals breaking ground in technology, leading the innovation race, and redefining what it means to be an African youth in the 21st century.

THE SHADOW OF FRAUD

The perspective that this generation of African youths are fraudulent wasn’t exactly founded on a lie — perhaps exaggerated, but not entirely untrue. The Global organised Crime Index ranks two African nations — Nigeria and South Africa as 6th and 7th respectively as of 2023 with Nigeria being 5th in 2021.

Data like this has fueled the perception that Africans, particularly Nigerians cannot be trusted in business or in the digital space. This has created lots of problems for young innovators who are simply trying to build a career in the digital space.

Many face skepticism from potential clients and investors, visa restrictions, and a lack of global collaboration opportunities. And while the narrative is slowly shifting, this long shadow of mistrust remains — a lingering stereotype that continues to haunt the ambitions of young Africans today.

FROM FRAUD TO INNOVATION: THE RISE OF AFRICA'S TECH DRIVEN GENERATION

But a new story is unfolding. Across the continent, African youths are rewriting the narrative through innovation and creativity. The digital space that was once used for fraudulent activities is now used by innovative youths to create opportunities, raise funds for start-ups and solve real life problems.

Credible Sources reveal that 633 startups raised over $3bn making 2022 a record year for African tech investment. This is a testament to the trust that the African continent is building. From Fintech to AI, African youths are proving that talent and innovation is what drives this continent, not trickery.

Take Nigeria for example, the home of Paystack and Flutterwave — two tech companies built by young Africans who turned simple ideas into billion-dollar enterprises. What began as an effort to make online payments easier has now become a system that connects African businesses to the global economy. Their success didn’t just put Nigeria on the digital map; it shattered the notion that African youths only exploit technology — they build with it.

And beyond the big names, thousands of young Africans are quietly coding, designing, and engineering the continent’s digital future. Hackathons, innovation hubs, and programs like Andela, ALX Africa, and Google’s Developer Circles have trained and empowered thousands to pursue global tech careers. The 2018 edition of the Africa Code week alone was said to have empowered 2.3m youths with digital skills across 37 countries.

Do not however be lured into the fallacy that only a selected few are changing narratives like Nigeria and South Africa. This change is across Africa, digital brands are programmes are coming up everywhere in the continent. Mpharma, a Ghanian brand that uses data analytics to improve access to affordable prescription drug across Africa, Twiga foods, a tech driven agricultural supply chain startup that Kenyans use to link farmers to urban vendors.

BEYOND CODING — REDEFINING AFRICA’S IMAGE

Across the continent, a new identity is emerging — one built on code, creativity, and courage. For decades, Africa was trapped in a narrative of fraud and digital deceit. But today, that narrative is being rewritten line by line by young Africans turning laptops into tools of liberation, rewriting what it means to be ambitious and African. From Kenya’s Silicon Savannah to Nigeria’s Yabacon Valley, innovation is becoming a new language of pride and purpose.

The rise of African tech is not accidental; it is the product of persistence. Local incubators, boot camps, and accelerators have become breeding grounds for ideas that are changing lives. In Ghana, initiatives like Tech Needs Girls are empowering young women to see coding not as a foreign skill, but as a right of participation in the global economy. In Egypt, RiseUp Summit continues to draw thousands of entrepreneurs from across the continent and beyond, showcasing startups solving real African problems — from logistics to health care.

The Real fuel behind this shift is access. Greater access to the internet and cheaper SmartPhones have helped in giving youths a good seat at the digital world. Stories have proven that most times, a laptop, WiFi connection and a daring dream are what it takes.

From Lagos to Nairobi, small coding meetups that started in random spots and co-working spaces have grown into thriving communities. Platforms like Andela, which began in Lagos have connected thousands of African developers to global jobs, showing that while talent exists everywhere, opportunity doesn’t always keep up.

But this transformation isn’t just about money or markets or breaking grounds in tech — it’s about identity. A generation that was once written off as idle or dishonest is proving that Africa’s tech future is real and unstoppable. They’re not only building apps or fintech tools; they’re building trust, reshaping how the world sees them. Every new startup, every breakthrough project chips away at the old narrative that Africa’s digital scene is all scams and shortcuts.

What’s happening now is bigger than than it appears— it’s a quiet revolution. African youths are no longer waiting for the world to define them, they’re defining themselves.

Still, the road isn’t smooth. Access to funding, unreliable power supply, corruption and a selected few that continue to ruin the reputation of Africa with their activities slow progress. Yet, if the past decade has proven anything, it’s that this generation refuses to be boxed in by limitation. They’ve learned to create light in the dark — to innovate against the odds.

And with the pace Africa is moving at, perhaps it’s only a matter of time before the question changes from can Africa compete to how soon before Africa leads?