For the second time, TEDX Oysterbay brought together a diverse range of experts, practitioners, artists, thinkers, visionaries and educators before an idea-thirsty community to the Little Theatre in Dar es Salaam. 12 TEDx speakers with interesting ideas challenging social norms and practices, shared their ideas before an audience of 100 people and many more via social media.
TED is a nonprofit devoted to spreading ideas, usually in the form of short, powerful talks. TED is the convergence of Technology, Entertainment and Design, and today covers almost all topics — from science to business to global issues — in more than 100 languages. Independently run TEDx events help share ideas in communities around the world.
In urban Tanzania, youth now perceive ideas as the new “social currency” for human development. Being the 7th largest economy in Africa and most populous nation in East Africa, human capital development is a vital requisite in any economic arsenal.
Dar es Salaam- the commercial capital of 5 million, commands an array of industrial complex, political, investment and entertainment attraction necessary for sustainable socio-economic development.
In that context, TEDx Oysterbay organizing team have contributed towards providing a platform for brilliant new ideas and thought-provoking conversations aired in the right space.
Education and Technology
Given Edward, a young Tanzanian edu-tech startup founder, shared his ideas on redefining available solutions on the secondary education system. Available data show, there are more than 2 million enrollments in about 4846 secondary schools in Tanzania, hence, driving Given’s ideas emanating from a different perspective, that doesn’t necessarily include modern tech.
Given delivered his ideas to the audience, which focused on leveraging secondary school learners’ social skills, emotional intelligence and constructive habits for a better education delivery that is coherent and relevant.
“We need to help them translate their innate, local creativity into a language that the rest of the world will understand” Given adds
Also Read: Tanzanian government move to enable smooth access to education
At present, the pace of technological solutions creation and adoption in urban Tanzania (especially Dar es Salaam) is promising.
On the latter, Aashiq Shariff, former CEO of Raha ICT pioneer and a true IT and telecom success story in Tanzania, brought 20 years of his experience to the stage, molded in a concrete idea on adding value to people’s lives.
Aashiq who is currently advising start-ups, aspiring entrepreneurs and businesses across East Africa, seeks to nurture 10 start-ups over the course of 10 years in his quest to improve technological connectivity among Tanzanians.
NBS data shows that telecom penetration is at 43 percent and internet penetration to be at 81 percent, Aashiq’s ideas could improve the ICT sector over time and space.
“I believe real businesses are about fulfilling a need. So, what I want is to fulfill my passion of tech, art, developing people, allowing me to live forever, through growing other people’s passions and ideas and turning them into great businesses” he added.
Daniel Maeda “Regenerative Scientist” with the first-ever Tanzanian TEDx talk on biotechnology, elaborated the potential of Genetically Modified Organisms (GMO’s) to the Tanzanian development sphere.
Maeda’s expertise expressed the validity of biotech in transforming the health, agricultural and manufacturing sphere in Tanzania. Maeda gave light to Tanzania’s few biotech companies operated by youth, slashing the dogmas hovering across GMO’s in communities.
Health
In a nation with over 8119 health facilities and more than 28 million women, according to Tanzania’s National Bureau of Statistics data, Brenda Msangi, CEO of CCBRT emerged with sterling insights to improve high-quality women health delivery in Tanzania.
Ms. Msangi, who has dedicated her life in strengthening healthcare services for underprivileged communities, centered her idea on improving maternal services to rural communities, delivering a heartfelt speech, backed up by data and facts swaying any potential stakeholder in the audience.
Currently, the health sector has taken significant improvement initiatives and provided hope to communities in accessing care from dispensaries which account for 86.2 percent of facilities in Mainland Tanzania.
Ms. Msangi’s TED talk was the first-ever to occur on the TEDx Oysterbay stage since its inception. It is compelling to conceive the flow of good tidings in the health sector, attracted by such vibrant ideas.
On the same note, Maureen Ogada -Ndekana, a pharmacist, working in management and global health, shared her thought-provoking idea on size and value pertaining to health services.
Titled the “The Kadogoo Effect” Ms. Ndekanas theory on pharmaceutical delivery services in Tanzania, amused a wide range of TEDx Oysterbay community who seems to take a keen interest in following up on her ideas.
With her specialization on marketing interventions, her thoughtful contributions are crucial in aiding pharmaceutical delivery across Tanzania, under the right circumstances as the industry is anticipated to grow to USD 700 million by 2021 from USD 457 in 2017 as reported by a local media outlet.
Cultural and Architectural Heritage
Aida Mulokozi, CEO of Dar es Salaam Architectural Heritage (DARCH) translated “Dar City “identity, architectural heritage legacy and its fame across the region in a unique fashion.
Aida’s experience and architectural preservation valor transpired in the event, placing the commercial and technological capital on vital heights of honor. Her idea transpired the need to preserve the historical architecture of Dar es Salaam as a way to preserve the identity and culture of the city.
Great heritage ideas like Aida’s, contribute much to the regional tourism sphere, as the sector garners more Forex and GDP by 17.5 percent.
“Digital Storage “read one of Mob 27 (Patrick Donge and Fredrick Komba) musical group’s digital document screened on stage. Their idea is fused on creating a harmonious climate backed by tech, to store and promote cultural-musical and performance taste.
The duo, anticipate to develop a mobile application to serve a wide range of community with the liberty to stream thousands of recordings from various artists in the latter.
Over time and space, TEDxOysterbay has gathered much national-wide attention on social media, attracting millions of people engaging in its live gatherings. For the organizers, the reflection of the ideas delivered in real life presents a success not only to them but also to the community at large.
The knowledge economy could be the next big thing emerging in Tanzania, as TEDx events are turning out to be fond by many technocrats and local thinkers.
