Stephen Ozoigbo, a key figure in Arm’s initiatives in Africa, has played a pivotal role in the company’s commitment to fostering technology ecosystems on the continent. In the past year, he has overseen the launch of the first (E³)NGAGE lab in South Africa, marking a significant milestone in Arm’s strategy to support developer communities and digitization efforts across emerging markets, particularly in Africa. Ozoigbo's vision is clear: to cultivate local technology ecosystems by providing easier access to Arm’s tools and technologies, ultimately leading to enhanced innovation and growth.
Since the introduction of the (E³)NGAGE lab model, Ozoigbo has reported substantial progress across various program areas. His leadership has facilitated new partnerships, organized developer engagement events, and established university programs that integrate industry initiatives. The momentum generated by these successes has accelerated Arm’s ambitions to launch additional labs, allowing for further expansion throughout the African continent. Under Ozoigbo's guidance, these labs serve as vital hubs for learning and innovation.
This year, Ozoigbo expanded the (E³)NGAGE initiative to Ghana, a nation recognized for its vibrant network of technical universities and a burgeoning community of start-ups and developers. Ghana's supportive public sector environment and commitment to energy-efficient, secure, and cost-optimized technology made it an ideal location for this expansion. The newly opened labs in Ghana are strategically positioned at various educational and entrepreneurial centers, including renowned institutions such as Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) and the University of Cape Coast (UCC). Each lab is equipped with cutting-edge tools and resources from the Arm ecosystem, facilitating collaboration among stakeholders within the community.
Ozoigbo’s recent trip to Ghana, alongside Rod Crawford as part of the US State Department’s Partnership Opportunity Delegation (POD) initiative, showcased Arm's commitment to sustainable technology. The POD initiative aims to foster US-Ghana partnership opportunities and provides valuable insights and networks for innovative technology solutions addressing climate change. Ozoigbo’s participation in this delegation not only allowed him to unveil the new labs but also emphasized Arm's role in supporting Ghana’s efforts as a regional champion for climate innovation.
Through the Connecting Climate Entrepreneurs (CCE) program, which Arm joined in August 2022, Ozoigbo has been instrumental in promoting sustainability and climate-tech solutions tailored to local needs. He proudly unveiled the first Arm-CCE Sustainability Labs at Academic City University College, which aims to support the adoption of Arm technology, grow developer learning communities, and manage startup incubation programs for aspiring climate entrepreneurs.
Ozoigbo's efforts in Africa have yielded remarkable outcomes over the past year. The Embedded Learning Challenge, which allows engineers access to Arm-based microcontrollers for practical experimentation, has seen user groups grow by over 1,000%. Additionally, more than 3,000 developers are now active across the continent, and ten new regional developer partnerships have been established, fostering vibrant local networks. Collaborations with organizations such as Google, Oracle, and AWS have also contributed to rapid community engagement and the proliferation of Arm-based user groups.
In the realm of education, Ozoigbo has prioritized expanding Arm’s reach through the Arm School Program for Young Learners, delivering world-class STEM education to students across Africa. The program has resulted in the procurement of over 20,000 Arm-based kits and the onboarding of more than 700 educators within a year. Partnerships with K-12 institutions, including Makersplace Ghana and the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) in South Africa, have further supported the growth of technology education in the region.
Looking to the future, Ozoigbo remains committed to expanding the Arm ecosystem across Africa. His plans include increasing the reach of the Embedded Learning Challenge and supporting the development of solutions built on Arm technologies. Furthermore, he aims to enhance developer resources and educational initiatives, ensuring that the talent pool in Africa continues to grow and evolve.
In conclusion, Stephen Ozoigbo’s contributions to Arm’s initiatives in Africa are invaluable. His leadership in launching the (E³)NGAGE labs, expanding educational opportunities, and fostering partnerships has significantly impacted the continent's technology landscape. Through these efforts, Ozoigbo exemplifies Arm's mission to build an inclusive future of computing, empowering communities to innovate and thrive in the digital age.