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24Feb 2026 by @iLabAfrica No Comments
Do I Need Data Science in My Career? Yes, Here’s Why!

Do I Need Data Science in My Career? Yes, Here’s Why!

Data Science
Not too long ago, a young professional sat staring at their phone. They had just ordered food online, checked their bank balance, liked a post on Instagram, and replied to an email. What they didn’t realize was that, in just five minutes, they had created data. Lots of it. Hidden behind the scenes, data was quietly being collected, cleaned, and analyzed, all for one purpose. To help systems make decisions in real time, such as: What food should be recommended next? Was that bank transaction suspicious? What kind of content should appear on their Instagram feed? That invisible work happening quietly in the background is what we call data science. So… What Is Data Science, Really? Data science is simply the art of using data to understand what is happening, why it…
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05Feb 2026 by @iLabAfrica No Comments
@iLabAfrica Hosts Pre-Mission Connect 2026 to Advance CIO Leadership and Global Digital Partnerships

@iLabAfrica Hosts Pre-Mission Connect 2026 to Advance CIO Leadership and Global Digital Partnerships

CIO Leadership Programme
Last Friday, @iLabAfrica, Strathmore University convened CIOs, policymakers, and technology leaders at Trademark Hotel, Village Market, Nairobi, for Pre-Mission Connect 2026, a strategic forum designed to explore leadership challenges and opportunities in a rapidly evolving digital economy. At the heart of the event was a focus on the Chief Information Officer (CIO) Leadership Programme — an initiative by @iLabAfrica aimed at equipping current and future CIOs with the strategic, governance, and execution skills needed to lead digital transformation in organisations across sectors. Pre-Mission Connect 2026 brought together leaders to reflect on how cross-border digital partnerships, notably between Thailand and Kenya, can inform and elevate CIO practice, contributing to national competitiveness, organisational resilience, and sustainable digital ecosystems. Partnerships, Leadership, and Strategic Dialogue The forum opened with remarks by Miss Piyaporn Putanapan,…
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19Nov 2025 by @iLabAfrica No Comments
Day 2: Elevating Africa’s AI Future Through Collaboration, Innovation & Talent

Day 2: Elevating Africa’s AI Future Through Collaboration, Innovation & Talent

4th GDSAI Summit, Artificial Intelligence, Data Science
Day 2 of the 4th Global Data Science & Artificial Intelligence (GDSAI) Summit 2025, hosted by @iLabAfrica, Strathmore University, concluded with powerful conversations, cutting-edge demonstrations, and a renewed call for collaboration to accelerate Africa’s digital transformation. Building on the momentum of Day 1, the final day brought together policymakers, technologists, researchers, entrepreneurs, youth innovators and industry leaders to explore practical pathways for deploying safe, scalable, and sustainable AI across the continent. Youth Talent Forum: Empowering Africa’s Next Generation of AI Pioneers One of the day's most anticipated sessions was the Youth Talent Forum, showcasing young African innovators developing AI solutions grounded in local context and built for real-world impact. Speakers included: Caroline Gakii – Developer of an AI-powered digital telepathology microscope Wallace Milei, CEO, Keja AI Mark Mwoche, Founder &…
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19Nov 2025 by @iLabAfrica No Comments
The Global Data Science & AI Summit 2025: Charting the Future of Human-Centered Innovation

The Global Data Science & AI Summit 2025: Charting the Future of Human-Centered Innovation

4th GDSAI Summit, Artificial Intelligence, Data Science
The 4th Global Data Science and Artificial Intelligence (GDSAI) Summit, hosted by @iLabAfrica, Strathmore University, opened its doors today to an audience of industry leaders, academics, policymakers, and innovators from across the world — united by one vision: Unlocking the Power of Big Data and AI to Shape the Future through Innovation. From the opening remarks to the final keynote, Day 1 of #GDSAI2025 was a powerful blend of intellect, imagination, and inspiration. Conversations centered on the rapid rise of AI, its transformative potential across sectors, and the growing need for ethical, inclusive, and responsible data ecosystems. Highlights from the Day A Journey from Data to Intelligence In his welcoming address, Dr. Sevilla, @iLabafrica Director - Strathmore University, reflected on the evolution of analytics to artificial intelligence: “We have always…
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08Oct 2025 by @iLabAfrica No Comments
Kenyan Students Lead the Way in Green Innovation at the 2025 Green Tech Hackathon

Kenyan Students Lead the Way in Green Innovation at the 2025 Green Tech Hackathon

Artificial Intelligence, Executive Education, Hackathon, Research & Innovation
Strathmore University’s @iLabAfrica in partnership with Oracle academy successfully concluded the Green Tech Hackathon 2025, a national innovation challenge that brought together student developers, environmentalists and entrepreneurs to create technology-driven solutions addressing the urgent challenges of climate change. Held at Strathmore University, the hackathon provided a platform for student innovators from universities and TVET institutions across Kenya to design practical, data-driven and scalable technologies promoting environmental sustainability and resilience. The Green Tech Hackathon aimed to advance Kenya’s green economy by fostering innovation in climate action, sustainable energy, circular waste systems, eco-transport and climate-smart agriculture. Through mentorship sessions and expert-led workshops, participants learned how to transform ideas into actionable, impactful projects that address both local and global sustainability challenges. According to global studies, hackathons are increasingly effective incubators for long-term innovation.…
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22Sep 2025 by @iLabAfrica No Comments
Design and Evaluation of Privacy-Preserving Protocols for Agent-Facilitated Mobile Money Services in Kenya

Design and Evaluation of Privacy-Preserving Protocols for Agent-Facilitated Mobile Money Services in Kenya

Cybersecurity
In Kenya, mobile money (MoMo) has changed lives but it comes with a cost: every time you deposit or withdraw, a local agent must see your ID and phone number, risking your privacy. This paper rolls out new protocols that shift sensitive data away from agents and straight to the MoMo provider. Think biometrics, one-time codes, and smarter verification even when someone else (a proxy) handles the cash for you. From talking to both users and agents, people love the idea of....Read More
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31Jul 2025 by @iLabAfrica No Comments
GenAI’s Role in the New Wave of Banking and Financial Services

GenAI’s Role in the New Wave of Banking and Financial Services

Artificial Intelligence, Data Science
Arficial intelligence is not new – it has been a topic of research since the 1950s and has been deployed in financial services since the 1980s. But conventional AI (so called, “Predicve AI”), while powerful, is expensive and complex to deploy. As a result, it has been used in a limited number of areas in the financial services sector, such as real-time trading or estimation of loan default risk. In 2022, a new generation of AI came to public view in the form of ChatGPT. Unlike the earlier predictive AI, these “Generative AI” systems can be used directly to solve problems, without training or the need for data scientists. Generative AI can be thought of as a general tool that can be applied in a huge number of ways and…
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09Jul 2025 by @iLabAfrica No Comments
Strathmore University and African Telecommunications Union Sign MoU to Grow Digital Talent and Shape Internet Policy

Strathmore University and African Telecommunications Union Sign MoU to Grow Digital Talent and Shape Internet Policy

Press Release, Research & Innovation
Nairobi, 1st July 2025: The African Telecommunications Union (ATU) and @iLabAfrica-Strathmore University have entered a renewable two-year Memorandum of Understanding that places the University’s Research & Innovation Centre as a strategic academic partner in ATU’s continent-wide drive for advanced digital skills, innovation, and evidence-led policy research. The pact provides both institutions with a clear runway to convert shared ambitions into measurable outcomes. Under the MoU, @iLabAfrica will forge a long-term strategic alliance dedicated to research, capacity-building, and the sustainable growth of ICT and innovation ecosystems across Africa. Central to this collaboration is a joint study aimed at strengthening the continent’s influence in global internet-public-policy forums and producing a harmonised framework for internet governance. The University will contribute expert faculty and academic staff to co-deliver provisions of the MoU. In turn,…
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19Jun 2025 by @iLabAfrica No Comments
Strathmore University and Next Step Foundation Join Forces to Deliver Transformative AWS Skilling Programme

Strathmore University and Next Step Foundation Join Forces to Deliver Transformative AWS Skilling Programme

Cloud Computing
Strathmore University (SU), through its iLabAfrica Research and Innovation Centre, and the Next Step Foundation (NSF) are excited to announce the signing of a Collaboration Agreement on June 4, 2025, in Nairobi, Kenya. This strategic partnership will deliver a cutting-edge Amazon Web Services (AWS) Cloud Skilling Programme, empowering students, faculty, and marginalized communities (especially youth and Persons with Disabilities) with industry-relevant cloud computing skills to thrive in the digital economy. By combining Strathmore University’s world-class academic infrastructure and research capabilities with NSF’s expertise as an AWS Training Partner, the partnership creates a powerful synergy to bridge the cloud computing and digital skills gap. The programme will equip participants with the tools to excel in high-demand, cloud-based careers while advancing innovation and digital inclusion. The initiative will focus on: Training Strathmore…
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03Jun 2025 by @iLabAfrica No Comments
@iLabAfrica, Prepares 100 Students for a Data-Driven World

@iLabAfrica, Prepares 100 Students for a Data-Driven World

Data Science
Data science has evolved from being just a buzzword to a powerful force shaping our daily lives and how businesses operate. In today's world, it is the force behind the way we shop, bank, and operate businesses. Imagine a situation where financial institutions can predict when a client is about to default, or even cancel their credit card before it happens. Better yet, what if a single patient record data point could lead to a life-saving discovery? Imagine researchers using data to uncover hidden patterns, predict health outcomes, and even design breakthrough treatments. Yes, this is how far data analytics can take modern medicine. At its core, data science is the art of turning raw information into meaningful insight. Using advanced algorithms and analytical techniques, it reveals trends, uncovers patterns,…
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